Journal · 3 min read
When to Send Christmas Cards in 2026
When should I mail Christmas cards?
Mail Christmas cards in the first two weeks of December. For delivery before Christmas in the lower 48, USPS's last recommended day for First-Class Mail is Thursday, December 17, 2026. Mailing abroad, use Wednesday, December 9.
The last day to mail Christmas cards in 2026
When to send Christmas cards comes down to one date. Cards and letters go First-Class Mail, and these are USPS's recommended send-by dates for delivery before December 25.
| Mail class | Lower 48 | Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, territories |
|---|---|---|
| First-Class Mail (cards, letters) | Thu, Dec 17 | Thu, Dec 17 |
| USPS Ground Advantage | Thu, Dec 17 | Wed, Dec 16 |
| Priority Mail | Fri, Dec 18 | Fri, Dec 18 |
| Priority Mail Express | Sat, Dec 19 | Sat, Dec 19 |
Swipe to compare →
Source: USPS 2026 holiday shipping deadlines, checked October 9, 2026. USPS notes that actual delivery depends on where a card is mailed from, where it's going and when it's accepted.
Mailing abroad or to a military address
- International: Wednesday, December 9. That's USPS's date for First-Class Package International and Priority Mail International to every region. It lists no separate date for cards, so use this one.
- Priority Mail Express International: Wednesday, December 16.
- Military (APO, FPO, DPO): dates depend on the ZIP code, and the earliest is November 4. Check the USPS table for yours.
When to send Christmas cards: a simple calendar
- Thanksgiving weekend: gather addresses and pick the photo.
- Dec 1 to 10: mail them. This is the sweet spot.
- Dec 10: our order-by date for a FamilyLetter postcard, 15 days before Christmas, to be safe.
- Dec 17: USPS's last recommended day for First-Class in the lower 48.
- After that: call it a New Year card.
Before Thanksgiving is early, not wrong.
How much postage a Christmas card needs
- One Forever stamp ($0.82) covers a card in a rectangular envelope up to 1 oz.
- Square or vertical envelopes cost more.
- Lumpy or rigid cards (ribbon, buttons, a stiff insert) cost $0.49 more.
- A standard postcard needs a postcard stamp ($0.65).
Prices from the USPS letters and postcards page, checked October 9, 2026.
Mailing a long list? The postcard stamp calculator adds up the postage and shows when each card should land.
Too late to mail Christmas cards?
No. A card that lands between Christmas and New Year's is still a Christmas card. Later than that, write Happy New Year and send it anyway.
Or skip the stamp: order a postcard by Dec 10
We print your photos on a real 4×6 Christmas postcard, add your message on the back, and mail it for you, postage included.
Sending for Christmas? Please allow up to 15 days. USPS can run a little slow, especially in December. That's why our date is Dec 10, 15 days before Christmas. It's advice, not a promise: we can't guarantee a delivery date.
Only one or two to send? Christmas cards mailed for you start at a single card, stamped and posted by us.
Stuck on what to write? Pick from these Christmas card messages.
Writing to the grandparents? Here are Christmas messages for grandparents, from the kids and from you.
Sending to a mixed list? Holiday postcards say happy holidays instead.
Frequently asked questions
- When should you send Christmas cards?
- In the first two weeks of December. For delivery before Christmas, USPS recommends mailing First-Class by Thursday, December 17, 2026, in the lower 48.
- What is the last day to mail Christmas cards in 2026?
- USPS's last recommended day for First-Class Mail is Thursday, December 17, 2026, for the lower 48, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. For international mail it's Wednesday, December 9.
- Is it rude to send Christmas cards late?
- No. Anything that lands before New Year's is fine. In early January, write Happy New Year and it reads as on purpose.
- How early can you send Christmas cards?
- Right after Thanksgiving is the usual start. Earlier isn't wrong, just early.
- Do Christmas cards need extra postage?
- A card in a rectangular envelope up to 1 oz needs one Forever stamp ($0.82 as of October 2026). Square envelopes and lumpy or rigid cards cost more.
