Mail business holiday cards between November 30 and December 10 so they arrive in the first two weeks of December, before offices thin out for the holidays. USPS First-Class Mail takes 1 to 5 days, and USPS recommends mailing First-Class by Thursday, December 17, 2026 for delivery before Christmas. Thanksgiving cards should be in the mail between November 9 and November 17 to arrive before Thanksgiving on November 26.
Mailing 250 or more cards?
Request a sample kitWe'll send sample cards and an envelope addressed with a real ballpoint pen.
Mailing fewer than 250?
Shop the catalogCustomize any card and you'll get your mailing price on the spot, from 100 cards.
Mail-by dates at a glance
| Card | Mail between | Arrives |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving | Nov 9 and Nov 17 | Before Thanksgiving, Nov 26 |
| Hanukkah | By Nov 25 | Before the first night, Dec 4 |
| Christmas or holiday | Nov 30 and Dec 10 | First two weeks of December |
| Christmas, latest | By Dec 17 | Before Dec 25 (USPS First-Class recommendation) |
| New Year | Dec 21 and Dec 31 | Late December to the first week of January |
Why the first two weeks of December
- Cards that arrive early in the month get opened and read. By the week before Christmas, mailboxes are full and your card is one of many.
- Many offices close or run with a light staff between Christmas and New Year's Day. A card sent to a business address late in December can sit unopened until January.
- Mailing on a set date leaves room for USPS delays, which are more common in December.
If you're mailing the cards yourself
Work back from the day you want to mail:
- Production: 5 to 7 business days from October through December. Custom foil imprints can add 1 to 2 business days.
- Shipping to you: UPS Ground typically takes 2 to 5 business days to most U.S. addresses.
- Your time: addressing, stuffing and stamping. Give your team a few days for a list of a few hundred.
That adds up to about 3 to 4 weeks before your mail date. To mail by December 1, order by about November 6.
If we're mailing them for you
When we print, address and mail your cards, you pick a mail-by date, the day your cards go to USPS. The earliest date you can choose is 14 days out, and Sundays and federal holidays are closed. Most mailings run 3 to 4 weeks from order to mail date, so to mail the week of November 30, start in early November. Thanksgiving mailings run through the week of November 16.
| Week of | Mail-by days | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 26 | Oct 26 to Oct 31 | Full |
| Nov 2 | Nov 2 to Nov 7 | Full |
| Nov 9 | Nov 9, 10, 12, 13, 14 (closed Nov 11, Veterans Day) | Limited |
| Nov 16 | Nov 16 to Nov 21 | Open |
| Nov 23 | Nov 23, 24, 25, 27, 28 (closed Nov 26, Thanksgiving) | Limited |
| Nov 30 | Nov 30 to Dec 5 | Limited |
| Dec 7 | Dec 7 to Dec 12 | Open |
| Dec 14 | Dec 14 to Dec 19 | Open |
| Dec 21 | Dec 21 to 24 and Dec 26 (closed Dec 25) | Limited |
| Dec 28 | Dec 28 to 31 and Jan 2 (closed Jan 1) | Limited |
Availability as of October 9, 2026.
USPS dates to know for 2026
- First-Class Mail takes 1 to 5 days to deliver.
- The recommended First-Class send-by date for delivery before Christmas is Thursday, December 17.
- Hanukkah runs December 4 to 12 this year, earlier than usual.
- Post offices are closed on Veterans Day (November 11), Thanksgiving (November 26), Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
See the USPS holiday shipping dates for every mail class.
Sending Thanksgiving cards instead
Some firms send Thanksgiving cards so theirs isn't one of a dozen in December. Mail them between November 9 and November 17. Browse business Thanksgiving cards.
What to write
Once your date is set, our guide on what to write in a business holiday card has messages you can use as written.
Mailing 250 or more cards?
Request a sample kitWe'll send sample cards and an envelope addressed with a real ballpoint pen.
Mailing fewer than 250?
Shop the catalogCustomize any card and you'll get your mailing price on the spot, from 100 cards.
