The Procrastinator’s Guide: How Late Can You Ship to Arrival by Christmas From AR & TX?

Christmas can be pretty stressful, especially if you have family who live far away. If you are like me, the stress doesn't come from finding a great Christmas gift. The stress is the race to package it and then mail the gift so it gets there before Christmas.

The burning question that will start running through your head and keep you up at night is, When is the cut-off date for my packages to arrive at their destination by Christmas Day?

I live in Arkansas, but my family lives all over the place, from Minnesota to Montana to Maryland and Tennessee.

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The actual date differs from carrier to carrier, but as a general rule, all of their dates range from December 17 to December 20. Yikes! That will be here before you know it!

Taking a closer look, let's check out the differences between the United States Postal Service, UPS and FedEx. Of course, keep in mind, the faster the service, the more expensive.

U.S. Postal Service - Last Day to Ship for Delivery Before Christmas

USPS Ground Advantage/First-Class: Wednesday, December 17
Priority Mail: Thursday, December 18
Priority Mail Express: Saturday, December 20

READ MORE: Texarkana Gifts: Where to Buy Local Merch for Christmas 

FedEx -  Last Day to Ship for Delivery Before Christmas

FedEx Ground Economy Monday, December 15
FedEx Home Delivery (5-Day): Wednesday, December 17
FedEx 2Day & 2 Day AM: Monday, December 22

If you are really pressed for time...

FedEx First/Priority/Standard Overnight: Tuesday, December 23
FedEx SameDay: Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve)

UPS - Last Day to Ship for Delivery Before Christmas

UPS Ground: Will vary depending on the mailing location from your location, but you can use the UPS Calculator by entering your specific area and the destination.

UPS 3 Day Select by Friday, December 19
UPS 2nd Day Air: Monday, December 22
UPS Next Day Air: Tuesday, December 23

There you go! Happy Shipping and Merry Christmas!