Once Thanksgiving week rolls in, New Jersey starts to feel the beginning of holiday season pressure. Stores get crowded, parking gets tighter and the lines at local post offices begin to stretch longer than usual. If you plan on mailing gifts this year, knowing the deadlines ahead of time can take a lot of stress out of December. USPS, UPS and FedEx have released their 2025 send-by dates, and here’s what to keep in mind if your goal is to have everything arrive before Christmas.
USPS Holiday Deadlines 2025
Many New Jersey households still rely on USPS, especially for smaller packages and cards. Because post offices tend to get busier once holiday shopping picks up, mailing a bit earlier can help prevent delays. USPS recommended domestic mailing dates are:
• Dec. 17: Ground Advantage
• Dec. 17: First-Class Mail
• Dec. 18: Priority Mail
• Dec. 20: Priority Mail Express
Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico & Territories:
• Dec. 16: Ground Advantage
• All other deadlines remain the same
International:
• Dec. 9: First-Class Package International
• Dec. 9: Priority Mail International
• Dec. 16: Priority Mail Express International
• Dec. 2: First-Class and Priority Mail International for Central and South America
UPS Holiday Deadlines 2025
UPS bases its holiday schedule around deliveries set to arrive by Dec. 24, and the weeks leading up to Christmas often bring heavier volume to New Jersey locations. Here are the dates UPS lists for its main services.
• Dec. 19: UPS 3-Day Select
• Dec. 22: UPS 2nd Day Air
• Dec. 23: UPS Next Day Air
• UPS Ground: Deadlines depend on ZIP code; check here.
International:
UPS directs customers to use its Calculate Time & Cost tool here for Canada, Mexico and other destinations.
FedEx Holiday Deadlines 2025
FedEx also bases its schedule on Dec. 24 delivery. Its Ground services shift based on distance, so some New Jersey ZIP codes fall on the early side. FedEx recommends the following:
• Dec. 15: FedEx Ground Economy
• Dec. 17–20: FedEx Ground / Home Delivery (varies by ZIP and distance)
• Dec. 20: FedEx Express Saver
• Dec. 22: FedEx 2Day
• Dec. 23: FedEx Overnight (Priority Overnight and Standard Overnight)
International:
FedEx asks customers to use the Get Rates & Transit Times tool on fedex.com to determine deadlines for specific countries.
What New Jersey Shippers Should Expect
New Jersey sits between two of the busiest metro areas in the country, and that usually leads to heavier-than-average package volume once December starts. Weather, commuter traffic and holiday returns all play a part, and waiting until the last possible day often means longer lines or packages missing the day’s truck.
A few steps can help you avoid that scramble:
• Pack and label items early
• Print shipping labels at home when you can
• Drop off before noon for faster processing
• Stick to weekdays; Saturdays usually move slower
• Consider 2-Day or Overnight if you’re close to the cutoff
Mailing a little earlier than the deadlines gives your gifts the best shot at arriving on time and saves you from the last-minute stress that always hits during the week before Christmas.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.