Holiday card deadlines
When to mail holiday cards in 2026.
The 2026 dates for each holiday, what the Postal Service says about its mailing deadline, and the day to order so your cards usually arrive in time.
The dates at a glance
Order by the date in the third column and your cards will usually arrive by the date in the fourth.
| Holiday | 2026 date | Order with us by | Usually arrives by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanukkah | Starts at sundown Friday, December 4 | Thursday, November 19 | Friday, December 4 |
| Christmas | Friday, December 25 | Thursday, December 10 | Thursday, December 24 |
| Kwanzaa | Saturday, December 26 to Friday, January 1 | Thursday, December 10 | Thursday, December 24 |
| New Year | Friday, January 1 | Wednesday, December 16 | Thursday, December 31 |
Each holiday has its own page with more detail.
How we figure these dates
- Mail time. A card usually arrives within 8 business days of mailing. December mail can be slower.
- Our part. We usually mail within a few business days of your order. The dates below assume we mail two business days after you order.
- Business days skip weekends and Postal Service holidays: Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 26), Christmas Day (Friday, December 25) and New Year’s Day (Friday, January 1).
Mail times vary, so every date on this page is an estimate, not a promise. We never promise a date. For anyone who matters most, order a few days early.
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.
Order date to estimated delivery
Here is the same math for a set of order days from mid-November to mid-December, using our estimate of 8 business days after mailing.
| You order | We mail about | Estimated delivery on or before | Compared with Christmas |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, November 16 | Wednesday, November 18 | Tuesday, December 1 | Before Christmas Day |
| Thursday, November 19 | Monday, November 23 | Friday, December 4 | Before Christmas Day |
| Monday, November 23 | Wednesday, November 25 | Tuesday, December 8 | Before Christmas Day |
| Monday, November 30 | Wednesday, December 2 | Monday, December 14 | Before Christmas Day |
| Thursday, December 3 | Monday, December 7 | Thursday, December 17 | Before Christmas Day |
| Monday, December 7 | Wednesday, December 9 | Monday, December 21 | Before Christmas Day |
| Thursday, December 10 | Monday, December 14 | Thursday, December 24 | Before Christmas Day |
| Friday, December 11 | Tuesday, December 15 | Monday, December 28 | After Christmas Day |
| Monday, December 14 | Wednesday, December 16 | Tuesday, December 29 | After Christmas Day |
| Wednesday, December 16 | Friday, December 18 | Thursday, December 31 | After Christmas Day |
Estimates only. Mail times vary.
Past the date?
Do not give up on the card. Hanukkah lasts eight nights, Kwanzaa lasts a week and a New Year card can arrive in the first days of January. Pick the holiday your card can still reach, and order as soon as you can.
Sending to a long list? Gather the addresses first, then upload them once.
Holiday card timing, answered.
When should I mail holiday cards in 2026?
For Christmas, order by Thursday, December 10 so your cards usually arrive by Thursday, December 24. For Hanukkah, order by Thursday, November 19 to usually arrive before the first night on Friday, December 4. For Kwanzaa, the Christmas date works too, and for the New Year, order by Wednesday, December 16. These are estimates, not promises.
What is the last day to mail Christmas cards in 2026?
The Postal Service lists Thursday, December 17 as its last recommended send-by date for First-Class Mail to arrive before December 25 in the lower 48 states. We suggest ordering earlier, by Thursday, December 10, because we mail after you order and mail times vary.
How long do holiday cards take to arrive?
A holiday card usually arrives within 8 business days of mailing. Mail can run slower in December, so some cards take longer.
When does Hanukkah start in 2026?
Hanukkah begins at sundown on Friday, December 4 and ends after nightfall on Saturday, December 12. The first candle is lit the evening of December 4 and the eighth the evening of Friday, December 11.
Can you promise my holiday cards arrive by a certain date?
We can't promise a date. Cards are mailed First-Class without a tracking number, and we email you when they are mailed. Use the dates here as a plan, and order a few days earlier for anyone who matters most.
Is it too late to mail holiday cards after the order-by date?
Send it anyway. Hanukkah has eight nights, Kwanzaa has seven days, and a New Year card can still land in early January. Choose the holiday your card can still make, and order soon.
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