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As we get closer to November, understanding what will be driving Holiday 2025 is critical for shippers to stay ahead. Knowing dates that FedEx, UPS, and the U.S. Post Office are closed will help ensure you aren’t overpromising to your customers depending on when they order to meet a Christmas deadline.
In summary on U.S. Holiday Retail & Shipping Behaviors:
- Overall retail spending is anticipated to be down significantly from 2024.
- Thanksgiving 2025 is later this year, but not as late as it was in 2024.
- Holiday Parcel Surcharges have risen this year compared with prior year, so parcel shippers need to understand their costs to prevent margin erosion.
- FedEx and UPS closure dates will follow normal schedules, see below for the dates of modified service and closures
Deloitte recently released their 2025 Holiday Retail Consumer Survey, and some noteworthy differences between this year’s holiday season and the prior year.
- Retail Spending is expected to be down 10% from prior year. With an expected $1,595 average expected holiday spend compared with $1,778 in 2024.
- 31% of respondents of Deloitte’s Holiday Survey plan to use generative AI to help with their shopping journey, an increase of 2X compared to 15% of respondents planning to use AI last year.
One of the most noteworthy items, specifically for parcel shippers is when the shopping is anticipated to occur. Deloitte projects that around 75% of shoppers will be shopping late November and early December.
So what does this mean for parcel shippers?
This year with surcharges reaching some record highs. Ensuring you are aware of the major phases of the Demand Periods for both FedEx and UPS. Many shoppers plan to shop during Thanksgiving week with about 70% planning to shop during that week (Source: Deloitte Holiday Survey 2025).
UPS Peak Surcharge Timeline 2025
- UPS Demand Period 1 will run from October 26, 2025 to November 22, 2025.
- UPS Demand Period 2 will run from November 23, 2025 to December 27, 2025.
- UPS Demand Period 3 will run from December 28, 2025 to January 17, 2025.
FedEx Peak Surcharge Timeline 2025
- FedEx Demand Period 1 will run from October 27, 2025 to November 23, 2025
- FedEx Demand Period 2 will run from November 24, 2025 to December 28, 2025
- FedEx Demand Period 3 will run from December 29, 2025 to January 18, 2025
Read more about the parcel changes in our Parcel News blog post.
Holiday Shipping Closures & Timing
This year, Thanksgiving is almost the latest date it can be (Thursday, November 27, 2025), therefore there are fewer days to ship compared to when Thanksgiving falls on an earlier date. Below are some helpful dates to keep in mind.
USPS mail is not delivered on Christmas, December 25, as that is an observed holiday for the U.S. Post Office. See full list of USPS holidays.
UPS delivery is closed December 24, 2025 and December 25, 2025. They will also observed modified delivery schedules on days leading up to Christmas. See the complete detail here.
- Monday December 22, 2025: Normal pickup and delivery service. This is the last day to ship UPS 2nd Day Air® packages for delivery on Wednesday, December 24. UPS 3 Day Select® packages picked up December 22 will be scheduled for delivery on Friday, December 26.
- Tuesday, December 23, 2025 Normal pickup and delivery service. This is the last day to ship UPS Next Day Air® packages for delivery on Wednesday, December 24 with a UPS On-Call Pickup® service, a UPS Smart Pickup® service, or other prearranged, scheduled pickup, or by tendering a shipment at a The UPS Store® location or a UPS Authorized Service Location.
- Wednesday, December 24, 2025 Christmas Eve Normal delivery service. Pickup service available only for Air and International Air* packages if prearranged by Thursday, December 18. UPS On-Call Pickup® service is available for Air and international Air* packages. UPS Next Day Air® packages picked up today will be scheduled for delivery on Friday, December 26.
- Thursday, December 25, 2025: Christmas Day (UPS Holiday) No UPS® pickup or delivery service. UPS Express Critical® service (provided by Marken) is available. Call 1-800-714-8779 or visit marken.com.
- Friday, December 26, 2025 Normal pickup and delivery service.
FedEx will be closed fully on Christmas day except for their Custom Critical service. See the complete detail here.
- Tuesday, December 23, 2025: FedEx Parcel/Ground, FedEx Office, FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx Logistics will all be open. FedEx Freight will be open with normal pickup and delivery operations and a modified linehaul schedule. Shipments picked up that are not moved will resume transit on the next normal operating day. For example, a one-day shipment picked up on Dec. 23 will resume on Dec. 29 and be delivered on Dec. 30. have modified service levels meaning early on-call pickups and drop box pickups in some areas.
- Wednesday, December 24, 2025: FedEx Parcel/Ground will have modified service with early on-call pickups and drop box pickups in some areas. FedEx Freight will be closed. FedEx Office will have modified hours. FedEx Custom Critical and FedEx Logistics will be open.
- Thursday, December 25, 2025: FedEx Parcel/Ground, FedEx Freight, FedEx Office, and FedEx Logistics will all be closed. FedEx Custom Critical will be open.
- Friday, December 26, 2025: FedEx Parcel/Ground, FedEx Office, FedEx Custom Critical, and FedEx Logistics will all be open. FedEx Freight will have modified service on Dec. 26 and Dec. 31, FedEx Freight will be open with only prearranged pickup and delivery shipments being made. Freight shipments picked up on Dec. 26 will resume on Dec. 29. For example, a one-day shipment picked up on Dec. 26 will resume on Dec. 29 and be delivered on Dec. 30.