2025 Holiday Shipping Deadlines & Rate Changes: What You Should Know
A complete guide to domestic and international shipping deadlines from USPS, UPS, and FedEx for the 2025 holiday season, plus peak surcharge and rate increase details.
December 15, 20252 min readPostsale Team
The holidays are right around the corner, and if you're anything like most Postsale merchants, you're already planning how to get your customers' orders delivered on time without breaking the bank.
To help you stay ahead of the holiday rush, we've gathered domestic and international shipping deadlines from USPS, UPS, and FedEx, along with important info about temporary rate increases and peak season surcharges.
Use this guide to plan ahead, update your store's shipping cutoff dates, and deliver those holiday miracles right on schedule.
USPS: Domestic & International Deadlines + Rate Increases
Domestic Shipping Deadlines (Lower 48 + AK/HI)
Service
Contiguous US
Alaska & Hawaii
Ground Advantage
Dec 17
Dec 16
First-Class Mail
Dec 17
Dec 17
Priority Mail
Dec 18
Dec 18
Priority Mail Express
Dec 20
Dec 20
International Shipping Deadlines (for Delivery by Dec 25)
Service
Ship-By Date
First-Class Package International
Dec 9
Priority Mail International
Dec 9
Priority Mail Express International
Dec 16
Global Express Guaranteed
Dec 16
USPS Rate Increases
Shipments to Canada, Europe, Mexico, and Australia/New Zealand:
Impact: Rate hikes ranging from ~$0.30 to $16+ depending on package weight and zone.
UPS: Deadlines & Peak Season Pricing
Domestic Shipping Deadlines
Service
Ship-By Date
UPS 3 Day Select
Dec 19
UPS 2nd Day Air
Dec 22
UPS Next Day Air
Dec 23
UPS Ground
Varies by origin and destination -- Check ups.com/ctc
International Shipping Deadlines
Service
Ship-By Date
Worldwide Expedited (to Canada)
Dec 22
Worldwide Express (to Canada/Mexico)
Dec 23
Worldwide Expedited (to Mexico)
Dec 19
UPS Standard to Canada/Mexico
Varies by origin and destination -- Check ups.com/ctc
For other international destinations (e.g., Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa), UPS suggests using the UPS Calculate Time and Cost (CTC) tool to find the specific send-by date that will get your shipment delivered before Christmas. Transit times can vary by region and service class.
UPS Rate Increases
General Rate Increase: ~5.9% average across most services
Holiday Surcharges: Applied to residential, large, and additional handling packages throughout peak season
When: Typically late Nov through late Dec
FedEx: Cutoffs & Demand-Based Surcharges
Domestic Shipping Deadlines
Service
Ship-By Date
Ground Economy
Dec 15
Express Saver
Dec 19
2Day
Dec 22
Overnight (Standard/Priority/First)
Dec 23
SameDay
Dec 24
International Shipping Deadlines
Service
Ship-By Date
International Connect Plus
Dec 18
International Economy
Dec 19
International Priority
Dec 22
International First
Dec 23
International Next Flight
Dec 23
FedEx Rate Increases
Peak Surcharges: Applied during November--December on high-volume and express shipments
Timing: Typically mid-Nov through Dec 24
Tips for International Holiday Shipping
Plan early: International transit times are longer and more variable than domestic.
Use carrier transit tools: Especially for UPS and FedEx, enter origin and destination ZIP/postal codes to get exact cutoffs.
Watch customs deadlines: Many international delays happen at customs -- proper labeling and paperwork help avoid holdups.
Promote clear deadlines to customers: In blog posts or store banners, put your own earlier send-by dates that factor in these carrier deadlines plus buffer time.
Set your store's cutoff dates earlier than the carrier deadlines
Use banners, popups, and emails to notify customers
Group shipments to reduce surcharge exposure
Use Postsale Automations to send delivery updates and reduce support volume