Canadian carriers will close or modify service during the 2025-2026 holiday season. All major national carriers (Canada Post, FedEx, UPS, Purolator) list December 25 (Christmas Day) and January 1 (New Year’s Day) as no-collection/no-delivery days. Boxing Day (December 26) is also largely a closure day, though specific services vary by carrier and region.
Ship deadlines range from mid-December to December 23 depending on your carrier, service level, and destination. This guide contains the key deadlines you need to keep your holiday shipments on schedule.
Disclaimer: Dates shown are based on current public carrier schedules as of November 2025. Transit times, pickups, and last-ship dates vary by origin/destination/region/service level and are subject to weather, labour disruption, and carrier changes. Always verify directly with your carrier before finalizing your holiday shipping strategy.
Carrier Holiday Closures
Plan your fulfillment calendar around these closures. Any packages that need to arrive before December 25 must ship by the deadlines outlined below.
Quick Reference: Key Operating Dates
| Date | FedEx | UPS | Canada Post | Purolator | Canpar | FleetOptics |
| December 24 | Open | Delivery only* | Open | Open | Open | Open |
| December 25 | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| December 26 | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Pickup only |
| December 27 (Sat) | Limited** | Closed | Limited** | Limited** | Limited** | Limited** |
| December 31 | Open | Air only* | Open | Open | Open | Open |
| January 1 | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed | Pickup only |
*UPS: December 24 = delivery + air pickups only; December 31 = air service only
**Saturday service varies by carrier and location—verify with your carrier
Canada Post Shipping Deadlines
Important Note: Canada Post service has been impacted by operational disruptions in late 2024. Many Canadian retailers are using alternate carriers as contingency plans during peak season.
Domestic Shipping Guidance
Canada Post’s recommended last-ship dates vary by origin, destination, and service level. Rather than fixed national deadlines, check Canada Post’s current “Last Day to Send” guidance directly—these tables are not always publicly published and can change based on service conditions.
General recommendations:
- Local/regional deliveries: Later deadlines typically available (up to December 22 for Priority/Xpresspost)
- Cross-country shipments: Ship earlier—standard ground service may require shipping as early as mid-December for coast-to-coast delivery
- Remote/rural areas: Assume earlier deadlines than other carriers, particularly for northern and remote communities
International Shipping Guidance
| Service | General Guidance |
| International Parcel (Standard) | Mid-December (varies by destination) |
| International Xpresspost | Late December (varies by destination) |
Canada Post closes December 25-26 and January 1. Allow extra time beyond published delivery standards, particularly for rural and remote areas.
Source: Canada Post Delivery Standards, Canada Post Holiday Schedule
FedEx Holiday Deadlines
Domestic Canada Shipping Deadlines
| Service | Last Ship Date |
| FedEx First Overnight | Tuesday, December 23 |
| FedEx Priority Overnight | Tuesday, December 23 |
| FedEx Standard Overnight | Tuesday, December 23 |
| FedEx 2Day | Monday, December 22 |
| FedEx Ground (Intra-Canada) | Monday, December 15 – Tuesday, December 23* |
| FedEx Economy | Friday, December 19 |
*Transit times vary by origin and destination
Canada to U.S. Shipping Deadlines
| Service | Last Ship Date |
| FedEx International First | Tuesday, December 23 |
| FedEx International Priority | Tuesday, December 23 |
| FedEx International Economy | Monday, December 22 |
| FedEx International Connect Plus | Thursday, December 18 – Monday, December 22* |
| FedEx International Ground | Monday, December 15 – Tuesday, December 23* |
*Transit times vary by origin and destination
Holiday Schedule:
- December 24: Open with modified service
- December 25-26: Closed
- January 1: Closed
Source: FedEx Last Days to Ship (PDF), FedEx Holiday Schedule
UPS Holiday Deadlines
Holiday Operating Schedule
| Dates | Service Availability |
| Monday, December 15 – Tuesday, December 23 | Pickup and delivery available for all services |
| Wednesday, December 24 | Delivery of all services; pickup of UPS Air service shipments only |
| Thursday, December 25 & Friday, December 26 | No UPS pickup or delivery service |
| Saturday, December 27 | No UPS pickup or delivery service |
| Monday, December 29 & Tuesday, December 30 | Pickup and delivery available for all services |
| Wednesday, December 31 | Pickup and delivery of UPS Air service shipments only |
| Thursday, January 1, 2026 | No UPS pickup or delivery service |
| Friday, January 2, 2026 | Pickup and delivery available for all services |
Recommended Last Days to Ship for December 24 Delivery
Canada Domestic:
| Service | Ship Date |
| UPS Standard | Check ups.com/ca for details |
| UPS Expedited | December 22 |
| UPS Express | December 23 |
Canada to U.S.:
| Service | Ship Date |
| UPS Standard | Check ups.com/ca for details |
| UPS 3 Day Select | December 19 |
| UPS Expedited | December 22 |
| UPS Express | December 23 |
Shipments to certain destinations may require an earlier ship date. Use the UPS Time & Cost calculator to determine exact deadlines for your routes. For last days to ship from Canada to other international destinations, visit ups.com/ca.
Delivery Commit Time Changes
From November 9, 2025 to January 10, 2026:
- UPS Worldwide Express Plus and UPS Express Early: Delivery commit time extended by 90 minutes on shipments scheduled for delivery in Canada
- UPS Worldwide Express NA1, UPS Worldwide Express, UPS Express, and UPS Express Saver: Delivery commit time extended to end-of-day on shipments scheduled for delivery in Canada
For U.S.-bound shipments (November 28, 2025 to December 31, 2025):
- UPS Worldwide Express Plus: Delivery commit time extended by 90 minutes
- UPS Worldwide Express: Delivery commit time to commercial addresses will be 3:00 p.m.; to residential addresses by end-of-day
Note: UPS Express Critical® is available for urgent shipments 365 days a year. Call 1-800-714-8779 or visit upsexpresscritical.com.
Source: UPS Holiday Schedule (PDF), UPS Holiday Shipping Dates
Purolator Shipping Deadlines
Holiday Closures
Purolator closes on December 25, December 26, and January 1. Plan shipments accordingly.
Domestic Shipping Deadlines
For delivery by December 24, ship no later than Monday, December 22, 2025 for next-day service (Purolator Express). Allow extra time for potential weather delays.
Ground services require earlier shipping dates (mid-December) depending on distance, though specific cutoffs vary by origin and destination.
International Shipping Deadlines
The following international deadlines are based on internal service level agreements. Verify directly with Purolator for your specific routes:
| Destination | Ship By (verify with Purolator) |
| U.S. & Canada (next-day service) | December 23, 2025 |
| Western Europe, Mexico, Caribbean | December 18, 2025 |
| East Asia | December 17, 2025 |
| U.S. Ground | December 15, 2025 |
| Africa, Middle East, South Asia | December 11, 2025 |
Source: Purolator Holiday Shipping, Purolator Holiday Schedule
Canpar Shipping Deadlines by Province
Canpar’s deadlines vary significantly by origin and destination. Use this table to find your specific route:
Express/Select Service – Last Day for Pickup
| Origin → Destination | BC | AB | SK | MB | ON | QC | NB/NS/PEI | NFLD |
| British Columbia | Dec 22 | Dec 19 | Dec 18 | Dec 18 | Dec 17 | Dec 16 | Dec 15 | Dec 09 |
| Alberta | Dec 19 | Dec 22 | Dec 22 | Dec 19 | Dec 18 | Dec 17 | Dec 16 | Dec 10 |
| Saskatchewan | Dec 18 | Dec 22 | Dec 22 | Dec 22 | Dec 18 | Dec 17 | Dec 16 | Dec 10 |
| Manitoba | Dec 17 | Dec 19 | Dec 22 | Dec 22 | Dec 18 | Dec 18 | Dec 17 | Dec 11 |
| Ontario | Dec 17 | Dec 18 | Dec 18 | Dec 18 | Dec 22 | Dec 22 | Dec 19 | Dec 15 |
| Quebec | Dec 16 | Dec 17 | Dec 17 | Dec 17 | Dec 22 | Dec 22 | Dec 19 | Dec 15 |
| NB/NS/PEI | Dec 12 | Dec 16 | Dec 16 | Dec 16 | Dec 19 | Dec 19 | Dec 22 | Dec 16 |
| Newfoundland | Dec 09 | Dec 10 | Dec 10 | Dec 10 | Dec 15 | Dec 15 | Dec 16 | Dec 22 |
Holiday Schedule:
- December 25-26: Closed
- January 1: Closed
Note: Service guarantees do not apply to shipments received between November 24, 2025 and January 2, 2026 due to peak holiday volumes.
Source: Canpar Shipping Deadlines (PDF), Canpar Holiday Schedule
FleetOptics Delivery Deadlines
Note: FleetOptics schedules vary by contract and location. The following is general guidance—verify specific deadlines with your FleetOptics representative.
Ground Service Deadlines
Thursday, December 18 – Last Day to Ship:
- Ontario → Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia, Saskatchewan
- Quebec → Alberta, British Columbia
- Alberta → Manitoba, Saskatchewan
Monday, December 22 – Last Day to Ship:
- Air service (all lanes)
- Ground: Alberta → British Columbia
- Ground: British Columbia → Alberta
Tuesday, December 23 – Last Day to Ship:
- Local and next-day service level agreements
Holiday Schedule:
- December 24 & 31: Operating normally (deliveries and pickups)
- December 25: Closed (deliveries and pickups)
- December 26: Closed for deliveries, open for pickups
- January 1: Closed for deliveries, open for pickups
Ecom Logistics
Note: Ecom Logistics schedules vary by contract and location. Verify specific deadlines directly with your account representative.
Ecom Logistics is a 3PL (third-party logistics) provider specializing in e-commerce fulfillment and last-mile delivery in major Canadian cities, offering same-day and next-day local delivery services.
No published holiday deadlines. As a fulfillment service rather than a national courier, Ecom Logistics handles orders on a rolling basis. Merchants using same-day delivery services may be able to accept orders up to December 24 for local customers, but this depends on contracted service levels.
Ecom Logistics closes December 25-26 (no deliveries), with warehouse operations also paused or limited during these holidays. Normal operations resume to handle backlogged orders and Boxing Day sale shipments.
What Happens if You Miss the Deadline?
Packages shipped after carrier deadlines will deliver in early January 2026. Most carriers resume normal operations on January 2.
Set clear expectations with your customers. If someone orders after your cutoff date, send an immediate email confirming their package will arrive after the holidays. This prevents confusion and reduces customer service inquiries.
Want to avoid this problem next year? Optimizing your shipping process with the right carrier mix and automation can give you more flexible cutoff dates and better service during peak season.
How to Communicate Deadlines to Customers
Add a banner to your website starting December 1. Make the deadline visible on your homepage, product pages, and checkout screen.
Update your shipping policy page with exact dates. Include the carrier you use and the corresponding deadline.
Send email reminders to your subscriber list on these dates:
- December 1: “Order by December X for guaranteed Christmas delivery”
- One week before your deadline: Final reminder with clear cutoff
- December 26: “We’re back – new orders ship January 2”
Use tracking and insurance: Encourage customers to use tracking services for all holiday orders. For high-value packages, recommend shipping insurance. This helps manage expectations during the busy transit period and protects against loss or damage when carrier volumes surge.
Questions About Holiday Shipping
When should I stop accepting orders for Christmas delivery?
Your order cutoff should be 1-2 days before your carrier’s ship deadline. This buffer gives you processing time and protects against unexpected delays in your warehouse.
Can I ship on December 24?
FleetOptics accepts shipments on December 24. Most other major carriers operate with modified hours—UPS offers delivery but only air pickups. Check with your specific carrier to confirm availability.
What if a package arrives late?
Contact your carrier immediately. Some services include delivery guarantees that may provide refunds for late deliveries. However, during holiday peak and labour disruption periods, many carriers extend commit times or suspend guarantees entirely—check each carrier’s current terms before filing a claim. Keep documentation of your ship date and the carrier’s published deadline.
Should I offer expedited shipping during the holidays?
Express services have later cutoff dates than ground shipping. If your margins allow it, expedited shipping lets you capture orders closer to December 25.
The challenge is cost. Express rates can be 2-3x higher than ground shipping. Access to enterprise carrier rates can make expedited services more affordable, letting you offer competitive shipping without eating into your margins.
How do I handle customer expectations during carrier disruptions?
Be direct about service disruptions. If Canada Post or another carrier is experiencing delays, communicate alternative carriers clearly. Update your website, email templates, and checkout process to reflect current carrier availability.
What should I remember about December 25-26?
No national carrier moves shipments on December 25. December 26 is also largely a closure day across carriers, though some regional services may vary. A package sent December 23 or 24 will not move again until December 27 at the earliest. Similarly, January 1 is a closure day across all carriers. Build these blackout dates into your fulfillment timeline and communicate them to customers.
Planning Your 2025 Holiday Fulfillment
Start your holiday preparation in November. Confirm inventory levels, review carrier performance from previous years, and identify which services performed best for your business.
Test your shipping workflow before peak volume hits. Process a few orders using your actual holiday procedures. This reveals bottlenecks before they cause problems.
Build extra time into your fulfillment calendar. Weather delays and carrier volume surges are common in December. Your internal deadlines should be more conservative than carrier cutoffs. Consider padding in an extra day or two as a safety net.
Plan for carrier disruptions. With potential labour disruptions and all carriers facing record e-commerce volumes, even shipments sent by the cutoff dates could face delays. Have a backup carrier strategy ready. If one network experiences delays or strikes, be prepared to switch to another courier. Diversifying carriers helps ensure you meet delivery promises.
Consider your return policy. Packages shipped in mid-December leave minimal time for customers to receive, open, and potentially return items before the holidays. Make your return window clear in your communications.
Having the right carrier partnerships makes peak season smoother. Access to multiple carriers lets you route shipments based on destination, speed requirements, and cost without being dependent on a single provider’s capacity constraints.
Peak season surcharges: All major carriers apply additional fees during the holiday period (typically late November through early January) for oversized packages, special handling, and high-volume shipments. Factor these increased costs into your shipping strategy.
Get Expert Help with Holiday Shipping
Part n Parcel helps Canadian e-commerce businesses optimize their shipping operations year-round. Our members access enterprise carrier rates and shipping automation that saves both time and money during peak season.
Want to see how much you could save on your 2026 holiday shipping? We’ll analyze your shipping invoices and show you the exact cost reduction our network can provide.
Last updated: November 2025. Carrier schedules may change. Always verify deadlines directly with your carrier as the holidays approach.
