The holiday season can be a goldmine for small retailers—but only if your shipping game is dialed in. Between carrier delays, overwhelmed fulfillment centers, and customer expectations for timely delivery, one missed deadline can mean an unhappy buyer or lost sale. Planning ahead, communicating clearly, and knowing your cutoffs can help you stay in control and deliver a great experience, even during the year’s busiest months.
Know Your 2024 Holiday Carrier Deadlines
Major carriers release recommended shipping-by dates for delivery by December 24. While these can vary slightly each year, here’s a reliable baseline for 2024:
USPS:
- USPS Ground Advantage: Ship by Dec 16
- Priority Mail: Ship by Dec 20
- Priority Mail Express: Ship by Dec 21
More info: USPS Holiday Shipping
UPS:
- Ground: Use UPS’s calculator, as timing depends on the destination
- 3 Day Select: Ship by Dec 19
- 2nd Day Air: Ship by Dec 20
- Next Day Air: Ship by Dec 21
More info: UPS Holiday Schedule
FedEx:
- Ground/Home Delivery: Ship by Dec 15
- Express Saver: Ship by Dec 19
- 2Day: Ship by Dec 20
- Overnight: Ship by Dec 21
More info: FedEx Holiday Deadlines
Set and Communicate Your Own Deadlines
Your internal cutoff should be earlier than the carrier’s. Account for processing time, unexpected delays, and customer communication. Update your storefront banner, shipping policy, product pages, and social channels to clearly show the last day to order for holiday delivery.
Batch Process Orders to Save Time
Don’t pack and label one order at a time—batching saves hours. Designate certain times of day or days of the week for shipping tasks, and print labels in batches through your e-commerce platform to cut time at the printer.
Stock Up on Supplies Early
Boxes, tape, bubble mailers, and printer labels tend to sell out or get delayed themselves in December. Order early and keep backups of key items. If you regularly purchase shipping materials from big-box stores or office retailers, consider using a cashback app like Fluz to purchase discounted gift cards and save on supply runs.
Download Fluz and start getting cashback today.
Offer Local Pickup or Delivery as a Backup
Give customers more options during crunch time. If you’re a local business, add a pickup option for last-minute buyers or consider a limited delivery zone to help clear out orders past national cutoffs.
Handle Returns Smoothly
The holiday season often leads to post-holiday returns. Make your return policy easy to find and clear. Consider printing return instructions or QR codes directly into your packaging to reduce customer service volume in January.
