Holiday Deadlines for Mailing Greeting Cards and Shipping Packages

Families are spread all over the country — and the world — which means long distance phone calls, holiday cards and gifts sent by mail. But after you've bought cards and wrapped gifts for those folks you won't be seeing, when is the deadline to post them so they will get to their destination in time for the holidays?

Here are a few suggestions and ‘send by’ dates from the USPS to get your gifts delivered on time and in one piece:

Packing tips from the USPS:

• Double-check addresses & write legibly
• Shake boxes to make sure they’re well packed
• Priority Mail is fast for last minute gifts
• Express Mail is even faster

Here's a few places on Mercer Island where you can get help shipping your holiday mail:

• United States Post Office 3040 78th Ave SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040, 206-230-5636, (800) ASK-USPS
• United States Post Office Branch (South End) 8441 SE 68th St, Mercer Island, WA 98040, 206-232-3000
• The UPS Store 7683 SE 27th St, Mercer Island, WA 98040, 206-232-3053

Holiday Dates for Domestic Mail

Calculated for December 25, 2012.

Domestic Mail Class/Product

Dates

First-Class Mail® Service

Dec. 20

Priority Mail® Service

Dec. 21

Express Mail® Service

Dec. 22

Parcel Post® Service

Dec. 14

Destination Network Distribution Center (DNDC) Drop Ship

Dec. 19

Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) Drop Ship

Dec. 21

Holiday Dates for International Mail

Destination

Global Express Guaranteed® Service

Express Mail® Service

Priority Mail® Service

First-Class Mail®

International Service

Africa

Dec. 19

Dec. 11

Dec. 3

Dec. 3

Asia / Pacific Rim

Dec. 18

Dec. 15

Dec. 10

Dec. 10

Australia / New Zealand

Dec. 18

Dec. 15

Dec. 10

Dec. 10

Canada

Dec. 20

Dec. 17

Dec. 13

Dec. 10

Caribbean

Dec. 19

Dec. 15

Dec. 13

Dec. 10

Central & South America

Dec. 19

Dec. 11

Dec. 3

Dec. 3

Mexico

Dec. 20

Dec. 15

Dec. 10

Dec. 10

Europe

Dec. 19

Dec. 15

Dec. 13

Dec. 10

Middle East

Dec. 19

Dec. 15

Dec. 13

Dec. 10

Click here for send-by dates for military mail.