SAN FRANCISCO — Shipping letters and packages to friends and family in time for the holiday season can be as simple as taking a short trip to your computer with the tools, tips and transactions available at usps.com. Whether ordering shipping supplies, printing postage, getting information about mailing guidelines, filling out required customs forms or requesting free package pickup, the U.S. Postal Service is ready to help shippers get a head start on the holidays.
Most important, shippers should mail their holiday letters and packages early to reach their family and friends across the country and around the world. The Postal Service recommends the following deadlines for domestic, military and international delivery of holiday cards and packages by Dec. 25.
|
Domestic Mail/Product |
Mail-By Date |
|
First-Class Mail |
Dec 20 |
|
Priority Mail |
Dec 21 |
|
Express Mail* |
Dec 22 |
|
Parcel Post |
Dec 15 |
|
DBMC Drop Ship |
Dec 18 |
|
DDU Drop Ship |
Dec 22 |
*Some Express Mail destinations may have extended service commitments
|
Military Mail |
Express Mail Military Service (EMMS) 1 |
First-Class Mail |
Priority Mail |
Parcel |
|
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090-092 |
Dec 18 |
Dec 10 |
Dec 10 |
Dec 3 |
|
APO/FPO AE ZIP 093 |
N/A |
Dec 4 |
Dec 4 |
Dec 1 |
|
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098 |
Dec 18 |
Dec 10 |
Dec 10 |
Dec 3 |
|
APO/FPO AA ZIP 340 |
Dec 18 |
Dec 10 |
Dec 10 |
Dec 3 |
|
APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966 |
Dec 18 |
Dec 10 |
Dec 10 |
Dec 3 |
1) EMMS: available to selected military post offices. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to an APO/FPO address.
2) PAL: a service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. It is available for Parcel Post items not exceeding 30 pounds in weight or 60 inches in length and girth combined. The applicable PAL fee must be paid in addition to the regular surface rate of postage for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.
|
International Mail |
Global Express Guaranteed |
Express Mail International (EMS) |
Priority Mail International (PMI) |
First-Class Mail |
|
Africa |
Dec 17 |
Dec 11 |
Dec 3 |
Dec 3 |
|
Asia/Pacific Rim |
Dec 17 |
Dec 16 |
Dec 10 |
Dec 10 |
|
Australia/New Zealand |
Dec 17 |
Dec 16 |
Dec 10 |
Dec 10 |
|
Canada |
Dec 21 |
Dec 17 |
Dec 13 |
Dec 10 |
|
Caribbean |
Dec 20 |
Dec 16 |
Dec 13 |
Dec 10 |
|
Central & South America |
Dec 20 |
Dec 11 |
Dec 3 |
Dec 3 |
|
Mexico |
Dec 21 |
Dec 16 |
Dec 10 |
Dec 10 |
|
Europe |
Dec 20 |
Dec 16 |
Dec 13 |
Dec 10 |
|
Middle East |
Dec 17 |
Dec 16 |
Dec 13 |
Dec 10 |
*GXG: Cutoff date does not take into account time needed for customs clearance. Extra transit time should be allocated.
Customers going online can save on postage and order free Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes. Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are available in four sizes, with shipping prices starting as low as $4.90 for domestic and $11.45 to Mexico and Canada, or $13.45 to most other countries. Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are also available free at any Post Office. Postage, labels and customs forms can be printed online anytime using Click-N-Ship. Information on free package pickup is available online at usps.com/pickup.
The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.
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Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/welcome.htm.
A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no direct support from taxpayers. With 36,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, the Postal Service relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $68 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 28th in the 2009 Fortune 500.
