Your holiday shipping and order deadline guide for 2025

Holiday shipping and order deadlines vary each year, depending on the shipping method and destination. As an eCommerce seller, check with your carrier – like USPS, FedEx, or UPS – or fulfillment partner like Printful for the official cutoff dates.

Typically, standard shipping deadlines fall in early to mid-December. For last-minute shoppers, offering expedited options like Priority Mail Express services can extend the last order day closer to Christmas Eve.

Make the most of the peak season by informing customers of your holiday shipping and order deadlines early. Read on to see Printful’s 2025 holiday cutoff dates and learn how to communicate them in ways that boost trust and sales.

What are holiday order deadlines?

Holiday order deadlines are the last days customers can place an order so that their packages and holiday gifts arrive on time – usually before a specific occasion, like Christmas Day. 

These cutoff dates exist because shipping delays, high order volumes, and slower delivery times are common during the busy season.

Most companies set different shipping deadlines depending on the product, shipping method, and destination. That means the last day to order a t-shirt with standard local US shipping might be later than ordering the same item with priority mail service to Europe.

At Printful, our holiday deadlines calendar follows this four-step process:

1. Review data from previous years to estimate fulfillment times.

2. Gather updated delivery times for all regions from our carriers. 

3. Factor in changes such as extra hours and additional staff during the peak season.

4. Set clear, reliable order-by dates for each product and location.

If you sell with Printful, our holiday order deadlines page is all you’ll need. Choose the upcoming holiday, then select your selling region and find your product category. 

Here’s an overview for orders shipping to the United States.

Printful products fulfilled in the United States, shipping to the United States

Printful products fulfilled outside of the United States, shipping to the United States

Why are holiday order deadlines important for your customers?

No customer wants their gifts to arrive late during important events like Christmas. If a package misses the holiday, they may file a complaint, ask for a refund, or never buy from you again.

Setting clear holiday shipping and order deadlines helps you manage customers’ expectations, protect your reputation, and stay ahead during the peak season.

Two-thirds of US consumers plan to start their holiday shopping before Black Friday, with many beginning as early as September or even August. 

That means the holiday shopping season is already in full swing before most sellers launch their campaigns. Wait too long and your customers may shop from your competitors instead. 

Communicating order deadlines early can prevent this from happening by keeping your store top of mind as customers plan their holiday purchases. 

Holiday shipping deadlines can also create a sense of urgency. When customers know the last day to order for Christmas, they’re more likely to buy right away instead of waiting. 

Take advantage of this by offering limited-time bundles to increase average order value and boost your revenue. 

Pro tip: Discover the best ways to build an effective eCommerce marketing and communication strategy.

How to communicate holiday order deadlines to customers

Holiday shoppers stress about late gifts, even with express services or standard overnight shipping. 

Ease their worries by making your holiday shipping and order deadline information easily accessible on your store. Not everyone checks your homepage or email – some jump straight to a product page, others come from social media.

Here’s how to communicate your holiday shipping deadline announcements effectively across every channel that matters.

1. Add order-by dates to product listings and your shopping cart

The product description is the ideal place to add your cutoff shipping dates and expected delivery estimates. 

• A simple message works, like “Order by December 15 to get this t-shirt by December 25 in the US.”

• If you offer standard and expedited shipping options in your store, then specify that too. For example – “Order by December 12 to get this mug by December 25 with Standard Shipping in the US.”

Pin the order deadlines at the top of your listings for maximum visibility. Just remember to remove the shipping disclaimers once the holidays have passed.

The checkout page is also a great place to add your holiday deadlines. Some customers hesitate at checkout, get distracted, or second-guess their timing. 

• Adding a clear order deadline message in the cart reminds them that if they don’t purchase now, their gifts may arrive late. 

• Keep the message short and direct, like “Order by December 12 to get your gifts in time for Christmas!”

This gentle nudge creates urgency at a critical moment when last-minute shoppers are most likely to drop off. It’s a simple way to reduce cart abandonment and turn more browsers into buyers during the peak season. 

2. Create holiday order FAQs and update policies

To make shoppers feel confident about buying from you, create a dedicated holiday policy page on your storefront. 

Your holiday shipping deadlines FAQs should cover:

• Order-by shipping dates – The last day to order so that gifts arrive on time. Create a table listing your holiday shipping deadlines and costs based on product and location.

• Fulfillment times – If you sell custom products, inform customers of the production time. 

• Delivery times – Be transparent about how long it may take for packages to ship after leaving the distribution center. Remind customers that shipping delays can happen due to busy postal services or temporary rate increases.

• Extras – Do you offer complementary gift package services or greeting cards? Set earlier order deadlines to account for additional fulfillment time.

• Other questions – Outline what happens if customers order after the deadline, if their packages arrive later than expected, or if they need to exchange something after the holiday season. 

This is also a good time to update your store policy with information about:

• Shipping options – Specify the postal services you work with and explain each method – like ground shipping, priority overnight, next-day air, or first-class mail service – along with estimated delivery times. 

• Returns and refunds – Include details on what happens if a package is late, lost, or damaged. Let people know how to find their order tracking information and contact you to resolve any issues with their gifts. 

3. Display deadlines on a store banner

To make your holiday shipping and order deadline information easy to spot, display it on a banner across your site. 

Keep the message short and clear, and use urgency-driven phrases like: “Last chance! Order by December 16 to get your gifts by Christmas Day with Priority Mail Delivery.” Make the banner clickable to direct shoppers to your holiday shipping deadlines page for more information. 

Many holiday shoppers browse on their phones, so ensure your banner is mobile-friendly, readable, and doesn’t get buried under menus. Use attention-grabbing colors like red, green, or gold to match the holiday season, but make sure they align with your brand. 

Since many customers begin shopping before Black Friday, publish your banner as soon as your shipping deadlines go live. Update it as the expected delivery windows shift closer to Christmas Eve.

If you sell to multiple regions, use geo-targeted banners to display the right holiday shipping deadlines for each destination. 

4. Create social media buzz and FOMO

Spread the word about your holiday shipping deadlines. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest are now major eCommerce channels where people hunt for seasonal gifts and deals. 

Create a post specifically about the cutoff dates, answer frequently asked questions in the captions, and pin it to the top of your TikTok or Instagram so it’s the first thing visitors see.

Include your holiday shipping and order deadline in captions or visuals in your holiday marketing posts.

Post daily reminders in the days leading up to the last day for holiday shipping. This creates urgency and triggers fear of missing out (FOMO) among last-minute shoppers.

Here are some more social media marketing tips for the holidays:

• Host a TikTok Live and pair it with a flash sale, reminding viewers of the cutoff date as they shop.

• Publish holiday-related pins on Pinterest early in the peak season so users can save and return to them when they’re ready to purchase. 

• Share carousel gift guides on Instagram with each slide featuring your products and their checkout deadlines.

5. Send out email reminders about the last chance to order

Another easy way to communicate your holiday shipping deadlines is through email marketing. This helps you reach existing customers or subscribers who haven’t already planned to shop with you. 

This isn’t just about communicating the deadline – it’s also about boosting holiday sales through email marketing. Pair your reminders with offers like: 

• Holiday bundles and gift guides

• Free shipping promotions

• Buy one, get one free (BOGO) deals

• Flash discounts for different products each day

To make your email copy effective, you can:

• Add urgency to the subject line, like “Limited-time only,” “Last chance,” “Almost gone,” or “Final reminder.”

• Highlight the cutoff date with bold text or banners so it stands out.

• Segment your audience. For example, send first-time buyers a gift guide promo and returning customers a loyalty discount.

• Personalize by location so each customer sees the correct shipping dates and expected delivery times.

As the peak season progresses, retarget subscribers who haven’t opened or converted from your emails. Send them a reminder just before the cutoff date to push shoppers to take action. 

6. Promote holiday shipping deadlines via ads

Include your shipping deadlines in your holiday campaigns. This creates urgency and gives shoppers confidence that their gifts will arrive in time for Christmas. 

Here are some ad strategies that work:

• Video ads – Use short product clips with text overlays or voiceovers like, “Don’t miss the last day for holiday shipping.”

• Retargeting ads – Reach people who have viewed your products and abandoned their carts. Remind them to act fast.

• Geo-targeted ads – Adjust shipping dates based on location so customers see accurate order deadlines for their region. 

Conclusion

Clear holiday shipping and order deadlines help customers plan ahead and reassure them that their gifts will arrive in time for Christmas Eve. Share your cutoff dates everywhere – from product pages and banners to email and social media – so shoppers never miss the message. 

Running a print-on-demand store with Printful? Visit our holiday order deadlines page to check the last day for shipping and plan your promos around it. The earlier you inform your customers, the smoother your peak season will be.