The holiday clock is ticking. If you manage your mail remotely—whether you are an expat, an RV traveler, or a business owner using a virtual address—you know that “shipping deadlines” work differently for you.
Unlike a standard shipper who can run to the post office at 4:59 PM, virtual mailbox users must account for the Processing Gap: the time it takes for you to log in, request a shipment, and for our facility to pick, pack, and hand off your items to the carrier.
To help you avoid the stress of late gifts, we have compiled the definitive 2025 Holiday Shipping Cutoff List. We’ve compared the official carrier deadlines against our internal processing times to give you the “PostScan Mail Recommended Request Date”—the real deadline you need to hit to ensure your packages arrive by December 25th.
🛑 The “Virtual Buffer” Rule: Read This First
Before you look at the dates below, remember the Golden Rule of virtual mail management:
The “Virtual Buffer”: Always subtract 24 business hours from the official carrier deadline.
"In the virtual mail world, a carrier deadline isn't your deadline. You must subtract 24 hours for our facility to pick, pack, and label your shipment. That one day buffer is often the difference between 'Arrived' and 'Delayed'."
As a CMRA (Commercial Mail Receiving Agency), PostScan Mail processes thousands of shipment requests daily during the peak season. While we work overtime to get packages out, last-mile delivery carriers like USPS and FedEx implement Peak Season Surcharges and face volume caps that can cause unexpected delays.
Our Advice: Do not wait for the absolute last second. Submit your shipment requests today.
⚠️ Don’t Guess. Check if you can still ship in time for Christmas.
⚠️ Am I Safe to Ship?
📦 Master Holiday Deadline Table (Domestic US)
The following table compares official carrier “Ship-By” dates with the date you should submit your request in the PostScan Mail portal.
"Carriers stop guaranteeing delivery dates around Dec 15th for Ground services. If you haven't clicked 'Ship' by then, you are gambling with the Christmas clock. Always choose Air services after the 17th."
🌍 International Holiday Shipping Deadlines 2025
For our expat community and international shoppers, the window is closing fast. Customs delays are common during the holidays. Ensure your Customs Declaration (CN22/CN23) is filled out accurately in your dashboard to avoid a Delivery Exception.
🎖️ Military Mail Deadlines (APO/FPO/DPO)
Supporting our troops abroad? Military mail travels through a complex network.
- Priority Mail Express Military Service (PMEMS): Dec 16
- First-Class & Priority Mail: Dec 9 (Today is the cutoff!)
- Retail Ground: Deadline has passed (Nov 6).
If you have missed the standard deadlines, consider using a private carrier like UPS or FedEx if the specific APO/FPO location allows it (check restrictions first), or send a digital gift card instead.
5 Ways to Hack the Holiday Rush (and Save Money)
Shipping costs skyrocket in December due to Peak Season Surcharges.
Here is how to use your PostScan Mail features to keep costs down:
💰 See How Much You Save. Compare shipping 3 separate boxes vs. 1 consolidated box.
💰 See Your Consolidation Savings
🚀 Final Step: Don’t Wait. Ship Now.
The difference between a gift under the tree and a “Sorry” card is often just 24 hours. Log in to your PostScan Mail account now, check your inbox, and hit that ship button.
Existing user? Check your inbox status
Need help with a stuck package? Our support team is on standby to assist with urgent holiday requests.
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