Sparkle and shine, it’s that time of year again! We all expect Christmas to be extra special this year and what better way to show your loved ones how much they mean to you than gifting them that special something they’ve been yearning for?
If you're intending on posting gifts to your friends and family this Christmas, it's definitely time to get organised. The festive season will be upon us before you can say 'pantomime', so plan ahead and make sure you don't miss those Christmas posting deadlines.
To help keep your Christmas planning on track, here are the last posting dates for sending parcels in the UK and overseas.
Even if you're sending gifts within the UK, try not to leave it until the last minute. You can't prepare Christmas dinner a week in advance, but you can get your Christmas posting done. Send all your gifts at least a week before Christmas, then sit back and relax knowing that Santa’s sleigh will be on time this year.
If things don't go to plan (and they often don't at Christmas), Parcel Monkey can still help you out. These reliable courier services, available to book via our courier quote form, will ensure your parcels reach their destination by Christmas Eve.
| Service | Post by* | Collection available | Drop off available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parcelforce Express 24 (Includes timed services) |
23 December 2021 | Yes | Yes |
| DHL Next Day | 23 December 2021 | Yes | No |
| DPD Next Day | 23 December 2021 | Yes | No |
| DX Next Day | 23 December 2021 | Yes | No |
| Parcelforce Express 48 (Includes Express48 Large) |
22 December 2021 | Yes | Yes |
| DPD Pick Up | 22 December 2021 | No | Yes |
*Your parcel must be dropped off or collected by this date.
Sending gifts overseas this Christmas? No problem! Parcel Monkey can help you send gifts to over 220 international destinations at discounted prices.
You will need to allow more time for international deliveries at Christmas, especially if you want to avoid paying extra for an express service.
The table below shows the last posting dates to our most popular destinations. Please remember that your parcel needs to be with the courier by the specified date, which means you need to allow an extra day for collection.
| Country |
Parcelforce Global Priority / Euro Economy |
DPD Classic/Air Classic | DPD Air Express | DHL Air Express |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 9 December | 13 December (Air Classic) | 6 December | |
| Canada | 9 December | 15 December (Air Classic) | 6 December | |
| China | 9 December | N/A | 14 December | 6 December |
| Denmark | 16 December (Euro Economy) | 17 December | 13 December | |
| France | 17 December (Euro Economy) | 16 December | 13 December | |
| Germany | 17 December (Euro Economy) | 16 December | ||
| Greece | 6 December (Euro Economy) | 13 December | 13 December | |
| Hong Kong | 14 December | 15 December (Air Classic) | 6 December | |
| India | 10 December | 6 December | ||
| Italy | 6 December (Euro Economy) | 13 December | ||
| Ireland | 17 December (Euro Economy) | 20 December | 13 December | |
| Japan | 9 December | 13 December (Air Classic) | 6 December | |
| New Zealand | 10 December | 6 December | ||
| Poland | 13 December (Euro Economy) | 17 December | 13 December | |
| Portugal | 14 December | 13 December | ||
| Singapore | 14 December | 15 December (Air Classic) | 17 December | 6 December |
| Spain | 16 December (Euro Economy) | 13 December | ||
| Sweden | 14 December (Euro Economy) | 16 December | 13 December | |
| Switzerland | 10 December (Global Priority) | 13 December | ||
| United Arab Emirates | 9 December | 6 December | ||
| USA | 14 December | 15 December (Air Classic) | 17 December | 6 December |
These dates are correct as of November 2021
For Parcel Monkey branded services shipping exclusively within Europe, the deadlines are as follows:
If the country you want to send a parcel to is not on our list, here are some helpful links where you can find a full list of destinations and last posting dates:
Parcelforce last posting dates 2021
DPD international Christmas delivery schedule 2021
DHL international last posting dates 2021
We'll be here to help you over Christmas. You can contact us via live chat or send us an email through your account. Here are our Christmas opening hours:
| Christmas Eve | 9am - 1pm |
| Christmas Day | Closed |
| Boxing Day | Closed |
| Tuesday 28th December | 8am - 8pm |
| Wednesday 29th December | 8am - 8pm |
| Thursday 30th December | 8am - 8pm |
| New Years Eve | 8am - 1pm |
| New Years Day | Closed |
| Saturday 2nd January | Closed |
| Monday 3rd January | Closed |
| Tuesday 4th January | Back to normal opening hours, 8am - 8pm |
Useful links:
Have your item collected and delivered the same day by express courier in the UK. Learn more.
Compare, book and send parcels using discounted parcel delivery services. Save time & money with Parcel Monkey.
