The good news is, you’re unlikely to encounter the same shipping delays you did in recent years, due to the pandemic and supply chain issues. But retailers still have shipping-cutoffs.
Retailers are starting to confirm their 2024 holiday shipping deadlines. Missed the deadlines below? There’s still hope, thanks to same-day delivery, offered by some retailers for an extra fee.
- Store Shipping Deadlines
- Carrier Holiday Shipping Deadlines (UPS, USPS, FedEx)
- Buy Online, Pick Up in Store Options
- Faster Shipping Options
- Same-Day Delivery
Our guide to shipping deadlines and free shipping deadlines will help you get your packages on time. Note that there may be some variation — a retailer may have different deadlines for bulky or customized items, for example. We’ve also seen retailers increasingly offer item-by-item shipping dates, rather than uniform shipping cutoffs as Dec. 25 creeps closer. So you might not see your specific delivery-date estimates until after you add items to your cart.
How Long is Standard Shipping?
In general, standard shipping takes three to five business days. However, that does NOT include processing time (the time it takes a retailer to pull your item, box it up and send it off). So don’t think for a moment an item ordered exactly five days before Dec. 24 will arrive on time. Retailers need a little lead time (often a day or two, best-case scenario) to ready your order for shipping.
What is Expedited Shipping?
Expedited shipping generally refers to options faster than standard. Depending on the retailer and which shipping company it’s using, this can refer to “express,” “overnight” and “two-day”options. Expect to pay an extra fee.
Store Shipping Deadlines 2024
This year, Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) falls on a Sunday. If you live in an apartment where the package-delivery room is closed on weekends, keep that in mind and build in some extra time.
These deadlines apply to the contiguous United States ONLY.
We’ll be updating this list as more retailers announce their shipping deadlines. In past years, we’ve seen some retailers push back their original deadlines to give shoppers more time, so check back.
| Retailer | Standard Shipping | Expedited Options (Fees May Apply) |
| Academy Sports + Outdoors | Dec. 18 by 2 p.m. for Standard. | Has 2-day and 1-day options available. Dec. 24 for 2-hour same-day pickup. |
| Amazon | Varies by product. Check the delivery date on your order. | Order by Dec. 24 for same-day delivery (available on select items). |
| American Girl | Dec. 12 for Standard. Dec. 2 for create-your-own-doll services. | Dec. 19 for Expedited. |
| Barnes and Noble | Dec. 17 at noon EST for Standard. | Dec. 18 for Express; Dec. 19 for Expedited. Dec. 24 at NOON local time for in-store-pickup. |
| Bass Pro Shops | Dec. 14 for free shipping. Dec. 15 for Standard. | Dec. 20 for 2-Day (by 4 p.m.); Dec. 21 for Overnight (by 4 p.m.) |
| Bath & Body Works | Dec. 16 for Standard | Store pickup and Instacart delivery available on Dec. 24. Order by 9 a.m. ET for same-day store pickup on Dec. 24. |
| Bed Bath & Beyond | Dec. 17 at 11:59 a.m. ET for ground. | Dec. 22 at 11:59 a.m. ET for expedited. Dec. 23 at 10:59 ET for Express. |
| Best Buy | See estimated arrival date for each product at checkout. | See estimated arrival date for each product at checkout. Same-day pickup available through Dec. 24. |
| Cabela’s | Dec. 14 for free shipping. Dec. 15 for Standard. | Dec. 20 for 2-Day (by 4 p.m.); Dec. 21 for Overnight (by 4 p.m.) |
| Dell | Dec. 19 for Standard. | Dec. 20 for express. Dec. 21 for expedited. |
| Dick’s Sporting Goods | Dec. 18 for Standard. Dick’s Sporting Goods is offering its annual guarantee: Orders placed by the cutoff will arrive by Dec. 24, or you get a refund (credited to your form of payment upon request). See details. | Same-day delivery on Dec. 24 (place order before 2 p.m. local time) |
| Dillard’s | Dec. 18 at 11:59 p.m. CST. | Not guaranteed. |
| Disney Store | Dec. 18 for Standard. | Express options not available for holidays. |
| Harry & David | Dec. 19 for Standard. | Dec. 20 for 2-Day Express; Dec. 23 for Overnight; |
| H&M | Dec. 13. | Not guaranteed. |
| Home Depot | View estimated delivery date in cart. | View estimated delivery date in cart. |
| JCPenney | Dec. 18 at noon CT for standard. | Dec. 23 at 11:59 p.m. for Next Day shipping. Order by 3 p.m. on Dec. 24 for same-day pickup. |
| JOANN | Dec. 10 for standard. Last year, JOANN has a message on its site saying “due to high demand” they needed “extra time” to ship. So we suggest ordering early. Check back. | For same-day pickup, order before 3 p.m. |
| Kohl’s | Dec. 17 at 11:59 p.m. CT | Dec. 20 by 1 p.m. CST for 2-day; Dec. 23 by 1 p.m. CST for 1-Day. Order by 1 p.m. (and pick up by 6 p.m.) for same-day pickup on Dec. 24. |
| LEGO | Dec. 17 by 12 p.m. EST for Standard | Dec. 20 for Express |
| L.L. Bean | Not confirmed. Last year’s dates were Dec. 18 at midnight ET for free shipping (with $75 purchase); Dec. 3 if monogrammed. | Dec. 18 |
| Lowe’s | Check delivery estimate in cart. | Order by 2 p.m. Dec. 24 for same-day delivery. |
| Macy’s | Not confirmed. Last year’s dates were Dec. 20 at 5 p.m. ET for standard (free with qualifying purchase) within continental U.S. | Dec. 20 for premium. Dec. 21 for express. Dec. 24 for same-day delivery (in select areas) and store pickup (order by 3 p.m. local time). |
| Michaels | Dec. 13 at 11:59 p.m. CT for Standard. | Dec. 20 by 11 a.m. CT for 2nd-Day |
| Minted | Dec. 14 for photo gifts. Various items like cards and stationery have different deadlines. | Dec. 15 for priority gifts. Dec. 16 for expedited gifts. Dec. 17 for rush gifts. |
| Petco | Dec. 17. | Not guaranteed. |
| PetSmart | Dec. 18. | Not guaranteed. |
| Pottery Barn | Dec. 18 at 6 a.m. PT for standard. Dec. 17 at 10 p.m. PT for monogramming. | Dec. 23 for next-day. |
| Sam’s Club | Not confirmed. Last year’s dates were Dec. 17 for Ground. | Dec. 23 or 24 at 12 p.m. local time for same-day ($12 for Club members) |
| Sephora | Dec. 20 at 6 a.m. ET for Standard. | Dec. 20 at 9 a.m. ET for 2-Day Shipping. Dec. 23 at 9 a.m. ET for 1-Day Shipping. Dec. 24 at 4 p.m. local time for store pickup. |
| Shutterfly | Dec. 11 for Economy. Dec. 16 for Standard. | Dec. 18 for Expedited; Dec. 19 for Rush; Dec. 20 for Super Rush. |
| Snapfish | Dec. 13 for Lowest-Price Shipping; Dec. 17 for Ground. Not guaranteed. | Dec. 18 for Expedited; Dec. 19 for Rush. |
| Stanley | Not confirmed. Last year’s dates were Dec. 13 for standard (Dec. 2 if it’s a custom order). | Dec. 21 for Overnight. |
| Target | Dec. 20 at noon CST for free 2-day shipping on orders over $35. May vary by item and ZIP code. | Same-day delivery available, Dec. 24 if you place your order before 4 p.m. local time. In-store and curbside pickup are available for orders placed by 6 p.m. on Dec. 24. |
| UGG | Not confirmed. Last year’s dates were Dec. 15 at 11:59 p.m. PST. | Dec. 19 by 11:59 p.m. PST for Expedited; Dec. 21 by 9 a.m. PST for Next-Day. |
| Ulta | Dec. 13 by 11:59 p.m. CT | Dec. 19 at 12 p.m. CT for Expedited; Dec. 20 by 12 p.m. CT for Premium. |
| Walmart | Not confirmed. Last year’s dates were Dec. 21 at 2 p.m. local time for shipping. | Check delivery estimate for each item at checkout. Same-day delivery available with 4 p.m. cutoff on Dec. 24. Same-day pickup cutoff 12 p.m. on Dec. 24. |
| World Market | Dec. 13 for free shipping on orders over $49. | Dec. 20 by 12 p.m. PST for 2nd-Day; Dec. 23 by 12 p.m. for Overnight. |
Carrier Shipping Deadlines
Shipping a gift yourself? Make sure you’ve marked your calendar with shipping deadlines for FedEx, USPS and UPS.
FedEx Holiday Shipping Deadlines
Here are your deadlines for the most common shipping services within the contiguous U.S. See FedEx’s full list of deadlines for the 2024 season.
- Dec. 17: FedEx Ground (five-day) deadline.
- Dec. 19: FedEx Express Saver
- Dec. 24: FedEx SameDay
UPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines
See all of UPS’s shipping deadlines for the 2024 holiday season.
- Ground: UPS isn’t providing a cutoff for ground shipping — you’ll need to get an estimate via UPS’s website, and that estimate will vary depending on where you are and where you’re shipping to.
- Dec. 19: UPS 3 Day Select.
- Dec. 20: UPS 2nd Day Air.
- Dec. 23: UPS Next Day Air.
USPS Holiday Shipping Deadlines
See the full list of the U.S. Postal Service’s holiday shipping deadlines for 2024.
- Dec. 18: USPS Ground.
- Dec. 18: First-Class Mail.
- Dec. 19: Priority Mail.
Buy Online, Pick Up in Store Options
If you’re shopping at the last minute but don’t want to shop inside a store, store pickup is a great option. These days, most major retailers offer in-store and curbside pickup options. Each store will have its own polices, but in general, the way it works is: Purchase a product from a store’s site, wait for the retailer to let you know when your item is ready, and go pick it up. Many retailers offer these services same-day, though most will have daily cutoffs. So if you’re shopping at the VERY last minute, make sure it’s not too late to pick up your order before Dec. 25.
The key here is whether or not your item is in stock. If it is, you can generally pick it up a lot sooner — sometimes within hours. Some stores do offer ship-to-store, but this process can take days.
These are just some of the major retailers offering store-pickup options in 2024:
• Apple
• Barnes & Noble
• Bed Bath & Beyond
• Best Buy
• Bloomingdale’s
• CVS
• Dick’s Sporting Goods
• DSW
• Gap
• GameStop
• Home Depot
• JCPenney
• Kohl’s
• Lowe’s
• Macy’s
• Nordstrom
• Office Depot
• PetSmart
• Sam’s Club
• Staples
• Target
• Urban Outfitters
• Walgreens
• Walmart
• World Market
Can’t pick up your order yourself? Most stores let you designate a pickup person who can retrieve your items for you.
Faster Delivery Options
A few stores offer expedited shipping options to their loyalty members — and some offer these perks to everyone who places an order over a certain amount.
Amazon: Amazon Prime ($139 membership fee per year or $14.99 a month) offers free two-day shipping, as well as same-day delivery in eligible cities if you order by 5 p.m.
ASOS: Sign up for Premier Delivery for $19.99 a year and get unlimited next-day delivery when you spend at least $50 on your order. Plus, get free express shipping, no minimum.
Best Buy: Best Buy offers free soon-as-next-day shipping on thousands of items if you place a $35 minimum order (that order minimum is waived for members). Same-day delivery is also available in some ZIP codes.
Home Depot: You can get free two-day shipping on thousands of home improvement items and free in-store pickup.
ShopRunner: Sign up to ShopRunner for $79 a year, and get one year of two-day shipping free and free returns from thousands of brands. American Express, Mastercard, and PayPal members get access to ShopRunner for free.
Target: Target Circle members receive free two-day shipping on Target.com when placing orders over $35. If you have the Target RedCard, you get free two-day shipping with no minimum. Need your order even sooner? Subscribe to Shipt for $99 a year and get free same-day delivery on Target groceries and thousands of other essentials.
Walmart: Walmart, which already offered free two-day shipping in the U.S. on purchases of at least $35, is now offering free next-day delivery on eligible online orders over $35 from both third-party sellers and the retail giant itself. No membership fee is required.
Even better, Walmart+ members get free next-day or two-day shipping on all orders outside of fresh groceries for NO minimum. They also get free same-day delivery with a $35 order minimum. Membership costs $12.95 per month or $98 per year.
Zappos: Regular customers get free two-day shipping, but become a VIP member and you can get free expedited shipping, earn points and enjoy fast refunds. Plus, link your Amazon Prime account and get an extra 1 point for every $1 you spend.
Same-Day Delivery
Various retailers offer same-day delivery, either as part of their own memberships or by partnering with delivery services such as Instacart.
Fees for this service vary from retailer to retailer. Here are some examples (learn more about same-day delivery).
Amazon
Cost: Non-Prime members pay $9.99 per order for same-day delivery in as little as five hours. Prime members get it for free on orders over $25 (otherwise they pay $2.99 per order). Note: Same-day delivery is NOT available on Christmas Day.
Order by: Noon.
Click for a list of eligible Amazon same-day delivery cities.
Bloomingdale’s
Cost: $20 plus standard shipping prices for qualifying items in select cities. Loyalist members get free shipping, so they pay just the $20 fee.
Order by: 12 p.m. If you order later than that, your order will arrive the next day.
Instacart
Cost: The cost varies by which store you order from and what you purchase
Order by: You’ll choose a delivery time slot when you order. Availability of same-day time slot varies, based on demand.
Macy’s
Cost: $15 for items that qualify for orders of $25 or more. $25.95 on other items. See details.
Order by: 12 p.m. local time. For on-time Christmas delivery, you must order by Dec. 24 at 10 a.m. local time.
Postmates
Cost: You can order almost anything for different prices. Recently, they announced a partnership with MAC Cosmetics to deliver their beauty products in only two hours.
Order by: Anytime; you’ll pick a delivery slot based on what’s available that day.
Target
Cost: Target Circle 360 members have free same-day delivery on orders of $35 or more. For orders under $35, pay $7 per order. Membership costs $99 a year. Non-members pay $9.99 per same-day delivery on orders over $35.
Order by: During store hours (varies by location).
Sephora
Cost: $6.95. And there’s no minimum order amount.
Order by: 4 p.m. via Sephora’s site or app. See details.
Walmart
Cost: $7.95-$9.95 delivery fee for same-day orders of $35+. You can also pay an extra $10 on top of that for Walmart Express delivery and get your order in under two hours. Walmart+ members get free same-day delivery on orders of $35+ and pay just the $10 extra fee for Walmart Express.
Order by: Order by 9:30 p.m.
Whole Foods (for Amazon Prime members)
Cost: $9.95 (This is a new fee as of 2021). Additional fees apply on one-hour delivery orders.
Order by: Deadline varies by demand. Schedule your delivery time when you place your order.
Free Shipping Day: What It Is and How to Participate
Free Shipping Day typically was a one-day event in mid-December (Dec. 14), marking the order deadline for on-time delivery by Dec. 25. It was a great day to finish last-minute holiday shopping, save money on shipping and steer clear of the crowds by shopping online. But in 2019, Free Shipping Day was canceled due to so many retailers running free shipping all year round. It remained cancelled in 2020 and 2021, likely due to shipping complications caused by COVID-19. It stayed cancelled in 2022. We don’t expect to see it back.
The post Your Complete Guide to Holiday Shipping Deadlines for 2024 (Updating) appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
