Australia Post is encouraging Australians to start planning their Christmas sending, announcing the key dates for posting gifts and cards to ensure they arrive in time for Christmas.
With millions of parcels moving through the network during the festive season, customers are encouraged to check the recommended sending dates for their destination and post items early to give them the best chance of arriving before Christmas.
For Metro locations across Australia:
Parcel Post: Parcels should be sent by 21 December for interstate deliveries and 22 December for same state deliveries
Express Post: Parcels should be sent by 23 December
Letters/Cards: Christmas letters and cards should be sent by 18 December for interstate deliveries and 21 December for same state deliveries
Items lodged over the counter at a Post Office will need to be lodged by 2.30pm on the abovementioned dates
People sending to or from Western Australia, Northern Territory, Tasmania, or regional and remote locations should allow a few extra days for all postal services.
International:
Economy Air: Parcels should be sent between 24 November – 4 December depending on the destination
International Standard: Parcels should be sent between 1 December – 11 December depending on the destination
International Express: Parcels should be sent between 4 December – 15 December depending on the destination
All last sending dates are now available to view at auspost.com.au/christmas, which includes domestic sending via Parcel Post and Express Post, and international sending via Economy Air, International Standard and International Express.
Gary Starr, Australia Post Executive General Manager Parcel, Post and eCommerce Services said customers should check the sending deadlines for their chosen destination and plan ahead to give parcels and cards the best chance of arriving on time for Christmas.
“For more than 200 years, Australia Post has been a part of Christmas in Australia, helping families and friends stay connected.
“With major shopping events such as Black Friday and Cyber Monday just around the corner, we expect millions of Australians to take advantage of sales and start their Christmas shopping earlier than ever. Whether you’re sending a gift close to home, across the country or internationally, getting organised early can help take some of the stress out of the festive season.
“Our message is simple: check the dates, shop early, send early and get one more thing ticked off your Christmas to-do list.
“We’ve been preparing for months to support another busy festive season and make sending and receiving as easy and convenient as possible for customers,” Mr Starr said.
To stay informed about delivery updates, including expected arrival times and any major service interruptions or impacts to the network, customers are encouraged to use the Australia Post app or visit auspost.com.au/service-updates.
Australia Post recorded its largest peak season on record in 2025, delivering almost 111 million parcels during November and December, a 7.6% increase year-on-year. The network handled more than 3,075 parcels every minute and delivered around 2 million parcels a day for more than 30 consecutive days. With even greater volumes expected for the 2026 peak season, Australia Post has recruited around 3,800 seasonal team members across its network to support the festive surge.
