How to Ship Christmas Gifts

Wondering how late you can ship your packages to make sure they arrive by Christmas Eve? Don't know the best ways to make sure everything inside the box gets there in one piece? Holiday shipping can be a huge task (especially if you put it off until the end). This page will walk you through the major chipping deadlines, and show you a few tricks to make sure you don't lose any sleep over your holiday packages in the mail.
Tips for Shipping Gifts
1. Ship them out as early as possible; time is of the essence!
2. The major delivery companies have different deadlines to get packages delivered by Christmas Eve.
3. Don't be stingy on the quality of your packing materials.
4. Only use tape designed for shipping. That means no clear, duct or masking tape!
5. Remember to write clearly on the outside of the box. Addresses and warning labels are of no use if they're smudged.

How To Pack A Box

This video provides a comprehensive look at how to pack a box so that the contents inside arrive safely at their destination. The video recommends that you use a box close in size to the items you're shipping. If you only have a box that's too big, the video demonstrates the right way to cut the box down to size.

Comments (0)

Write a comment...
Introduction
- Making sure that your loved ones receive their Christmas gifts and greetings on time is as important as the gift itself. This holiday season, the United States Postal Service (USPS) expects to deliver approximately 19 billion letters, cards and packages. With that kind of volume, you'll want to make sure you're ahead of-- or at least well aware of-- the dates, deadlines and packing tips before you send out your gifts.
Dates & Deadlines
- There are different shipping deadlines for the big three: USPS, FedEx and UPS. However, no matter what the deadlines are or what the destination is, there is one simple fact: shipping early will save you money and stress.
USPS Military Holiday Shipping
For those sending gifts, letters or cards to troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and other overseas destinations, you will need to get them off at the beginning of December.
- APO/FPO Addresses:
First Class and Priority deadline is December 11 (except 093)
Parcel Airlift (PAL) deadline is December 4 (except 093)
Express (EMMS) deadline is December 18 (except 093)
- Special Military:
Iraq or Afghanistan deadline is December 4
Parcel Post deadline is November 13
USPS Domestic Holiday Shipping
- The USPS will be working overtime this holiday season, so make it easy on everyone involved and get your gifts out early. Here is a list of deadline dates that the USPS has established so that you'll know exactly when you will need to send your gifts.
- Parcel Post: Dec. 15
  - - The least expensive method the USPS has to offer.
- Letters and Cards: Dec. 20
- Priority Mail: Dec. 20
  - - Also known as First-Class Mail.
- Express Mail: Dec. 22
  - - The fastest service the USPS has to offer. Guaranteed next-day and second-day delivery.
USPS International Holiday Shipping
- Shipping costs and dates vary depending on which country or continent you plan on mailing to. Here's a breakdown of international shipping deadlines. For tips and information regarding international shipping, check out Addressing International Mail.
- Africa, Central & South America
  - Letters and Cards: Dec. 4
  - Priority Mail: Dec. 4
  - Express Mail: Dec. 12
  - Global Express Guaranteed: Dec. 19
- Asia, Pacific Rim, Australia, New Zealand, Caribbean, Mexico, Europe and Middle East
  - Letters and Cards: Dec. 11
  - Priority Mail: Dec. 11
  - Express Mail: Dec. 17
  - Global Express Guaranteed: Dec. 19
- Canada
  - Letters and Cards: Dec. 11
  - Priority Mail: Dec. 11
  - Express Mail: Dec. 18
  - Global Express Guaranteed: Dec. 20
FedEx General Holiday Shipping
- FedEx offers numerous shipping options for holiday packages, the rates of which are on a sliding scale depending on where in the word you plan on shipping them:
- U.S. to U.S.
- U.S. to Puerto Rico
- U.S. to Canada
- U.S. to Mexico
- U.S. to International
- Rate Information
UPS General Holiday Shipping
- UPS will be delivering packages as late as December 24. They recommend that you ship no later than Dec. 21. You can also calculate the time and cost online for shipping via UPS.
- UPS provides hard deadlines for their different types of delivery service:
- 3-Day Select: Dec. 19
- 2nd Day Air: Dec. 20
- UPS Next Day Air: Dec. 21
- Last chance to use UPS Next Day Air (additional pricing applies): Dec. 22
Shipping Tips
- Obviously, the single most important tip to get your packages delivered safely and quickly is to get them out early! Sending your packages with time to spare will ensure that the recipients get them. December 17-22 is expected to be the busiest shipping week this year so try to get your packages out before then. Remember that:
  1. The sooner you ship, the less you will pay. It is not in your wallet's best interest to procrastinate during the holidays.
  2. Monday is the busiest shipping day of the week. To avoid any delays and congestion ship your gifts Tuesday through Saturday.
- But besides punctuality, there are also a few other less obvious-- but still very effective-- ways that you can ship your Christmas gifts with as little worry as possible.
Pack the Insides Properly
- Stuff With Leftover Materials
- If you don't want to buy thousands of packing peanuts because of the hassle or the ecological impact, there are plenty of alternative materials you can use to stuff the inside of your package, including leftover industrial papers to inflated plastic bags.
  1. Wad them up and place them in your shipping box so that they cushion your smaller gifts.
  2. Not only will you save money on packing peanuts, but you'll finally get rid of some of those cumbersome bags!
  3. Other recommended cushioning materials include, crumpled newspaper, bubble wrap, Styrofoam and peanuts.
- Use Quality Packing Materials
- Don't rely on an old beat-up box to ship your gifts in. Getting a new shipping box will make sure that the package is delivered safely and intact.
- Get Help Packing It In
- If you are pressed for time and don't mind spending a little more to money to rid yourself of the hassle of packing, packing and shipping stores like the UPS Store, Mailboxes Etc. and FedEx Kinko's are there to help. They will pack and ship your boxes for you.
Don't Forget the Outside of Your Package
- Make Sure Packages are Handled with Care
- Some packages are more fragile than others, and will need extra precautions to make sure that they arrive at their destination unharmed.
  1. When shipping framed photos or artwork, take the glass out of the frame and wrap it separately.
  2. For breakable items such as glass or ceramics, pack them in a box, place that box in another box and surround all of that with packing material.
  3. Don't forget to clearly mark the outer-most box with the word "FRAGILE" so workers know to take extra care with the package.
- Don't Skimp On Shipping Labels
- Without a readable shipping label, even the best delivery company in the world can't get your package to the right place.
  1. Make sure your shipping label is clearly visible, and completely legible.
  2. Plan for the worst: just in case the outer shipping label gets damaged, place a backup copy inside the box. (Make sure that it has addresses for both the sender and the recipient!)
Spend a Little Extra Cash
- Splurge On Protecting Perishable Goods
- When shipping perishables, don't be afraid to go overboard on packaging to keep them safe during shipping!
  1. If your contents will fit, place them in an interior airtight container or plastic bag.
  2. Make sure that there is plenty of cushioning in the box so that food or other soft goods don't get mashed up during the voyage.
  3. Clearly mark the outside of the package with the word "PERISHABLE".
  4. It may also be worth paying a few extra dollars so that the package gets to its destination as quickly as possible. Nobody wants to open a box of spoiled food!
- Purchase Shipping Insurance
- If you are sending valuable items as gifts, err on the side of caution and protect yourself against the possibility of your package getting lost or damaged.
  1. Purchasing insurance isn't expensive and will grant you more peace of mind.
  2. Remember that if you don't pack your items properly, you may not be eligible for insurance payments in the event of damage in transit.
  3. FedEx doesn't offer insurance. Instead, you can declare the value of the package when shipping it. If it gets lost or damaged, you will be compensated based on your declared value.
- Be Picky About Your Packing Tape
- Contrary to what you might think, not just any tape will do, nor should you do the job haphazardly!
  1. Only use tape specifically designed for shipping purposes. Other kinds of tape, including masking tape or cellophane, are not secure enough for use in shipping.
  2. Shipping tapes like nylon-reinforced kraft paper tape or glass-reinforced pressure-sensitive tape are designed specifically for shipping, and will stand up to any possible rough handling.
  3. Remember to cover all the seams of your box with your chosen shipping tape!
Be Extra Crafty
- Batteries Not Included
- When shipping electronics, make sure that the batteries are not in the device.
  1. This prevents your package from making possibly suspicious beeping or ticking noises.
  2. Plus, the recipient will probably feel a little disappointed if the present arrives and the batteries are dead.
- Pack a Box in a Box
- Box in a box. If you are shipping many small gifts to one destination, you can wrap them individually and place them inside of the shipping box. Make sure to use packing material to cushion the smaller gifts. Wrap the shipping box and make sure that the shipping label is securely fastened by taping it to the paper.
- Give Recipients a Heads Up
- Inform the recipient ahead of time that you are sending a package. It will be worth spoiling a little bit of the surprise factor to ensure that someone will be home to sign for the package.