The past two years have been record-breaking when it comes to supply chain issues and the overwhelming demand for package shipments, and it looks like 2022 will follow suit. Why are there so many packages on the road? You guessed it—post and parcel shipping systems are still struggling to accommodate the massive eCommerce boom inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Parcel Pending by Quadient, “73% of consumers report they are shopping online more now than they did prior to the pandemic and 88% of people say they will continue to shop online even after a cure or vaccine is discovered.” All this online shopping is adding up to a massive influx of parcel deliveries.
With another intense holiday shipping season expected in 2022, customers should plan to place their orders and send their packages earlier than usual. You should also expect higher shipping prices and would be well-advised to explore different shipping methods to ensure your gifts and packages are delivered in time for the holidays.
As we do every year, we’re here to help you determine which shipping service is right for you this holiday season. Let’s begin by looking at the items you’re planning to ship:
| USPS, UPS, or FedEx is ideal for: | Consolidated freight & less-than-truckload shipping is ideal for: | White glove shipping is ideal for: |
|---|---|---|
| Cards Small parcels Small boxes of gifts |
Boxes packed with anything that are too large for USPS, UPS, or FedEx |
Furniture Antiques Artwork Family heirlooms Bulky or oddly-shaped items, like golf clubs |
With these recommendations in mind, and to ensure your parcels arrive in plenty of time for the holidays—or at least by Christmas Eve—we’ve collected all the 2022 shipping deadlines for some of the most common shipping providers, including USPS, FedEx, and UPS.
USPS
Keep reading to find out shipping deadlines for domestic shipments, packages being sent to Alaska and Hawaii, international parcels, and military mail.
Domestic
Service |
Shipping Cutoff Date |
|---|---|
| USPS Retail Ground™ service | December 17 |
| First-Class Mail® service (including greeting cards) | December 17 |
| Priority Mail® service | December 19 |
| Priority Mail Express® service* | December 23 |
| *not a guarantee Source: USPS |
|
Rate Increase
To offset costs during their peak season, some USPS rates will be between $0.30 and $6.50 higher per package—depending on the service and package weight—between October 2, 2022 and January 22, 2023. Learn more about this temporary rate adjustment.
Alaska and Hawaii
Destination |
First-Class Mail® Service |
Priority Mail® Service |
Priority Mail Express® Service |
USPS Retail Ground® Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | December 17 | December 17 | December 21 | December 2 |
| Hawaii | December 17 | December 17 | December 21 | n/a |
| *not a guarantee Source: USPS |
||||
International Mail
Destination |
First-Class Package International Service® |
Priority Mail International® Service |
Priority Mail Express International® Service |
Global Express Guaranteed® Service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | November 29 | November 29 | December 6 | December 20 |
| Asia/Pacific Rim | December 6 | December 6 | December 13 | December 20 |
| Australia/New Zealand | December 6 | December 6 | December 13 | December 20 |
| Canada | December 6 | December 6 | December 13 | December 22 |
| Caribbean | December 6 | December 6 | December 13 | December 21 |
| Central & South America | November 29 | November 29 | December 6 | December 20 |
| Europe | December 6 | December 6 | December 13 | December 21 |
| Mexico | December 6 | December 6 | December 13 | December 22 |
| Middle East | December 6 | December 6 | December 13 | December 20 |
| *not a guarantee Source: USPS |
||||
Military Mail
Destination |
USPS Retail Ground® Service |
First-Class Mail® Service |
Priority Mail® Service |
Priority Mail Express Military® Service (PMEMS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs™ 090-092 | November 5 | December 9 | December 9 | December 16 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 093 | November 5 | December 9 | December 9 | n/a |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 094-099 | November 5 | December 9 | December 9 | December 16 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 340 | November 5 | December 9 | December 9 | December 16 |
| APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 962-966 | November 5 | December 9 | December 9 | December 16 |
| *not a guarantee Source: USPS |
||||
FedEx
Get FedEx shipping deadlines for US domestic parcels, packages being sent to Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico, as well as detailed information about FedEx peak season shipping surcharges.
Domestic
Service |
Shipping Cutoff Date |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx Same Day | December 23 | |||
| FO, PO, SO, Extra Hours FedEx 1Day Freight |
December 22 | |||
| 2Day & 2Day AM FedEx 2Day Freight |
December 11 | |||
| FedEx Express Saver FedEx 3Day Freight |
December 20 | |||
| FedEx Ground FedEx Freight Priority FedEx Freight Direct |
December 14 | |||
| Ground Economy FedEx Freight Economy |
December 8 | |||
| Source: FedEx | ||||
US to Canada
Service |
Shipping Cutoff Date |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx® International Next Flight | December 23 | |||
| FedEx International First® | December 22 | |||
| FedEx International Priority® FedEx International Priority Distribution® |
December 17 | |||
| FedEx International Economy® | December 16 | |||
| FedEx International Connect Plus | December 15 | |||
| Canada Domestic Ground | December 14 | |||
| Northbound Ground | December 12 | |||
| Southbound Ground | December 13 | |||
| Source: FedEx | ||||
US to Mexico
Service |
Shipping Cutoff Date |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx® International Next Flight | December 23 | |||
| FedEx International First® FedEx International Priority® |
December 21 | |||
| FedEx International Economy® FedEx International Connect Plus |
December 20 | |||
| Source: FedEx | ||||
US to Puerto Rico
Service |
Shipping Cutoff Date |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx® International Next Flight | December 23 | |||
| FedEx International First® | December 21 | |||
| FedEx International Priority Distribution® FedEx International Economy |
December 20 | |||
| Source: FedEx | ||||
Rate Increase
Like USPS, FedEx has made changes to their pricing for the peak season. Surcharges are in effect beginning on September 5th and an additional increase on October 3rd.
FedEx Peak Surcharges
Surcharge Name |
Applicable Services |
September 5-October 2, 2022 |
October 3, 2022-January 15, 2023 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak — Additional Handling Surcharge | U.S. Express Package Services U.S. Ground Services International Ground Service |
$3.45 per package | $6.55 per package | |
| Peak — Oversize Charge | U.S. Express Package Services U.S. Ground Services International Ground Service |
$39.50 per package | $68.75 per package | |
| Peak — Ground Unauthorized Package Charge | U.S. Ground Services International Ground Service |
$385.00 per package | ||
| Peak Surcharge | FedEx Ground® Economy Package Services |
Oct. 31–Nov 27: $1.50 per package Nov 28–Dec 11: $2.50 per package Dec 12–Jan. 15: $1.50 per package |
||
| Peak — Residential Delivery Charge | FedEx Express and FedEx Ground U.S. domestic residential packages (excluding FedEx Ground Economy and FedEx One Rate® packages). | Based on Peaking Factor | ||
| Source: FedEx Peak Surcharges and Fees guide | ||||
UPS
Get UPS shipping deadlines for US domestic parcels and packages being sent to Canada.
Domestic
Service |
Shipping Cutoff Date |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPS® Ground shipping | Check ups.com/ctc for details | |||
| 3 Day Select® | December 20 | |||
| 2nd Day Air® Services | December 21 | |||
| Next Day Air® Services | December 22 | |||
| Source: UPS | ||||
US to Canada
Service |
Shipping Cutoff Date |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPS® Standard services (from the 48 contiguous states only) | Check ups.com/ctc for details | |||
| UPS Worldwide Expedited® | December 19 | |||
| UPS Worldwide Express® services | December 22 | |||
| Source: UPS | ||||
US to Mexico
Service |
Shipping Cutoff Date |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UPS® Standard services (from the 48 contiguous states only) | Check ups.com/ctc for details | |||
| UPS Worldwide Expedited® | December 19 | |||
| UPS Worldwide Express® services | December 22 | |||
| Source: UPS | ||||
Rate Increase
UPS has also implemented peak/demand surcharges to help offset their increased costs. Effective August 14, 2022 until further notice, rates will increase between $0.65-$1.70 per pound depending on service level and location. Learn more in their Peak Surcharge Update (PDF).
Consolidated freight and white glove shipping services
If you’re sending a gift of large packed boxes, furniture, antiques, or family heirlooms, you may want to use a shipping company who specializes in transporting these items. Even though USPS, FedEx, and UPS are all capable of carrying oversized packages, in 2022, these providers are charging additional fees and adding surcharges to oversized packages in order to accommodate the increase in demand. Full Service Expedited, White Glove Consolidated, or flat rate Box-and-Ship may be your best bet in these cases:
- Full Service Expedited: Full Service Expedited shipping includes full box and furniture packing, indoor pickup and delivery, and full valuation protection insurance. Your packages will be shipped on a dedicated truck—meaning they do not share space with other shipments heading in the same direction. Full Service Expedited is ideal when you need help with packing and fast delivery.
- White Glove Consolidated: With White Glove Consolidated shipping, professional movers will provide full furniture packing and preparation, and indoor pickup and delivery. Box packing can be added for an additional fee. This method is ideal for boxes that are too large for USPS, FedEx, or UPS, or our flat rate Box-and-Ship program. Your packages will share space on the trucks with other shipments headed in the same direction so they may take a bit longer to arrive, but you’ll only pay for the truck space you use, which may mean lower shipping costs.
- Box-and-Ship: Simply order your boxes, pack them up, and let TSI know when they’re ready to go! Flat rate box shipping with TSI is based on the number of boxes you ship. No matter how much they weigh (as long as they don’t exceed 40 lbs) or how far they’re travelling (within the continental United States), you’ll pay one flat rate per box. Box-and-Ship is ideal for sending boxes that weigh less than 40lbs long distance.
Whichever service you need, we always recommend shipping your items as soon as possible to ensure they arrive on time.
Conclusion
Just like in 2020 and 2021, you’ll need to plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time if you want your packages to arrive in time for the 2022 holiday season. Here are some tips to keep in mind when getting ready to ship your parcels:
- Use USPS, UPS, or FedEx for greeting cards and small boxes.
- Use consolidated freight and specialty shipping partners like TSI for bulky items, large boxes, or fragile and valuable pieces.
- Make sure that the return and delivery addresses are both correct.
- Use an easy-to-read shipping and address label.
- Correctly complete the bill of lading and other documentation.
- Send your shipment early!
Get Your Holiday Shipments On the Road
Discover TSI's specialty shipping services for packed boxes and furniture.
About the author: Stephanie Rosenlund is the Director of Strategic Solutions at TSI, the long distance move and shipment provider for thousands of businesses, families, and individuals every year. Stephanie knows all the tips and tricks to make your move or shipment simple and specializes in freight shipping and interstate relocations. In her free time, she loves exploring the world with her husband and two kids.
