Christmas card deadlines
When to mail Christmas cards in 2026.
Christmas Day is Friday, December 25. Order by Thursday, December 10 and your cards will usually arrive by Thursday, December 24. Below is how we got those dates and what the Postal Service says.
Your Christmas dates
Christmas Day
Friday, December 25
A Postal Service holiday
Order by
Thursday, December 10
Our rule of thumb
USPS send-by
Thursday, December 17
First-Class Mail, lower 48
When to order
| Goal | Order with us by | We mail about | Usually arrives by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cards usually here by Christmas Eve | Thursday, December 10 | Monday, December 14 | Thursday, December 24 |
We usually mail within a few business days of your order; these dates assume two. A card usually arrives within 8 business days of mailing. Dates are estimates.
A few ways to give yourself room
- Order the same day you finish the list. The list is the slow part; our guide and free template speed it up.
- Send the faraway cards first. Cards to Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico may have different USPS dates. Check the USPS page below.
- Know your fallback. A card that misses Christmas can still be a warm New Year card. See New Year card dates.
What the Postal Service says
On its 2026 holiday shipping deadlines page, checked November 10, 2026, USPS lists these last recommended send-by dates for delivery before December 25 within the lower 48 states: First-Class Mail, Thursday, December 17; Ground Advantage, Thursday, December 17; Priority Mail, Friday, December 18; Priority Mail Express, Saturday, December 19. For military addresses (APO/FPO/DPO), it lists First-Class Mail by Wednesday, December 9. The page notes that Hanukkah (December 4 to 12) falls early this year, and that actual delivery may vary.
Those are dates to hand your mail to the Postal Service, not dates to place an order with us. The page does not list cards separately, so we read the First-Class Mail line as the one that applies to cards. Source: usps.com/holiday/holiday-shipping-dates.htm.
Christmas timing, answered.
When should I mail Christmas cards in 2026?
Order by Thursday, December 10 and your Christmas cards will usually arrive by Thursday, December 24. That assumes we mail two business days after you order and a card takes up to 8 business days to arrive. It is an estimate, not a promise.
What is the USPS deadline for mailing Christmas cards in 2026?
USPS lists Thursday, December 17 as the last recommended send-by date for First-Class Mail to arrive before December 25 in the lower 48 states. That is the day mail should be with the Postal Service, so order with us earlier.
Is it too late to order Christmas cards after December 10?
You can still order, but cards will likely land after Christmas. An order placed on Friday, December 11 is estimated to arrive on or before Monday, December 28. A New Year card may be the better fit.
How many days before Christmas should I order cards?
Order by Thursday, December 10, 15 days before Christmas. A card usually arrives within 8 business days of mailing, and we usually mail within a few business days of your order. Mail can run slower in December, so give yourself some extra time.
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