2012 holiday shipping guide: When to send packages so they arrive by Christmas

Post office holiday shipping

The US Postal Service expects to handle 385 million package this holiday season.
Copyright Getty Images

Fedex holiday shipping

FedEx expects to handle about 280 million shipments during the 2012 holiday season, from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
Copyright Getty Images

UPS holiday shipping

UPS expects to deliver more than 120 million parcels around the world during the week before Christmas.
Copyright Getty Images

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Posted: 11/30/2012

CINCINNATI - As Dec. 25 nears, many people around the Tri-State want to make sure that stockings are stuffed and presents are under the tree in time for Christmas. If you’re shipping gifts, this guide will help you ensure they get to their destinations on time.

We’re On Your Side this holiday season to make sure you send your parcels and packages so they get to their destination in time for the presents to be opened.

United States Postal Service dates for domestic mail
Calculated for Dec. 25, 2012

USPS is closed on Dec. 25, so shipments need to be in a little earlier.

  • Update: Dec. 14, 2012 > USPS has introduced its  "Click-N-Ship" service , which it promises will make domestic, military and international shipping easier

For information about USPS pricing, go to postcalc.usps.com/ .

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. 2

For information about international and military holiday shipping deadlines, go to www.usps.com/shippingdates/ .

Next page: FedEx holiday shipping deadlines.

FedEx is open for business seven days a week, 365 days a year to make sure your packages get to their destination on time.

For information about how much it will cost you to ship with FedEx, go to www.fedex.com/ratefinder/home .

FedEx dates for domestic shipping
Calculated for Dec. 25, 2012

Domestic shipments Date
FedEx SameDay Dec. 25
FedEx First Overnight Dec. 22
FedEx Priority Overnight Dec. 22
FedEx Standard Overnight Dec. 22
FedEx 2Day A.M. Dec. 20
FedEx 2Day Dec. 20
FedEx Express Saver Dec. 19
FedEx Ground Dec. 17
FedEx Home Delivery Dec. 17
FedEx SmartPost (not a guaranteed service) Dec. 12

For information about international and military shipping deadlines with FedEx, go to www.fedex.com/us/holiday/last-days-to-ship.html .

Next page: UPS holiday shipping deadlines.

UPS advises planning ahead to make sure your shipping needs are met.

For information about UPS pricing, go to wwwapps.ups.com/ctc/request?loc=en_US.

UPS dates for domestic shipping
Calculated for Dec. 24, 2012

UPS is closed on Dec. 25, so shipments need to be in a little earlier.

Domestic shipments Date
UPS Ground Dec. 18
UPS 3 Day Select Dec. 19
UPS 2 Day Air Dec. 20
UPS Next Day Air Early A.M. Dec. 22
UPS Next Day Air Dec. 22
UPS Express Critical Dec. 24

For more information about international and military shipping deadlines with UPS, go to compass.ups.com/holidays/?WT.ac=UPS_HP_PEAKNF_Mrktg_P1_U1_en_us&WT.ac=UPS_HP_Peak_Mrktg_P1_U1_en_us .

Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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