Table of Contents
October 28, 2026
. 3 min

Holiday Shipping Deadlines 2026: Last Ship Dates by Carrier

The holiday season is fast approaching, so ship those orders before the deadline.

Note: Dates are estimates based on carrier guidance as of October 2026, not guaranteed delivery dates. Holiday volume and winter weather can cause delays, so ship earlier when you can.

Within Canada

Canada Post logo
Canada Post
ZonePriorityXpressPostExpedited
LocalTue, Dec 22Tue, Dec 22Mon, Dec 21
RegionalTue, Dec 22Mon, Dec 21Thu, Dec 17
NationalTue, Dec 22Mon, Dec 21Fri, Dec 11
Dates vary by origin and destination and depend on the major urban centres.
Intelcom logo
Intelcom
From ↓ To →TorontoMontrealVancouverCalgary
TorontoMon, Dec 21Mon, Dec 21Thu, Dec 17Fri, Dec 18
MontrealMon, Dec 21Mon, Dec 21Wed, Dec 16Fri, Dec 18
VancouverThu, Dec 17Wed, Dec 16Mon, Dec 21Fri, Dec 18
CalgaryFri, Dec 18Fri, Dec 18Fri, Dec 18Mon, Dec 21
Find your origin city in the left column and your destination city across the top.
FleetOptics logo
FleetOptics Ground
LaneShip By
ON or QC to BCTue, Dec 15
ON or QC to AB/SK, and AB to MB/SKWed, Dec 16
ON or QC to MBThu, Dec 17
AB ↔ BCMon, Dec 21
FleetOptics Express
LaneShip By
All air lanesMon, Dec 21
Local LanesTue, Dec 22
UPS logo
UPS
ServiceShip By
UPS StandardWed, Dec 16
UPS Express & Express SaverMon, Dec 21
ICS Courier logo
ICS Courier
ServiceShip By
GroundThu, Dec 17
Next-Day & ExpressMon, Dec 21
Precision logo
Precision
ServiceShip By
Precision GroundMon, Dec 21
SwishDelivery logo
Swish
ServiceShip By
Swish Next DayWed, Dec 23
Swish InstantThu, Dec 24
Whiz Delivery logo
Whiz
ServiceShip By
Whiz StandardMon, Dec 21

To the United States

USPS logo
USPS
ServiceShip By
Ground AdvantageWed, Dec 16
Ground Advantage to AK/HI/PRMon, Dec 14
Priority MailThu, Dec 17
Priority Mail ExpressFri, Dec 18
UPS logo
UPS
ServiceShip By
UPS GroundWed, Dec 16
UPS 3 Day SelectFri, Dec 18
UPS 2nd Day AirMon, Dec 21
UPS Next Day AirTue, Dec 22
GOFO logo
US Regional
DistanceShip By
Local & Nearby (Zones 1-3)Fri, Dec 18
Regional (Zones 4-5)Thu, Dec 17
Long Distance (Zones 6-8)Tue, Dec 15
USPS logo
Military (APO, FPO, DPO)
ServiceShip By
USPS Ground AdvantageTue, Nov 3
USPS Priority MailTue, Dec 8
USPS Priority Mail ExpressTue, Dec 15
Military mail has the earliest US deadlines. Make sure to ship these parcels first
US Economy
Delivery AreaShip By
RegionalThu, Dec 17
NationalWed, Dec 16

International

International deadlines arrive first, so plan these orders before any others.

APC, DHL, and PostNL logo
International
ServiceShip By
APC ParcelConnect, All Services (UK, Europe, Australia/NZ, Rest of the World)Mon, Nov 30
PostNLMon, Nov 30
DHL Express WorldwideThu, Dec 17

How to Plan Around the Deadlines

  1. Ship Before the Listed Date. Aim to ship several days before the listed date to leave room for delays.

  2. Match the Service to the Lane. Check the date for each origin, destination, and service before you set a store-wide cutoff.

  3. Tell Your Customers the Cutoff. Post your last order date for each delivery option at checkout.

  4. Handle Military and International Orders First. Their deadlines fall in November and early December, so sort these orders first.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the last day to ship within Canada for Christmas 2026?

The latest date in this guide is Thursday, December 24 for Swish Instant, followed by Wednesday, December 23 for Swish Next Day. For most other domestic services, the last ship date falls between Monday, December 21 and Tuesday, December 22.

What does “ship by” mean in this guide?

It is the last day to get your parcels to Stallion for delivery before the holidays. It is not a guaranteed delivery date.

Are these dates guaranteed?

No. They are estimates based on carrier guidance as of October 2026. Holiday volume and winter weather can cause delays, and the dates may change.

When should I ship international orders for Christmas?

Ship APC parcelConnect and PostNL orders by Monday, November 30. DHL Express Worldwide orders should ship by Thursday, December 17.

When should I ship to military addresses in the US?

Ship USPS Ground Advantage by Tuesday, November 3. Ship USPS Priority Mail by Tuesday, December 8, and USPS Priority Mail Express by Tuesday, December 15.

Need Help Choosing A Service?

Our team can help you choose the right service for every lane. Contact us at [email protected].

Get started today! Ship faster, smarter, cheaper with Stallion.

Get Started Today.  Sign Up for Free!

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