Health
USPS Announces Holiday Shipping Deadlines
Health Points
- Holiday shipping costs will temporarily increase starting October 5, 2025.
- Key mailing deadlines are one day earlier this year.
- USPS Operation Santa invites community participation to help families in need.
This holiday season, mailing packages will cost a bit more, as the United States Postal Service will raise prices for several shipping options from October 5, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Notable price increases include USPS Ground Advantage going up by 40 to 50 cents, Priority Mail by 40 to 90 cents, and Priority Mail Express by $1.10 to $2.00, depending on your service and zone.
To ensure gifts arrive by December 25 in the contiguous U.S., send via USPS Ground Advantage or First-Class Mail by December 17, Priority Mail by December 18, and Priority Mail Express by December 20.
For Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories, the Ground Advantage deadline is December 16.
This year’s deadlines arrive a day earlier than last year, following changes to overnight delivery services.
The USPS has also released festive holiday stamps, celebrating the tradition of decorating with fruit, flowers, and greenery.
Families and communities can spread cheer through USPS Operation Santa, which allows households in need to mail their wishes, while others can anonymously fulfill them.
Key Operation Santa dates include November 3 for adopter registration, November 17 for adopting letters, December 6 as the last day to send letters, and December 13 as the deadline to ship gifts.
“For more than a century, USPS Operation Santa has brought communities together to make the holidays brighter,” said Sheila Holman, USPS marketing vice president. “Each year, we receive far more letters than we have adopters, and this year we want to change that – especially by encouraging participants to adopt family letters, which makes it possible to fulfill the wishes of an entire household at once.”
The holidays are a special time to reconnect, so be proactive about shipping early, joining community traditions, and staying ahead of seasonal deadlines.
