Cheapest Way to Ship a Package for the Holidays

With the holiday season in full swing, merchants and online sellers are gearing up for the busiest and most crucial shipping period of the year. 

The weeks between Black Friday and Christmas bring a surge of parcels and gift deliveries, as shoppers across the globe send presents to loved ones and take advantage of special retail offers and discounts.

This seasonal rush, known as "peak season”, occurs in Q4 annually and comes with unique challenges for brands, especially rising shipping costs. For both retailers and customers, finding cost-effective ways to ship Christmas gifts is key to managing budgets and ensuring a smooth holiday experience. While free shipping may seem ideal as it can positively impact sales, it’s often not the most economical option.

In this guide, we’ll break down the holiday shipping landscape—comparing major carriers, highlighting surcharges, and offering tips for packing and sending gifts efficiently. Plus, discover how Easyship’s tools can simplify your logistics, helping you find the best rates and options for hassle-free holiday shipping. It’s going to be a holly, jolly, and helpful good time!

Sign up for a free Easyship account today to save up to 91% on shipping from all the world’s top courier companies.

What’s the Cheapest Way to Ship Christmas Gifts?

USPS, UPS, and FedEx all offer competitive rates for shipping during the holiday season.

Cheapest rates from NY to LA 

To find the cheapest overall rates for one of the most popular (and expensive) domestic routes in the United States, we'll use the following example package dimensions and weight to enable a fair multi-carrier comparison for sending a parcel from New York to Los Angeles.

• Weight of package: 2 lb (small parcel)
• Origin: New York City, NY
• Destination: Los Angeles, CA

Cheapest rates for 2-3 day shipping

For a parcel weighing 2 pounds being shipped from NY to LA, these are the indicative rates for 2-3 day shipping.

Sending heavier packages? If you’re shipping a package over 5+ pounds, USPS and FedEx offer competitive rates for the cheapest 2-3 day shipping options.

Cheapest option for overnight delivery

When it comes to express shipping with overnight next-day delivery, UPS and FedEx are much more reliable for overnight shipping services. USPS Priority Mail Express is often the choice for 1-day delivery, but UPS and FedEx guarantee delivery by the next day or your money back and often have more affordable rates following the latest USPS price changes in July 2025.

Cheapest for 2lb overnight packages: To find the best shipping rates for overnight delivery, let’s again say you’re shipping a 2-pound package from New York to Los Angeles.

To add your own weights or dimensions, be sure to take a look at Easyship's free shipping rate calculator to view accurate data for your exact package size.

How to Prepare for the Busiest Mailing and Delivery Days

With U.S. online shoppers expected to reach 285 million by 2025, the holiday season brings a major surge in shipments. To save money, reduce errors, and keep customers happy, it's essential to prepare early with the right shipping services and tools.

Have a Clear Shipping Policy

More holiday sales mean more orders to fulfill—and more chances for delays. A clear, accessible shipping policy helps reduce confusion and sets expectations during the peak holiday season.

What to include in your shipping policy:

• Courier Options: Mention which shipping carriers (e.g. USPS, FedEx, UPS) you use, including postal services and expedited delivery options.
• Service Types: State whether you offer overnight delivery, international shipments, or flat rate shipping (e.g., small flat rate box, flat rate packages).
• Handling Times: Clarify order processing time before generating shipping labels.
• Shipping Costs: Be upfront about delivery costs, even if not offering free shipping.
• Delivery Times: Set expectations for delivery speed, especially for domestic shipping during high-volume periods.
• Returns: Outline a clear returns policy.
• International Shipping: Include policies for Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) or Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU) shipments.
• Tracking: Let customers know when they'll receive free tracking.
• Holiday Deadlines: Publish courier cutoff dates for Christmas delivery.

Know Your 2025 Holiday Shipping Deadlines

One of the most common seasonal questions is: “Can you guarantee delivery by Christmas Eve?”

To manage expectations, clearly display your holiday shipping deadlines, shipping rates, and estimated delivery times on your website.

Here are the estimated 2025 shipping cutoffs from major carriers, based on recent updates and previous years:

USPS (United States Postal Service)

FedEx

UPS

📌 Always add 1–2 buffer days to your cutoff to ensure on-time delivery during the holiday season.

Plan for Lead Time & Delays

The holiday peak season has a unique way of complicating logistics. While it’s typically a best practice to add an extra day or two to your delivery estimate for flexibility, the holidays often call for an even longer lead time. With everyone shipping gifts simultaneously, it’s essential to account for potential bottlenecks.

Additionally, seasonal roadblocks like stock shortages, winter weather, and supply chain disruptions are more common at this time of year.

Be Prepared for Holiday Surcharges

The holiday season brings a surge in shipping activity as people send gifts and packages ahead of celebrations. To manage the high volume, many couriers implement seasonal surcharges. Check our Holiday Surcharge Guide for detailed information on seasonal fees to help you plan accordingly and avoid unexpected costs.

Most major couriers add seasonal fees during the holidays. Here’s a snapshot of 2025 peak surcharges:

Factors That Affect Shipping Costs

There’s no single cheapest shipping service—what you pay depends on four main factors:

1. Speed

Faster = more expensive. Overnight delivery can cost 4–5x more than ground shipping.

• Ground shipping services across couriers tend to take longer (4-5 days) but are more affordable.
• Priority, Air, and Overnight shipping services are very fast (1 day) but are much more expensive.

Example: 2–3 day shipping for 8 lbs = cheaper with USPS; 15 lbs = better with UPS Ground.

2. Distance

All U.S. carriers use shipping zones (1–8). The farther your package travels, the higher the shipping cost. International shipments cost more due to customs and distance.

Pro tip: Fulfill from warehouses closer to your customers to reduce zone charges.

3. Weight

Heavier = more expensive.

• USPS is best for lightweight packages (like educational materials or documents).
• FedEx Home Delivery and UPS Ground are ideal for heavier shipments.

4. Size

Dimensional weight can drive up costs for larger packages that take up space.

Formula: (L x W x H) ÷ divisor (usually 139)

Example: A large plush toy in a big box may cost more than a heavier, smaller package.

Use the right packing materials—like bubble wrap or packing peanuts—without oversizing your box.

Other Considerations for Holiday Shipping

While looking for the cheapest way to ship a package for the holidays, remember to account for:

• Insurance: Ensure you have shipping insurance specially for high-value or fragile gifts.
• Tracking: Now expected with every order, especially for international shipping.
• Handling Fees: Applied to delicate or awkwardly shaped flat rate packages.
• Fuel/Residential Surcharges: Sometimes hidden in the fine print of “cheaper” options.
• Delivery Guarantees: Confirm whether the cheapest shipping option includes a time-based commitment.

The Best Way to Ship Christmas Gifts

Imagine opening a gift on Christmas morning only to find a delicate, hand-blown ornament broken beyond repair. To help avoid such let-downs, this section covers best practices for packaging fragile items securely.

It’s essential to clearly label fragile or hazardous goods on the exterior of the parcel, but there’s more to proper packing. You’ll need specific materials, such as packing tape, appropriately sized boxes, packing peanuts, and other protective supplies.

Once you have these materials, follow our instructions to safely package and ship your items. For detailed steps on secure shipments, Check out our full guide on safe shipments here.

• Carefully pack the object in a shipping box with enough packing materials to keep it safe.
• Research couriers and choose one based on factors like cost and delivery time.
• Obtain shipping insurance to minimize risks for valuable items like gifts.
• Schedule a pickup for your package or drop it off at the courier location.

Find the Cheapest Way to Ship Your Christmas Packages with Easyship

There’s no one-size-fits-all for shipping solutions. What works best for one parcel or customer may not work for another. Let's look at a cost breakdown for two scenarios with the major couriers to get a sense of prices. We estimated these rates using Easyship’s rates calculator, which provides real-time, real-world rates.

Find Fast and Affordable Shipping for the Holidays

This holiday season, let your customers take control. While sticking with the lowest-cost courier may seem like a good way to save money, offering multiple courier options empowers your customers to choose how much they’re willing to pay for the delivery speed they need.

Need help with the logistics? Easyship makes it simple. With over 550 international shipping solutions on our cloud-based platform and discounts up to 91% across multiple carriers, we handle the complexities of fulfillment so you don’t have to.

Easyship offers other shipping tools to help streamline the shipping experience and delight your buyers. They include:

• Comparison Tool: With our courier comparison tool, you can compare the different shipping services offered by each courier, allowing you to choose your cheapest way to ship based on other factors, not just the cost
• Insurance: To help keep your packages safe in transit, Easyship offers you insurance up to $10,000
• Tracking: From custom-branded tracking emails to automatic message alerts, Easyship helps you maintain package visibility with your buyers throughout the delivery process
• Returns Management: Streamline returns with Easyship’s eCommerce software, saving time, reducing costs, and enhancing customer satisfaction with a smooth, hassle-free process.

FAQ: Holiday Shipping & Saving

What’s the cheapest way to ship a package during the holidays?

 The cheapest way to ship depends on the package’s weight, size, speed, and destination. For lightweight domestic shipments, USPS Ground Advantage is usually the most affordable. For heavier packages, UPS Ground Saver or FedEx Express Saver often offer the best rates.

Is USPS cheaper than FedEx or UPS?

For lightweight packages under 10 lbs, USPS is generally cheaper, especially with Priority Mail and Ground Advantage. For larger, heavier boxes, UPS and FedEx Ground/Home Delivery tend to be more cost-effective.

How can I save money on holiday shipping? 

Use a shipping platform like Easyship to access up to 91% off retail rates, compare courier prices, and get real-time shipping quotes. Ship early, pack efficiently, and avoid express services when possible.

What’s the last day to ship for Christmas 2025?

Deadlines vary by courier. For example, USPS Priority Mail Express's cutoff is December 12, FedEx Overnight is December 23, and UPS Next Day Air is December 23. Always allow a buffer of 1–2 days.

Does the cheapest shipping option include tracking?

Yes, most standard services like USPS Priority Mail, FedEx Ground, and UPS Ground include free tracking. However, super-budget options may offer limited or delayed tracking updates.