When Do Christmas Cards, Letters, And Packages Need To Be Sent?

With my parents in Pennsylvania, my sister in Singapore, and my in-laws near Raleigh, I rely on the post office to get Christmas cards and packages where they need to be every holiday season. Since Charlotte is very much a city of transplants, I know I'm not alone.

The U.S. Postal Service expects customer traffic to increase beginning December 10th. The week of December 17-23 is predicted to be the busiest mailing, shipping and delivery period with nearly three billion pieces of First-Class Mail, including Christmas cards, being processed and delivered. If you don't want to stand in long lines, send your stuff as soon as possible.

Here are the shipping deadlines you need to know:

USPS Domestic
Dec. 14: USPS Retail Ground
Dec. 20: First Class Mail, Priority Mail
Dec. 22: Priority Mail Express

USPS International
Dec. 1: First-Class Package International Service and Priority Mail International
Dec. 8: Priority Mail Express International
Dec. 19: Global Express Guaranteed

USPS Military
Dec. 4: Parcel Airlift Mail
Dec. 11: Priority Mail; First Class Mail (cards and letters)
Dec. 18: Priority Mail Express Military Service

FedEx
Dec. 10: SmartPost Services
Dec. 14: Ground
Dec. 17: Home Delivery
Dec. 19: Express Saver
Dec. 20: Two-Day Service
Dec. 21: Overnight Service

UPS
Dec. 14: Ground
Dec. 18: 3 Day Select
Dec. 20: 2nd Day Air Service
Dec. 22: Next Day Air Services