What's The Best Time of Year to Send Christmas Cards?

In November and December, it's especially important to keep an eye on your mailbox. Christmas cards start streaming in from friends and family near and far, so it's a good idea not to let that stack of envelopes pile up too high. When it's time to send out holiday cards of your own, you want to make sure they arrive to your recipients at the perfect time. Christmas cards that arrive before the Thanksgiving dishes have even been cleaned up might get set aside and forgotten about, while late-arriving Christmas cards are a surefire way to end up on Santa's naughty list next year. So what's the ideal time to put those envelopes in the mail?

When to Mail Christmas Cards Within the United States

The experts at Cards For Causes recommend mailing domestic Christmas cards 2-3 weeks before December 25. It's better to be safe than sorry, so we also advise leaning toward the earlier end of that range. The United States Postal Service handles a large volume of envelopes and packages during the holiday season, so mailing out your cards during the first week of December helps them arrive in time for the big day and leaves a grace period for exceptionally rare cases of lost or delayed mail. 

When to Mail Christmas Cards Internationally or Overseas

International delivery is more complicated and less exact than delivery within the United States, so we recommend allowing 4-6 weeks for the delivery of Christmas cards to friends, family members, and associates living outside the country or military members stationed overseas.

When to Order Christmas Cards

The sooner, the better! In fact, what's wrong with right now?!? But if you still have a bit more deliberating to do, you should make sure your Christmas card order is placed by November 1. This gives us enough time to customize, process, and ship your cards without cutting it close. Once they arrive in your mailbox or at your doorstep, you'll want to spend some time personalizing them with your signature or special handwritten notes. 

Christmas cards are a big opportunity to make a great impression and strengthen a connection. Make the most of the holiday season by giving yourself as much time as possible to customize,  personalize, and send out memorable Christmas cards. We look forward to helping you make all your holiday dreams come true!