Major Shipping Deadlines for Holiday Season in 2022
The holiday season is a crucial time for online businesses. According to the National Retail Federation, “holiday sales in November and December have averaged about 19 percent of annual retail sales over the last five years” and if you want a piece of that pie, you need to be prepared. Shipping delays are unfortunately very common during this time so we’ve put together a list of major shipping dates for you to be aware of as we approach 2022 holiday season.
November 12-21: Deadline for Thanksgiving Shipments
Thanksgiving is Nov. 24th which means that all shipments intended for arrival before Thanksgiving should be sent out between these dates. When in doubt, ship earlier rather than later to avoid any unexpected delays.
December 9-15: Deadline for Hanukkah Shipments
Hanukkah is the first holiday in December. It begins on Dec. 18th and ends on Dec. 26th. Any gifts you want to arrive in time for the holiday should be sent out during this window.
December 17-23: Deadline for Christmas Shipments
This is the window for Christmas shipments. Those gifts you procrastinated on? This is the time to ship them out if you want them to arrive by December 25th. Keep in mind that USPS advises to ship by Dec. 17th at the latest for Standard Post, Dec. 21st for Priority Mail & First-Class Package Service, and Dec 23rd Priority Mail Express Service. There will be an influx of packages being shipped during this time so again, it’s better to ship earlier rather than later!
Conclusion: Planning ahead is key when it comes to shipping during the holidays--the earlier you can get your gifts shipped out, the better! By being aware of these major shipping deadlines, you can avoid any stressful surprises down the line. Wishing everyone a happy and stress-free holiday season!
December 17-26: Deadline for Kwanzaa Shipments
Kwanzaa is the latest holiday this year, spanning from December 26th to January 1st. Since the holiday is just after Christmas and the postal service will already be busy, we recommend sending these packages at the same time as Christmas ones. This way, you can account for any delays that may occur.
