Christmas 2026 mailing dates
Last day to mail Christmas cards in 2026
The US Postal Service recommends mailing First-Class Christmas cards to addresses in the lower 48 states by Thursday, December 17 for delivery before Christmas. Below are all of USPS’s recommended dates, then, kept separate, the order-by dates for cards and letters we write and mail for you. To have a card from us arrive before Christmas, order by Sunday, December 6. That’s worked out from our real writing and mailing times, with a few days spare, and it’s an estimate.
USPS recommended Christmas mailing dates for 2026
These are the US Postal Service’s own recommended last mailing dates for delivery before December 25, 2026, as announced on Wednesday, September 23. We copied them from the USPS holiday dates page on Monday, October 12; USPS can change them, so check there before you rely on a date.
| Mailing to | First-Class Mail (cards) | USPS Ground Advantage | Priority Mail | Priority Mail Express |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower 48 states | Thu, Dec 17 | Thu, Dec 17 | Fri, Dec 18 | Sat, Dec 19 |
| Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico & territories | Thu, Dec 17 | Wed, Dec 16 | Fri, Dec 18 | Sat, Dec 19 |
| Military mail (APO, FPO, DPO) | See USPS | See USPS | See USPS | See USPS |
| International mail | See USPS | See USPS | See USPS | See USPS |
A Christmas card in an envelope with a stamp goes First-Class Mail. Ground Advantage, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express are for packages and faster paid services. Military mail (APO, FPO and DPO addresses) and international mail have their own dates, which USPS says it publishes in mid-October: see the USPS holiday dates page.
- A “recommended” date is the last day USPS suggests mailing for delivery before Christmas, not a guarantee. Mail on or before it, and earlier where you can.
- Drop cards in a blue collection box or at the post office before the last collection time of the day. A card dropped after pickup goes out the next mailing day.
- Mail to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the territories by Ground Advantage needs an extra day, per the USPS table above.
Our order-by dates for cards, letters and Santa letters
When we write and mail a card for you, the date that matters is when you order, not when you’d post it yourself. Each one is written with a real pen first, then stamped and mailed as First-Class Mail. So our dates are earlier than USPS’s and are worked out from our own writing time, typical mail time in December and a few days spare. They’re estimates, never promises.
| What we mail for you | Order by | Typically arrives (US, if ordered that day) |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas card | Sunday, December 6 | Saturday, December 19 |
| Full Christmas letter | Sunday, December 6 | Tuesday, December 22 |
| Letter from Santa | Sunday, December 6 | Saturday, December 19 |
| Card or letter to Canada | Friday, December 4 | Before Christmas, typically |
| Card or letter to other countries | Sunday, November 29 | Before Christmas, typically |
If you order today, a US card typically arrives around Saturday, November 14. A full letter takes about two more days to write, so if a letter must arrive early, order a few days ahead. For Santa letters, see when to order a letter from Santa, which also lets you pick a December delivery date.
Hanukkah and New Year cards
Hanukkah 2026 begins at sundown on Friday, December 4, much earlier than Christmas this year, so Hanukkah cards need to go out earlier too. To have a card from us arrive before the first night, order by Sunday, November 15. See Hanukkah card wording for what to write.
New Year cards are the classic answer to a missed Christmas date: they can arrive any time in the first week or two of January and still feel right. To have one arrive by New Year’s Day (Friday, January 1), order by Sunday, December 13. Ideas for what to write are in New Year card wording.
A simple plan for getting cards out on time
- Early November: make your list and gather addresses. A free address link lets family type their own.
- Mid-November: choose your card and write your message. The Christmas card messages guide has ideas for every person on your list.
- By Sunday, December 6: order the cards we mail for you, or, by Thursday, December 17, post the ones you write yourself.
- After Christmas: anyone you missed gets a New Year card.
Sending a family letter as well? How to write a family Christmas letter covers length, structure and what to leave out. Sending to a long list? We can write a personal note for each person and mail them all from one list.