The summer sun is still shining, but the time to prepare for the holiday shipping season is fast-approaching. The holidays are the busiest season of the year for most businesses as frantic shoppers flood online retail to purchase gifts for friends and family. Download the UPS 2018 year-end holiday schedule to ensure you don’t miss any major dates.
UPS 2018 year-end holiday shipping schedule
UPS Thanksgiving 2018 shipping schedule
Wednesday, Nov. 21
- Normal pickup and delivery service. All UPS Next Day Air® packages picked up today will be delivered on Friday, Nov. 23, 2018.
- UPS 2nd Day Air® packages picked up today will be delivered on Monday, Nov. 26 unless the packages are processed and labeled for delivery on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018.
Thursday, Nov. 22
- Thanksgiving Day: No UPS® pickup or delivery service.
- Note: UPS Express Critical® service is available.
On Friday, Nov. 23 UPS pickup and delivery resumes in all areas.
Saturday, Nov. 24
- Delivery of UPS Worldwide Express®, UPS Next Day Air and UPS 2nd Day Air packages that were processed and labeled for Saturday Delivery.
UPS Christmas 2018 shipping schedule
Monday, Dec. 17
- UPS pickup and delivery service. UPS 2nd Day Air packages picked up today will be scheduled for delivery on Thursday, Dec. 20. UPS 3 Day Select packages picked up today will be scheduled for delivery on Friday, Dec. 21.
Tuesday, Dec. 18
- UPS pickup and delivery service. UPS 2nd Day Air packages picked up today will be scheduled for delivery on Friday, Dec. 21. UPS 3 Day Select packages picked up today will be scheduled for delivery on Monday, Dec. 24.
Wednesday, Dec. 19
- UPS pickup and delivery service. UPS 2nd Day Air packages picked up today will be scheduled for delivery on Monday, Dec. 24.
Thursday, Dec. 20 — Last day to ship UPS 2nd Day Air packages to arrive on Monday, December 24.
- UPS pickup and delivery service. This is the last day to ship UPS 2nd Day Air packages for delivery on Monday, December 24, 2018. UPS 2nd Day Air service may also be available for delivery on Saturday, Dec. 22. These packages must be processed and labeled for Saturday Delivery, which is not available to all ZIP codes. All UPS Next Day Air packages picked up on Thursday, December 20 will be delivered on Friday, Dec. 21.
Friday, Dec. 21 — Last day to ship UPS Next Day Air packages to arrive on Monday, December 24.
- UPS pickup and delivery service. This is the last day to ship UPS Next Day Air packages for delivery on Monday, December 24, 2018. UPS Next Day Air service may also be available for delivery on Saturday, Dec. 22. These packages must be processed and labeled for Saturday Delivery. Verify the recipient lives in a zip code that has Saturday delivery available.
Saturday, Dec. 22
- Delivery of UPS Worldwide Express, UPS Next Day Air, and UPS 2nd Day Air packages processed and labeled for Saturday Delivery. Pickup service available for UPS Air and international Air packages for regular Saturday pickup customers.
Sunday, Dec. 23
- No UPS pickup or delivery service
- NOTE: UPS Express Critical service is available.
Monday, Dec. 24
- Christmas Eve: UPS delivery service. Pickup service available only for Air and international Air packages if prearranged by Thursday, Dec. 20, 2018.
Tuesday, Dec. 25
- Christmas: No UPS pickup or delivery service
NOTE: UPS Express Critical service is an option.
New Year’s 2018 shipping schedule
Wednesday, Dec. 26
- Normal pickup and delivery service. UPS 2nd Day Air packages picked up today will be delivered on Friday, Dec. 28. UPS 3 Day Select packages picked up today will be delivered on Wednesday, Jan. 2.
Thursday, Dec. 27
- Normal pickup and delivery service. UPS Next Day Air packages picked up today will be delivered on Friday, Dec. 28. UPS 2nd Day Air packages picked up today will be delivered on Monday, Dec. 31 (except those processed and labeled for delivery on Saturday, Dec. 29).
Friday, Dec. 28
- Normal pickup and delivery service. UPS Next Day Air packages picked up today will be delivered on Monday, Dec. 31 (except those processed and labeled for delivery on Saturday, Dec. 29).
Saturday, Dec. 29
- Delivery of UPS Worldwide Express, UPS Next Day Air, and UPS 2nd Day Air packages processed and labeled for Saturday Delivery. Pickup service available for UPS Air and international Air packages for regular Saturday pickup customers.
Monday, Dec. 31
- Delivery of UPS Air and international Air packages only. Pickup service available only for Air and international Air packages if prearranged by Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018.
Tuesday, Jan. 1
- New Year’s Day: No UPS pickup or delivery service
- NOTE: UPS Express Critical service is available.
On Wednesday, January 2, normal UPS pickup and delivery resumes in all areas.
What are the UPS service guarantees for the holidays?
UPS Air and international Air packages picked up or delivered within the US are guaranteed during the holidays. The commitment times for Air and international Air packages scheduled for delivery Nov.23, Dec. 17–22, Dec. 24, and Dec. 31 will be extended. UPS Next Day Air Early and UPS Worldwide Express Plus services will be extended by 90 minutes. All other Air and international Air services will be extended to end-of-day.
The service guarantee is suspended for all UPS Ground shipments, including shipments to and from Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, and UPS Standard shipments picked up or scheduled for delivery Nov. 26–Dec. 24.
UPS 2018 Holiday Schedule
There are six days in 2018 when UPS does not pick up or deliver in the United States. In bold below are the upcoming holidays to be aware of. Make sure you have these dates on your calendar and plan around any urgent shipments.
Monday, Jan. 1: New Year’s Day
Monday, May 28: Memorial Day
Wednesday, July 4: Independence Day
Monday, Sept. 3: Labor Day
Thursday, Nov. 22: Thanksgiving Day
Tuesday, Dec. 25: Christmas Day
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