USPS 2026 holiday shipping dates

(CNN)– If you plan to ship packages this holiday season there are some deadlines.

The U.S. Postal Service has announced its recommended mailing dates if you want your cards and gifts to arrive before December 25.

If you are mailing within the contiguous 48 states, the earliest deadline is December 17.

For Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories the earliest deadline is December 16.

If you use priority mail or priority mail express, you have a couple extra days.