Quick answer: To get a box by Christmas Eve, order by Tuesday, December 15 with Standard shipping or Friday, December 18 with Express; we plan delivery by Thursday, December 24. From Saturday, December 19, send the Exclusive Gift House E-Gift Card instead. It arrives by email in minutes, so it still works on December 24.
Christmas 2026 falls on a Friday, and Christmas Day is a federal holiday, so every gift that travels by carrier needs to arrive by Thursday, December 24. Below is what you can still order from us on each day from December 15 to 24, and how it gets there. If you are shipping a gift yourself, every USPS and FedEx cutoff is in our holiday shipping deadlines guide.
| Order date | For Christmas | How it arrives |
|---|---|---|
| Tue, Dec 15 | Any signature box | Standard or Express, planned by Thu, Dec 24 |
| Wed, Dec 16 and Thu, Dec 17 | Any signature box | Express only, planned by Thu, Dec 24 |
| Fri, Dec 18 | Any signature box, last day | Express only, planned by Thu, Dec 24 |
| Sat, Dec 19 to Thu, Dec 24 | E-gift card | Email, in minutes |
What is the last day to order Christmas gifts for delivery by December 24?
With us, it is Tuesday, December 15 for Standard shipping and Friday, December 18 for Express. We pack every box by hand in Lynn, Massachusetts, so our dates include packing time as well as transit: up to 2 business days to pack and up to 5 in transit for Standard, and 1 to pack plus 2 by air for Express, set a little earlier in late December for carrier peak season.
The carriers aim for the same day. FedEx's 2026 dates are set so packages arrive by December 24, and USPS publishes its dates for "expected delivery before December 25."
What can I still order each day from December 15 to 24?
- Tuesday, December 15: the last day for Standard. Any box, with Standard or Express.
- Wednesday, December 16: any box, with Express.
- Thursday, December 17: any box, with Express. If you are mailing your own gift, this is the last recommended day for USPS Ground Advantage.
- Friday, December 18: the last day for Express, and the last Christmas box day. It is also the USPS Priority Mail cutoff and our Standard date for New Year's Eve boxes.
- Saturday, December 19 and Sunday, December 20: the e-gift card for Christmas. Saturday is the USPS Priority Mail Express cutoff for your own packages.
- Monday, December 21 to Wednesday, December 23: the e-gift card. A New Year's Eve box still ships by Express until Wednesday, December 23, planned to arrive by Wednesday, December 30.
- Thursday, December 24: the e-gift card, delivered by email in minutes.
An order placed on a weekend starts processing on the next business day, so the Friday, December 18 Express date is firm.
Which boxes still work as last-minute Christmas gifts?
Through December 18, every box in our shop can still arrive by Christmas Eve with Express. These four cover most lists.
- For stockings and office exchanges: The Stocking Stuffer Trio, $48. A mini candle, a chocolate bar duo and merino wool socks with a handwritten tag.
- For the baker: The Saffron Baker's Gift Box, $98. 2 g of Raihan Saffron, whole cardamom, a vanilla bean, recipe cards and a linen tea towel. Start them on our saffron buns (lussekatter) recipe.
- For a partner or a parent: The Noël Noir Christmas Gift Box, $148. Eight gifts, from a fir and amber candle to a brass ornament, in a black and gold box.
- For a couple or a whole household: The Fireside Christmas Trunk, $265. Ten gifts, led by a cashmere-blend throw, a fir candle, cocoa and two ceramic mugs.
Every box ships with a handwritten note and a gift receipt that shows no prices, and it can go straight to the recipient at any US address.
Is an e-gift card a good Christmas Eve gift?
It is the one gift that cannot miss the date. The Exclusive Gift House E-Gift Card is delivered by email in minutes, to the recipient or to you. It comes in $50, $100, $150, $250 and $500, it can be used on any signature box or add-on, and any balance stays on the card for a later order.
To make it feel chosen rather than rushed, send it to yourself, print it and tuck it into a card. Name the box you would pick for them, and why. "The Noël Noir box is on me, for the candle you will light every night in January" reads as a plan, not an afterthought.
How do I make a last-minute gift look planned?
- Write the note first. Our gift message takes up to 200 characters, and we write it out by hand on the card. A specific line beats a long one.
- Choose by the person, not the price. The baker gets saffron, the one who is always cold gets the throw.
- Ship to their door. A box that arrives addressed to them, with no prices inside, looks like it was planned in November.
- Know when to switch. After Friday, December 18, stop comparing shipping speeds and send the e-gift card.
What about Kwanzaa and New Year's Eve?
Kwanzaa begins on Saturday, December 26, so our Kwanzaa gifts use the Christmas dates: December 15 for Standard, December 18 for Express. New Year's Eve gives you more time. Order by Friday, December 18 with Standard or Wednesday, December 23 with Express for delivery by Wednesday, December 30. The Midnight Toast New Year's Box, $138, holds non-alcoholic sparkling wine, a pair of coupe glasses and gold-dusted truffles. More ideas are in New Year's Eve gifts.
Shop the guide
- The Stocking Stuffer Trio, $48, 4 gifts.
- The Saffron Baker's Gift Box, $98, 6 gifts.
- The Noël Noir Christmas Gift Box, $148, 8 gifts.
- Exclusive Gift House E-Gift Card, $50 to $500, by email.
Every Christmas box is in Christmas gifts, and every holiday date is on our order-by dates page.
Questions people ask
What is the last day to order Christmas gifts for delivery by Christmas Eve?
From us, Tuesday, December 15 with Standard shipping or Friday, December 18 with Express. We plan delivery by Thursday, December 24.
Can I still send a gift on December 24?
Yes. The e-gift card is delivered by email in minutes, in amounts from $50 to $500.
Do you deliver on Christmas Day?
No. We plan every Christmas delivery for Thursday, December 24. Friday, December 25 is a federal holiday.
What if I choose Standard shipping after December 15?
Your box ships on our normal schedule, but we cannot plan it to arrive by December 24. Choose Express by December 18, or send the e-gift card.
Can a last-minute box go straight to the recipient?
Yes. We ship to any US address, with a handwritten note and a gift receipt that shows no prices.
Sources
- USPS: 2026 Holiday Shipping Deadlines
- FedEx: 2026 Shipping deadlines for holiday packages (PDF)
- US Office of Personnel Management: Federal Holidays
- Exclusive Gift House: Holiday Order-By Dates 2026 to 2027
Last updated September 30, 2026 by Emir, founder of Exclusive Gift House.