Christmas Last Delivery Dates for Carriers 2023

The end-of-year holidays are fast approaching — it’s time to start thinking about the Christmas last delivery dates for 2023.

Not only does the end of the year see up to three times as many packages moving through the shipping system as usual, but there are also changes to delivery times. During the holiday season, be mindful of carrier schedule changes and delivery time adjustments to ensure your e-commerce business experiences smooth logistics and customer satisfaction.

To help with that, we’ve compiled the delivery 2023 Christmas times and deadlines for you. We would also like to take this opportunity to give you some tips for shipping your packages during the holidays to get ready for a smashing December. Check when is your carrier of choice’s last date for Christmas delivery and navigate the holidays successfully!

Delivery times and posting deadlines for carriers during the 2023 Christmas holidays

It’s important to be mindful of Christmas holidays, as these days often come with altered delivery times. Below, we’ve listed the delivery times for our affiliated carriers Evri, Royal Mail, InPost, Parcelforce, DHL, DPD, UPS and FedEx. Considering the pressure on carriers during this busy period, this information can help you plan accordingly and keep your customers informed.

💡Note: given the upcoming saturation of the various carrier networks, we advise you to prepare well and ship before the deadlines communicated below. Deliveries on Christmas Eve may depend on couriers’ Sunday availability in your area. Most carriers do not deliver on the bank holidays (Christmas and Boxing Day), while Evri and DPD may deliver on Christmas Eve (24/12) in areas with Sunday service.

Explore the important dates per carrier:

Evri Christmas delivery times

Shipping with Evri? The posting deadlines for sending parcels in the UK are:

December 19: This is the last day for courier collections. The final opportunity for Standard Collection and Delivery from ParcelShops ends at noon.
December 21: Noon marks the final opportunity for Next Day Collection and Delivery from ParcelShops.
December 22 – December 27: Evri ParcelShops may be open for parcel drop-off and collection. Please note that parcels dropped off during this period will not be collected until December 27.
December 25: No deliveries on this date.
December 26: No deliveries on this date. Bank holiday collection charges are applicable on December 26. Additional charge per collection is £695 per trailer and £100 for van collections.

Tip: Send Standard parcels by December 18 and Next Day parcels by December 20. Note that final shipping dates are subject to change.

See the last posting dates for international shipping for major destinations:

Shipping route	Last posting date
UK to Italy & Portugal	December 7
UK to Denmark, Finland & Sweden	December 8
UK to Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands & Spain	December 11

Note: We highly advise verifying the time estimate for your particular route when you book a service.

DPD UK Christmas delivery times

Want your parcels to arrive in time for Christmas? See the important dates for shipping with DPD in the UK:

December 20: To ensure your parcel is collected by December 21, make a booking on or before this date.
December 21: Last date for collection. To use drop-off services, make sure your parcel reaches your local drop shop by this date.
December 24: Will still execute weekend deliveries in areas where Sunday services are available.
December 25 – 26: No services available on these dates.

Here are the last international posting dates when shipping to these popular destinations:

Country	Last shipping date
India	December 7
Australia & New Zealand	December 12
South Africa	December 13
Pakistan	December 15
USA, Germany, UAE & France	December 18
Italy	December 19

Note: Booking with DPD Air Express is required to send your parcels on these dates.

Royal Mail Christmas delivery times

If you are opting for Royal Mail shipping, these are the last recommended posting dates and mail deadlines for Christmas within the UK:

December 18: Last posting date for Royal Mail 2nd Class and 2nd Class Signed For
December 20: Last posting date for Royal Mail 1st Class and 1st Class Signed For
December 21: Last posting date for Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed
December 22: Last posting date for Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed (Guaranteed Saturday delivery for an extra fee)
December 24 – 26: No deliveries or collections on these dates.

Last posting dates for Christmas parcels sent outside of the UK for major destinations:

Shipping Route	International Economy	International Standard
UK to Canada & USA	October 31	December 8
UK to Middle East & Asia	October 13	December 5
UK to Western Europe	November 27	December 7
UK to Eastern Europe	November 24	December 7
UK to Africa	October 2	December 11
UK to Caribbean	October 2	December 5
UK to Australia & New Zealand	October 2	December 5

Note: We highly advise verifying the time estimate for your particular route when you book a service.

InPost Christmas delivery times

If you want parcels to be delivered in time for Christmas in the UK, stick to these deadlines:

December 20 – 21: Typically advised to send parcels by these dates
December 22: For shipments from Parcel Lockers and Parcel Points sent by 1:00 p.m.
December 24: No courier pick-ups on this date.
December 25 – 26: Parcels will not be delivered on these dates.

DHL Parcel Christmas delivery times

For on-time Christmas deliveries, keep to these dates when shipping with DHL in the UK:

December 21: Last posting date for next-day delivery (parcels can be collected).
December 24 – 26: No delivery or collection services available on these dates.

If you’re shipping internationally, these are the dates to remember:

December 8: Last date for sending a parcel to worldwide countries: United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Japan, China, Hong Kong, South Africa, Taiwan & Thailand.
December 13: Last date for sending a parcel to European countries: Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Portugal, Finland, Belgium & Ireland

Note: In order for your package to reach its destination before Christmas, it should be dropped off or collected on the specified dates.

Parcelforce Christmas delivery times

For delivery by Christmas Day in the UK, the last posting dates are:

December 20: Last posting date for Two-day services.
December 21: Last posting date for Next-day services.
December 25 – 26: No collections or deliveries on these dates.

Note: Saturday service is available for the next-day services on December 22 and two-day services on December 21.

Check out the last recommended posting dates for international shipping:

December 7: Last posting date for Parcelforce Global Priority Drop-off.
December 8: Last posting date for Parcelforce Global Priority Standard.
December 11: Last posting date for Parcelforce Euro Economy Drop.
December 12: Last posting date for StandardParcelforce Euro Economy.
December 20: Last posting date for Parcelforce Worldwide express48 and express48 Large.
December 21:Last posting date for Parcelforce Worldwide express24 and expressAM.

UPS Christmas delivery times

If you’re shipping with UPS, follow these UK Christmas shipping dates to ensure your parcels arrive on time:

December 20: Last posting date for 2-day delivery.
December 21: Last posting date for next-day delivery.
December 23: It’s good to know that drop-off at UPS centre closes at 3:00 p.m.
December 24 – 26: No UPS delivery or collection services on these dates.

Shipping internationally? Here are the dates to keep in mind:

December 15: Last date for UPS Standard Drop-off for shipping in Europe.
December 18: Last date for UPS Standard services for shipping in Europe. Also the last date for UPS Express and UPS Express Saver for worldwide shipping.
December 19: Last date for UPS Express Saver Drop-off for shipping in Europe.
December 20: Last date for UPS Express and UPS Express Saver for shipping in Europe.

FedEx Christmas delivery times

If you decide to do your Christmas shipping with FedEx, these are the Christmas delivery dates for the UK:

December 20: Last collection day for 2-day delivery.
December 21: Last collection day for next-day delivery (Book your next-day delivery collection the day before the last posting date to guarantee on-time delivery).
December 22: Regular service availability. Ad hoc international collections must be booked before 1:00 p.m. (to be arranged locally for Northern Ireland).
December 23: Saturday deliveries only and no collections or pick-ups.
December 24 – 26: No pick-up, delivery or customer services available on these dates.

Shipping internationally with FedEx with these Christmas deadlines:

For worldwide shipping:

December 8: Last posting date for FedEx Import Economy.
December 12: Last posting date for FedEx Import Priority.
December 15: Last posting date for FedEx Economy.
December 19: Last posting date for FedEx Priority.

For shipping in Europe:

December 12: Last posting date for FedEx Import Economy.
December 15: Last posting date for FedEx Import Priority.
December 19: Last posting date for FedEx Economy.
December 20: Last posting date for FedEx Priority.

Tips for successful shipping during the holidays

While we’re on the subject of last order for Christmas dates, cut-off times and sending packages during the Christmas holidays in general, we would like to share some additional tips with you:

To ensure timely package deliveries, make sure to send your items promptly and encourage your customers to place their orders on time. Use all your communication channels to highlight the order deadline, such as placing banners on your e-commerce home page and product pages. Consider adding a popup that appears after a few seconds for additional visibility. Don’t overlook updating your FAQ section and sharing this information across your social networks.
Ship parcels to a parcel shop or pickup point instead of a home address. This way, carriers can manage the volume in bulk instead of sending drivers from one home address to another. The latter is way more time consuming and less efficient.
In busy times, customers want package updates. Seize the chance to provide efficient, branded parcel tracking: think automated and personalised notifications in the colours of your brand! This is also your chance to use emails (or SMS) to share social media links and exclusive promotions.
The holiday season is a great opportunity to create a special package unboxing experience for your customers without much effort. It’s a boost to improve your store’s customer experience, and hopefully, gift openings will also be shared on social media, increasing your brand awareness in the process.
Due to the high volume of packages in December, there’s a greater risk of damage, theft, or loss. To retain customers, take action by insuring your packages. If an issue occurs, you can file a complaint promptly for swift processing and compensation covering the product cost.
With numerous December gift orders coming in, expect a rise in returns during or after the holidays. Ensure your returns process is flawless, make adjustments if needed, and save yourself extra work as you celebrate the year’s end!

Finally: Good luck and happy holidays!

The month of December is a hectic period, but one in which you will have a lot of orders. Did you know that some e-commerce sites generate more than 50% of their annual turnover during this period?

To ensure timely deliveries in this lucrative period, keep a list of delivery times, double-check with carriers before sending, and keep your customers informed. Good luck and of course happy holidays!

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