The U.S. Postal Service, FedEx, and UPS have released recommended ship-by dates for gifts to be delivered in time for the December 25 holiday, which lands on a Sunday this year.

Here are the dates, according to the shippers' websites.

USPS

Continental U.S.:

• Dec. 17: USPS Retail Ground service
• Dec. 17: First-Class Mail service (including greeting cards)
• Dec. 17: First-Class packages (up to 15.99 ounces)
• Dec. 19: Priority Mail service
• Dec. 23: Priority Mail Express* service
  

USPS For Air/Army/Fleet/Diplomatic post office addresses:

• December 9: Priority Mail and First-Class Mail
• December 16: Priority Mail Express Military service (except ZIP Code 093)

USPS Alaska and Hawaii: 

• December 2: Alaska to/from Continental U.S. - USPS Retail Ground 
  
• December 17: Alaska to/from Continental U.S. and Hawaii to/from mainland — priority mail and first-class mail
• December 21: Alaska to/from Continental U.S. and Hawaii to/from mainland — priority mail express
  

FedEx 

• December 8: ground economy
• December 14: ground and home delivery
• December 20: express saver
• December 20: three-day freight
• December 21: two day and two-day am
• December 21: two-day freight
• December 22: overnight services
• December 22: one-day freight
• December 23: same day

  Click here for additional deadlines, including shipping to Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.

UPS:

• Ground shipping, check the website for a quote
• December 20: three-day select
• December 21: second-day air services 
  
• December 22: next-day air services

  Click here for additional deadlines, including shipping to Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.