It’s December, And These Are Illinois’ Holiday Shipping Deadlines

Of all the things that can go wrong during the holiday season, not getting your gifts sent out in time for the people on your gift list to open them on Christmas Day isn't the absolute worst thing that could happen--but we still would really like to avoid that happening.

If you somehow accidently don't get your holiday gifts sent out in time, look at it this way: the people on your gift list will be receiving a bonus present from you that they can open sometime in January, long after they've forgotten the other stuff they got on Christmas.

To avoid all that, just print out this mailing schedule and stick it on your refrigerator.

With An Expectation Of 200 Million-Plus Packages Being Delivered Every Week During The Holiday Season, Let's Make Sure You Have The Right Shipping Deadlines

Holiday shipping deadlines are the latest dates you can ship a package with a carrier and have your shipment get to its destination in time for the holidays, so knowing what UPS, USPS, and FedEx have marked as deadlines should keep everyone on your gift list (who doesn't live in the Rockford area) happy on the big day.

According to the 2023 Deloitte Holiday Retail Survey, which polled 4,330 consumers between August 30th and September 8th, gift-givers in Illinois and throughout the country are expected to spend an average of $1,652 on holiday-related purchases, up 14% from last year and surpassing an average of $1,496 they spent in 2019.

CNN:

Lupine Skelly, head of retail research with Deloitte, said in an interview with CNN that three factors have likely contributed to the uptick. More consumers will be actively celebrating the holiday season (95% versus 92% in 2022 and 88% in 2021), a majority of shoppers are expecting to pay higher prices on festive products and middle-to-higher income households will be the high spenders.

Here Are The Major Carriers, And Their Holiday Shipping Deadlines For 2023

USPS

• USPS Ground Advantage™: Saturday, December 16, 2023
• First-Class® Mail: Saturday, December 16, 2023
• Priority Mail®: Monday, December 18, 2023 (Alaska), Saturday, December 16, 2023 (Hawaii)
• Priority Mail Express®: Wednesday, December 20, 2023

FedEx

• FedEx Ground Economy: Wednesday, December 13, 2023
• FedEx GroundⓇ: Visit FedEx’s website for more information about shipping deadlines for FedEx Ground®
• FedEx Home Delivery: Visit FedEx’s website for more information about shipping deadlines for FedEx Ground®
• FedEx Express Saver: Tuesday, December 19, 2023
• 2Day & 2Day AM: Wednesday, December 20, 2023
• FedEx SameDay: Friday, December 22, 2023

UPS

• UPS 3 Day Select®: Tuesday, December 19, 2023
• UPS 2nd Day Air® services: Wednesday, December 20, 2023 or Thursday, December 21, 2023 with Saturday Delivery options
• UPS® Ground: Check ups.com/ctc for details
• UPS® Ground Saver: Check ups.com/ctc for details
• UPS Next Day Air® services: Thursday, December 21, 2023, or Friday, December 22, 2023 with Saturday Delivery options