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SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Whether you’re wrapping up presents or just starting some last-minute shopping, there are some important shipping deadlines to consider.
The deadline to get your package to its destination by Christmas is today for most ground shipments. That’s the case for all U.S. ground shipments via the U.S. Postal Service, FedEx and UPS.
For the U.S. Postal Service, shipments can still arrive before Christmas if it’s sent on or before December 18 via First-Class Mail Service. The deadline is December 19 with Priority Mail Service and December 23 with Priority Mail Express Service.
Similarly, December 21 is the last day to ship via FedEx Express Saver and December 22 is the last day to ship via FedEx 2Day.
For UPS, December 21 is the last day to ship UPS 3 Day Select and December 22 is the last day to ship UPS 2nd Day Air packages. UPS Express Critical is available on Christmas Day, although UPS will be closed.
UPS offers an online shipping time and cost calculator that can help determine how long it can take for a package to arrive.
Amazon has not listed a holiday shipping calendar, although gifts typically send faster when purchased from an Amazon Prime subscription.
Orders of at least $35, and paired with an Amazon Prime subscription, are sometimes eligible for same day shipping on certain items. Although keep in mind, same day delivery services will not be available on Christmas Day.
For Amazon Prime members, most other items are available for two-day delivery.
With an even larger emphasis being placed on online shopping, due to the coronavirus pandemic, many shipping companies are beefing up their staff numbers to meet the demand.
Fortune Magazine reports that UPS has opened 20 new shipping warehouses and added 139,000 seasonal and permanent staff. Additionally, FedEx has reportedly hired 70,000 new workers.