2026 Shipping Deadlines for Holiday Packages

The holidays are the busiest shipping season of the year, and carrier networks fill up fast. Missing a cutoff can mean late deliveries, frustrated customers, and paying more for faster services at the last minute.

To help you plan ahead, we’ve put the 2026 holiday shipping deadlines from Canada’s major carriers in one place. Unless otherwise noted, these are the last days to ship for delivery by December 24. 

Ship early. These deadlines are not delivery guarantees. Weather, holiday volumes and other unexpected delays can affect transit times, so plan to ship well before the dates below.

Carrier Deadlines at a Glance

Fedex 
Last day to ship for delivery by December 24, 2026.

Within Canada (most metropolitan areas)

FedEx First Overnight, Priority Overnight, Standard Overnight: Wednesday, December 23
FedEx 2Day: Tuesday, December 22
FedEx Economy: Monday, December 21
FedEx Ground: Tuesday, December 15 to Wednesday, December 23 (varies by origin and destination)
FedEx 1Day Freight: Wednesday, December 23

Canada to the U.S.

FedEx International First, International Priority: Wednesday, December 23
FedEx International Economy: Tuesday, December 22
FedEx International Connect Plus: Friday, December 18 to Tuesday, December 22
FedEx International Ground: Tuesday, December 15 to Tuesday, December 22

Note: Domestic dates don’t apply to shipments from Western Canada (including Thunder Bay) to the Atlantic provinces. Transit times vary by origin and destination.

Canada Post
Last day to ship for delivery by December 24, 2026.

Within Canada

Priority: Wednesday, December 23 (all zones)
Xpresspost: Wednesday, December 23 (local), Tuesday, December 22 (regional and national)
Expedited Parcel or Flat Rate Box: Tuesday, December 22 (local), Friday, December 18 (regional), Monday, December 14 (national)
Regular Parcel: Monday, December 21 (local), Wednesday, December 16 (regional), Thursday, December 10 (national)

Note: Dates are between major urban centres and depend on origin and destination. Some restrictions apply.

UPS
Last day to ship for delivery in time for Christmas.

Within Canada

UPS Air: Wednesday, December 23
UPS Ground: Wednesday, December 16

Canada to the U.S. and International

UPS Air: Monday, December 21
UPS Ground (U.S. only): Tuesday, December 15

Note: Dates are subject to change. Customs delays may apply, and transit times vary by destination.

Purolator
Last day to ship for guaranteed delivery by December 24, 2026.

Within Canada

Canada to the U.S.

International

DHL Express
Last day to ship within Canada, by origin and destination province.

From BC: December 22 to BC, December 21 to AB, December 18 to SK and MB, December 17 to ON, December 16 to QC, December 15 to NB/NS/PEI, December 9 to NL
From AB: December 22 to AB and SK, December 21 to BC and MB, December 18 to ON, December 17 to QC, December 16 to NB/NS/PEI, December 10 to NL
From SK: December 22 to AB, SK and MB, December 18 to BC and ON, December 17 to QC, December 16 to NB/NS/PEI, December 10 to NL
From MB: December 22 to SK and MB, December 21 to AB, December 18 to ON and QC, December 17 to BC and NB/NS/PEI, December 11 to NL
From ON: December 22 to ON and QC, December 21 to NB/NS/PEI, December 18 to AB, SK and MB, December 17 to BC, December 15 to NL
From QC: December 22 to ON and QC, December 21 to NB/NS/PEI, December 17 to AB, SK and MB, December 16 to BC, December 15 to NL
From NB/NS/PEI: December 22 to NB/NS/PEI, December 21 to ON and QC, December 16 to AB, SK, MB and NL, December 14 to BC
From NL: December 22 to NL, December 16 to NB/NS/PEI, December 15 to ON and QC, December 10 to AB, SK and MB, December 9 to BC

Note: Some carriers have not published holiday shipping deadlines for 2026. We recommend shipping as early as possible and allowing extra transit time during the holiday season.

Tips for a smooth holiday shipping season

• Ship early. These dates are the last possible day to ship, not the recommended one. Leave a few extra days whenever you can.
• Expect delays. Weather and high volumes can slow things down, and many carriers suspend their service guarantees during peak season.
• Give cross-border shipments extra time. Customs can add delays, so make sure your commercial invoices are complete and accurate.
• Book pickups in advance. Pickup slots fill up quickly in December, especially in the last week before the holidays.
• Package carefully. Higher volumes mean more handling, so use sturdy boxes and enough padding.
• Compare your options. As deadlines get closer, a faster service from a different carrier might still get your package there on time.

Ship smarter this holiday season with Inex

With Inex, you can compare rates from multiple carriers side by side, book your shipments and schedule pickups, all from one platform. When a deadline is coming up, it’s easy to find the carrier and service that will still get your package there on time, at the best price.

Deadlines are published by each carrier and may change. Confirm transit times before shipping.