When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.




Loading
Something is loading.














Finding the perfect gift for everyone in your life is rarely an easy process (thankfully, we have tons of gift guides to help you out).
But the search isn't over once you finally pick something. You need to make sure it actually arrives in time, which will be especially challenging this year, as "out of stock" warnings have tripled since January 2020. A global supply chain crisis has affected everything from ugly Christmas sweaters to cardboard, with no guarantees of improving even as new facilities are being added.

So while Black Friday is traditionally the start of holiday gift shopping, it's advised to start even earlier this year if you want your gifts to arrive on time. Additionally, it'd be good to look at the 2021 shipping deadlines released by FedEx, UPS, and the US Postal Service to make sure you allow enough time to ship your gift.
If time gets away from you, many major retailers offer pick-up in-store options, which let you bypass the holiday shipping delays and grab your gifts as early as the same day you ordered them. You'll just have to make sure you ship your gifts according to the shipping deadlines below.
The other option is to consider e-gifts, such as gift cards your recipients can cash in on a later date or virtual classes, digital books, and audiobook subscriptions they can use right away.
If you want to receive your gifts by Christmas, these are the dates, times, and shipping options you should know:
2021 carrier shipping deadlines
Of the shipping services, FedEx offers the most options for you to get your package delivered, with options even available on Christmas Eve. Note: The deadlines listed below are exclusive to the US.
FedEx Ground and Home Delivery: December 15
FedEx Express Saver: December 21
FedEx 2Day and 2DayAM: December 22
FedEx 1 Day Freight: December 23
FedEx Same Day: December 24

With the options listed below, you can ship as late as December 23 using UPS. UPS stores are closed on Christmas Day, but you can still look into UPS Express Critical service if you're in dire need.
UPS Ground: Calculate on the UPS website
UPS 3 Day Select: December 21
UPS 2nd Day Air: December 22
UPS Next Day Air: December 23

With USPS, it's as easy as getting shipping supplies online or from your local post office, printing shipping labels, and dropping off your package (or scheduling a pickup).
Post office locations might have varying hours as we get closer to the holidays, so save yourself the hassle and check if your location is open here.
USPS Retail Ground: December 15
USPS First-Class Mail: December 17
USPS Priority Mail: December 18
USPS Priority Mail Express: December 23

For deadlines for Alaska, Hawaii, and international shipping, read more here.
DHL has yet to release an official calendar of shipping deadlines for 2021, but it's probably safe to assume a cut-off of December 15 for all of its domestic shipping services. Shipping internationally is trickier, but you can get a rate and time quote for your specific shipment here. 











Connie Chen is a senior reporter on the Insider Reviews team, where she leads coverage of home textiles, home entertaining, and food and drink.
She specializes in all the things that enhance life at home, from the most comfortable bed sheets and fluffy pillows to cool online wine clubs and bartender-approved cocktail shakers. She combines rigorous testing methods, conversations with professionals, and active knowledge of the home and kitchen space to help readers get the most out of their money.
When she's not changing duvet covers or washing towels twice a day for articles, she loves talking about and trying the newest snacks, drinks, and food gifts. You can see more of her testing process and other behind-the-scenes of being a product journalist on her Instagram . 
Connie joined Insider Reviews as an early member in 2017 and has also reported on products and services in the style, tech, fitness, travel, and e-learning spaces, with a particular interest and expertise in emerging startups. She has represented the team at CES and moderated panels on media business and the future of retail.
Connie graduated from UC Berkeley with degrees in media studies and business administration, which help inform her perspective on and coverage of industry trends, as well as the competitive e-commerce landscape at large.
Read some of her work:
The 4 best cocktail shakers in 2021
The 7 best women's bathrobes in 2021
The 5 best wine openers and corkscrews we tested in 2021
The 5 best bed sheets we tested in 2021 
The 5 best cordless vacuums we tested in 2021
12 direct-to-consumer kitchen startups that are changing the way we shop for cookware and knives
8 tableware startups changing the way we shop for dishes
Even chefs experience cooking burnout — here's how they get re-inspired in the kitchen
How businesses create successful virtual experiences
50 cookbooks from famous restaurants across the US that will help you recreate their best dishes at home
Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.
Learn more about how we test kitchen products.


Read more
Read less
















As a Deals Reporter for Insider's Reviews team, Sarah sifts through the depths of the internet to surface only the best of deals for our readers. Prior to joining Insider Inc., she was a Deals Writer at Wirecutter, a New York Times company.
After graduating from California State University, Fullerton with a degree in Marketing, Sarah started out as a Freelance Deals Writer at Wirecutter; here she focused on newsletter creation, social media promotion, and syndication in addition to deals writing before stepping into a full-time role. Her accomplishments from this position, in addition to the countless deals she's written, include implementing multiple social media marketing campaigns and launching a Deals Facebook group for the company.
Say hi (or send a picture of your pet) to Sarah at ssaril.com, or reach her on Twitter at  or on Instagram at . 
Learn more about how our team of experts tests and reviews products at Insider here.
Learn more about how we research deals.


Read more
Read less

Source: Business Insider

Powered by NewsAPI.org