Priority Mail: Friday, December 18, 2026
USPS recommends Priority Mail by Friday, December 18, 2026, for expected delivery before December 25 in the lower 48. That is one day later than Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail, and one day earlier than Priority Mail Express. The date is a recommendation. Actual delivery may vary, so ship earlier when you can.
Updated .
If December 18 is too tight, see Priority Mail Express on December 19 or the late-shipping page. The full table is on the USPS 2026 page.
At a glance
| Mail class, lower 48 | Recommended send-by |
|---|---|
| Ground Advantage and First-Class | December 17, 2026 |
| Priority Mail | December 18, 2026 |
| Priority Mail Express | December 19, 2026 |
USPS recommends Priority Mail by Friday, December 18, 2026, for expected delivery before December 25 in the lower 48. That is one day later than Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail, and one day earlier than Priority Mail Express.
Check a drop-off date
| Mail class | Recommended send-by date (contiguous U.S.) |
|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage | Thursday, December 17, 2026 |
| First-Class Mail | Thursday, December 17, 2026 |
| Priority Mail | Friday, December 18, 2026 |
| Priority Mail Express | Saturday, December 19, 2026 |
USPS footnotes these dates: actual delivery may vary based on origin, destination, Post Office acceptance time, and other conditions. Ship earlier when you can.
Sources
Common questions
What is the Priority Mail send-by date for Christmas 2026?
Friday, December 18, 2026, for expected delivery before December 25 in the lower 48.
Is that later than Ground Advantage?
Yes. Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail are recommended by December 17, one day earlier.
Does this date cover Alaska and Hawaii?
For Priority Mail, USPS lists the same 2026 send-by date as the lower 48. Ground Advantage is the service with a different territorial expectation.
Is Priority Mail guaranteed by December 25?
No. USPS footnotes that actual delivery may vary. Treat the date as a recommendation.