When Is It Too Late to Send Holiday Packages?

Now that Black Friday and Cyber Monday are behind us, everyone should have all of their holiday shopping complete. Right? If that's not the case and you need to ship your gifts out of town, be sure to know your shipping deadlines of when you may need to send. The shipping companies have laid out their parameters on when the last-minute deadlines are. Don't get caught at the mailbox on Christmas Eve.

Below are deadlines and policies for the United States Postal Service, UPS and FedEx. You may check out one of these local offices or visit their websites.

United States Post Office

Locations

• —30 Ardmore Ave., Ardmore. 610-649-5810
• USPS: Wynnewood—50 E. Wynnewood Rd., Ste 22, Wynnewood. 610-642-6561
• USPS: Merion—17 Civic Circle, Merion Station. 610-664-5386
• USPS: Haverford—387 Lancaster Ave., Haverford. 610-649-6065

Deadlines for domestic shipping:

• Parcel Post: Dec. 15
• First-class mail: Dec. 20
• Priority Mail: Dec. 21
• Express Mail: Dec. 22

Extras: The USPS website details further info on shipping internationally and to military personnel. The site also has a store for packaging needs—including evergreen stamps—with operating hours for stores, with most open Dec. 24.

FedEx

Location:

• : 292 E. Lancaster Ave., Wynnewood. 610-896-2360

Deadlines for domestic shipping:

• FedEx Ground/Home Delivery: Dec. 17
• FedEx Express Saver: Dec. 21
• FedEx Overnight: Dec. 23
• FedEx Same Day: Dec. 25

Extras: The FedEx site shares location and drop-box info and further packing tips for the holiday. Also, it outlines a suspension of certain money-back guarantees for services after Dec. 19 through the Christmas season.

UPS

Location:

• :  333 East Lancaster Ave., Wynnewood. 610-642-8660

Extras: Though rush service exists for next-day shipping Dec. 23, the deadline for nearly all holiday packages is Dec. 22—fairly cut-and-dry. The UPS website also breaks down international shipping. For more info, UPS will host Twitter chats leading up to the holidays for last minute questions.