Christmas cut-off dates 2024: Australia Post, DHL, Royal Mail + more

As the holiday season approaches, anticipation builds – not just for the festivities but also for the surge in customer orders. Preparing for this peak period is crucial for retailers who aim to deliver joy — not delays. Setting the stage for a seamless shipping experience involves early planning, staying updated, clear customer communication, smart shipping solutions, and incorporating buffer times for the unexpected.

And, with fast shipping, free shipping and easy returns being some of the top influences on holiday purchase decisions, it’s even more important to stay ahead of the game these holidays.

In this article we’ll cover why it’s crucial to have your finger on the pulse with holiday shipping cut-off dates, including a list of resources with all the important dates to add to your calendar!

1. Meet customer expectations

As everyone gears up for the holiday festivities, customers' expectations for on-time deliveries reach their peak. In fact, a survey by Voxware found that 69% of respondents are much less likely to return to a retailer after experiencing delays. Aligning with cut-off times doesn't just keep you in the good books; it ensures that your customers' holiday experiences are seamless from purchase to unboxing.

2. Optimise your workflow

Knowing when each carrier waves their final wand for shipping helps you plan your logistics with precision. This awareness and predictability results in a more streamlined operation, by allowing retailers to prioritise orders efficiently, keeping the gears of peak season fulfillment well-oiled and ready to go.

3. Promote proactive purchasing

Educating your customers on potential holiday delays early encourages them to make their purchases with plenty of time to spare. This not only ensures their orders are on schedule but also helps distribute your workload more evenly.

4. Effectively manage costs

Being ahead of the game with shipping times can lead to significant savings. You can avoid the higher costs associated with rush shipping, keeping your holiday margins merry.

5. Clear communication

Transparency about shipping deadlines is a service in itself. It not only shows your customers that you respect their time, but also builds trust and loyalty. Loyal customers spend 67% more on average than new ones, which underscores the value of maintaining clear and prompt communication.

Holiday cut off dates by carrier

New Zealand Post

Get ready for the holiday season with NZ Post’s carefully outlined schedule. For your local shipping needs, take note of these important cut-off times:

New Zealand:

• Courier Economy: Dispatch by Wednesday, 18 December 2024
• Courier: Dispatch by Friday, 20 December 2024

Australia:

• Courier Economy: Dispatch by Monday, 2 December 2024
• Courier: Dispatch by Monday, 9 December 2024
• Express & Express Tonight: Dispatch by Monday, 16 December 2024

Asia, Europe, North America, South Pacific, UK:

• Courier Economy: Dispatch by Sunday, 1 December 2024
• Courier: Dispatch by Sunday, 8 December 2024
• Express & Express Tonight: Dispatch by Friday, 13 December 2024

Rest of the world:

• Courier Economy: Dispatch by Monday, 25 November 2024
• Courier: Dispatch by Monday, 2 December 2024
• Express & Express Tonight: Dispatch by Wednesday, 11 December 2024

For the full list of national and international Christmas cut-off dates, visit NZ Post's key sending dates.

NZ Couriers

NZ Couriers is committed to delivering your parcels on time during the festive season. Mark these cut-off dates for sending within New Zealand on your calendar:

• Business Zone Address: Dispatch by Monday, 23 December 2024
• Residential Zone Address: Dispatched by Friday, 20 December 2024
• Rural Zone Address: Dispatched by Thursday, 19 December 2024

Australia:

• Courier: Dispatched by Friday, 6 December 2024
• Courier Plus: Dispatched by Wednesday, 11 December 2024
• Express: Dispatched by Friday, 13 December 2024

USA/CA/UK:

• Courier: Dispatched by Monday, 2 December 2024

United States of America:

• Express: Dispatched by Wednesday, 11 December 2024

Rest of world:

• Express: Dispatched by Friday, 6 December 2024

For detailed information on international shipping and to stay updated with any changes, head over to NZ Couriers' cut-off dates page or download your copy here.

Australia Post

Australia Post is well-prepared to handle your holiday deliveries. Note the following Australia Post Christmas cut-off dates for sending domestic parcels to ensure they arrive in time:

Within Australia (excluding WA and NT)

• Parcel Post: Dispatch by Friday 20 December 2024
• Express Post: Dispatch by Monday 23 December 2024

International:

• Economy Air: 19 November – 4 December 2024
• International Standard: 26 November – 11 December 2024
• International Express: 2 – 16 December 2024

For a more detailed list of Christmas lodgement dates for retailers, especially those sending large volumes of parcels, refer to the Australia Post Business page for Christmas lodgement dates.

Aramex

For Aramex's holiday shipping, use their handy online tool to get location-specific cut-off dates. Access it here to download your schedule.

DHL

DHL cut-off dates to ship within Australia are essential to note, and their 2024 schedule advises the following deadlines to keep your parcels on track:

New Zealand -

• DHL Worldwide Air: Ship by Saturday, 14 December 2024
• DHL International Economy: Ship by Monday, 9 December 2024

Australia -

• DHL Worldwide Air: Ship by Sunday, 15 December 2024
• DHL International Economy: Ship by Saturday, 7 December 2024

United States -

• DHL Worldwide Air: Ship by Tuesday, 17 December 2024
• DHL International Economy: Ship by Tuesday, 3 December 2024

For a more detailed list of Christmas cut off dates for retailers, refer to the international Christmas delivery schedule 2024.

Sendle

Sendle is also geared up to manage your Christmas deliveries, with last pick-up dates to ensure your packages arrive on time:

Australia

Long-haul:

• National: Thursday 05 December 2024
• Express: Wednesday 18 December 2024

Short-haul:

• National: Saturday 14 December 2024
• Express: Thursday 19 December 2024

Same city:

• National: Thursday 19 December 2024
• Express: Friday 20 December 2024

International:

• New Zealand: Friday 13 December 2024
• United States: Friday 06 December 2024
• United Kingdom: Friday 13 December 2024

Head to the Sendle page to get the specifics for various locations and ensure your parcels are under the Christmas tree ahead of the big day. Plus, there will be no peak surcharges in either the US or Canada this holiday season!

CouriersPlease

For CouriersPlease, their holiday shipping schedule is designed to ensure parcels are delivered by December 24th. For the specific cut-off dates tailored to different regions and services, download your copy of the schedule directly from CouriersPlease 2024 Christmas cut-offs.

Royal Mail

As you prepare for the festive rush, here are the essential Royal Mail Christmas cut-off dates for sending within the UK to keep in mind:

• 2nd Class/ 2nd Class Signed For: Wednesday, 18 December 2024
• 1st Class/ 1st Class Signed For: Friday, 20 December 2024
• Royal Mail Tracked 24: Saturday, 21 December 2024
• Special Delivery Guaranteed: Monday, 23 December 2024

Visit their page to see the full list for domestic and international shipping or download your copy of the dates here.

FedEx

For FedEx, to ensure your parcels are delivered by Christmas, visit their holiday shipping schedule page for comprehensive shipping resources and deadlines: FedEx Holiday Shipping.

• Reduce the risk - spread your shipping across multiple carriers to reduce dependency on one, safeguarding against unexpected delays.
• Choice at checkout - offer greater flexibility at checkout with a variety of shipping options, catering to different customer needs and timelines.
• Reliability - build trust with your customers by consistently meeting delivery expectations, even during the busiest shipping season.
• Competitive advantage - offering a variety of shipping options can set your brand apart, giving customers more reasons to shop with you.

If the thought of managing multiple couriers gives you a headache, consider starting a free trial of Starshipit. With our user-friendly dashboard, you can effortlessly manage all your couriers, print shipping labels, validate addresses, set up shipping automation, and more. The best part? We have shipping experts on hand to help you every step of the way.

Wrap up

As we wrap up, remember that the key to a stress-free holiday season for you and your customers is planning ahead. By marking these courier-specific cut-off dates in your calendar, you're taking an essential step to ensure that gifts and goods arrive in time for the festivities. Each courier, from NZ Couriers to Sendle, provides options suited for every need — be it express or standard, domestic or international.

Stay updated with their websites for any last-minute changes and consider offering your customers a variety of shipping options to meet their holiday needs. Here’s to a successful and timely holiday season!