Shipping during the holidays comes with higher volumes, tighter timelines, and increased pressure on courier networks across Canada, and the United States. Peak season brings a surge in parcels, unpredictable winter weather, and potential labour disruptions that can all impact delivery speed. To help your business Ship Smarter this holiday season, use the recommended ship by dates and courier notes below to plan ahead, protect customer satisfaction, and keep orders moving on time.
Recommended Ship-By Dates
Within Canada
| Courier | Service | Ship-By Date |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Post – Regular Parcel | Standard ground parcel | Fri 19 Dec 2025 |
| Canada Post – Xpresspost / Priority | Faster parcel | Mon 22 Dec 2025 |
| FedEx (Canada) – Ground / Economy | Slower ground | Thu 18 Dec 2025 |
| FedEx (Canada) – Express / Overnight | Express service | Tue 23 Dec 2025 |
| UPS (Canada) – Ground / Standard | Standard parcel | Thu 18 Dec 2025 |
| Canpar / Loomis – Ground | Standard ground (example ON→ON) | Wed 22 Dec 2025 |
| Purolator – Express / Ground | Next-day Canada where available | Mon 23 Dec 2025 |
Canada to United States
| Courier | Service | Ship-By Date |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Post – Xpresspost USA | Fast cross-border parcel | Wed 17 Dec 2025 |
| Canada Post – Expedited Parcel USA | Slower cross-border | Sat 13 Dec 2025 |
| FedEx – Intl Economy / Ground | Economy cross-border | Tue 20 Dec 2025 |
| FedEx – Intl Priority / Express | Priority cross-border | Thu 23 Dec 2025 |
Courier Holiday Closures and Notes
Understanding each courier's holiday schedule helps you plan your logistics strategy and avoid unexpected delays.
Canada Post: Closed 25 Dec, 26 Dec, and 1 Jan. Expect heavier network volume and plan additional buffer days.
Purolator: Observes statutory holidays on 25 Dec, 26 Dec, and 1 Jan. Anticipate fewer pickups and increased peak surcharges.
Canpar / Loomis: Closed 25 Dec, 26 Dec, and 1 Jan. Service guarantees are suspended between 24 Nov and 2 Jan.
GLS: Closed 25 Dec, 26 Dec, and 1 Jan. Peak season surcharges begin in early October.
Tips for Smooth Holiday Shipping
To protect your customer experience during the busiest shipping season of the year, keep these best practices in mind:
Proactively communicate recommended ship by dates across your website, emails, and social channels.
Add 1 to 3 business days of buffer time for all holiday shipments to account for peak congestion.
Monitor courier advisories for weather events, regional delays, or labour disruptions.
Set clear expectations with your customers, especially as many couriers suspend or adjust money back guarantees during peak.
Use faster services or switch couriers when shipping high value, perishable, or time sensitive parcels.
Compare live rates from multiple couriers in ShipTime to find the best combination of price, speed, and reliability during peak periods.
Need Help Planning Your Holiday Shipping
If you need assistance navigating peak season deadlines or choosing the right service, you can always contact our Heroic Support™ team.