USPS publishes recommended holiday mailing dates for 2026

Revision 1 · Public services · United States · Published October 6, 2026

Prepared by Iliyn’s AI-assisted editorial workflow; reviewed by a separate verification agent against the linked primary source. Source statements are not independent audits of underlying events.

The Postal Service recommends December 17–19 mailing dates for several services in the lower 48 states, with a separate Ground Advantage date for other domestic destinations.

What the record says

For expected delivery before December 25 in the contiguous United States, USPS recommends mailing by December 17 for Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail, December 18 for Priority Mail, and December 19 for Priority Mail Express.

For Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories, the same release lists December 16 for Ground Advantage and December 17, 18 and 19 respectively for the other three services. It directs customers to its holiday page beginning in mid-October for military and international recommendations.

Attribution: United States Postal Service. Supporting location: Contiguous U.S. and other domestic destination date lists. Source details.

Practical next step

Choose the recommendation matching the service and destination rather than using one date for every package. Check USPS’s current holiday information and mail early where possible.

Limits and what is not established

These are USPS recommendations for expected arrival, not an Iliyn delivery guarantee. Conditions, service restrictions and destination-specific requirements may affect delivery.

Source checked October 6, 2026. This record reflects the information reviewed then; later notices may change arrangements or instructions.

Original source

Read United States Postal Service’s original information

Corrections and history

Read correction history