A gift set here and some wrapping paper there. While some of us like to plan weeks in advance for the big day, some of us love a last-minute rush to get everything.
But if you’re doing the last, or all, of your Christmas shopping online this year, be wary of the final date to do so. With Royal Mail workers walking out on strike on December 23 and December 24, time is running out.
Here, we take a look at the biggest delivery firms and find out when the very latest date to order will be. As always, be prepared for some things to be delayed as there will be phenomenal demand for services in the run-up to Christmas.
Read more: Kenton shop owners to put on free Santa's grotto for families during cost of living crisis
Royal Mail
Sticking with tradition, if you’re sending anything via Royal Mail then you’d best get a shift on. Final postal dates for 2nd Class, 2nd Class Signed For, Royal Mail 48, 1st Class, 1st Class Signed For, Royal Mail 24 and Royal Mail Tracked 48 have all passed.
If you’re speedy, you may catch the final collection for Royal Mail Tracked 24, with the final collection for that ending today. If you still need time, then make sure anything you send is sent Special Delivery Guaranteed by Wednesday, December 21.
DPD
For collection services, the last collection date for delivery to the UK is December 22. In order for your parcel to be collected by this date, a booking needs to be made online on or before December 21.
For drop-off services, please ensure your booked parcel is with your local drop shop on or before December 22.
Yodel
Yodel’s website doesn’t offer an explicit cut-off date, however, parcels sent with its store-to-door service are aimed to be delivered within two working days of being dropped off at a participating store. By this logic, the final date for posting with Yodel is December 21 at the latest.
Evri
Evri’s standard service might be a bit of a push to get there in time for Christmas, so its recommended that you use their next-day service. As long as it’s dropped off by 11 on December 22, that should give it plenty of time to arrive on December 23 - any later and you’re taking a big risk.
Amazon
Everyone’s favourite marketplace boasts that it is one of the few places that will deliver up until midnight on Christmas Eve. However, if you select standard shipping on your purchases, you’ll be taking a risk as Amazon recommends you buy before the end of today December 19.
Priority Delivery offers delivery two business days after the item is dispatched, meaning orders can be made as late as December 22. The Priority Delivery option costs 99p for non-Amazon Prime members but it is free for anybody who has signed up for Amazon Prime.
Same-day delivery is available on some items free to Prime members and priced at £5.99 per delivery for non-members. Same-day delivery works on all orders placed that day with deliveries arriving between 6 pm and 10 pm, however, this is limited to certain postcodes only so you will need to check before trying to use this option.
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