How many days until Christmas?
United States: a live countdown to the day the presents actually come — from Santa Claus.
Christmas falls on a Friday.
Friday, December 25, 2026
Christmas 2026 planner: shipping deadlines and holidays
The dates that decide whether presents arrive on time. USPS published its 2026 holiday send-by dates in September; we list them with the source.
USPS Ground Advantage to military APO/FPO/DPO addresses
Last recommended day for delivery by Dec 25.
USPS: 2026 Holiday Shipping DeadlinesUSPS First-Class Package International and Priority Mail International
All international destinations; also First-Class and Priority Mail to military addresses.
USPS: 2026 Holiday Shipping DeadlinesUSPS Priority Mail Express International · Ground Advantage to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and territories
USPS: 2026 Holiday Shipping DeadlinesUSPS Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail (contiguous US)
Last recommended day for cards and most parcels.
USPS: 2026 Holiday Shipping DeadlinesUSPS Priority Mail
USPS: 2026 Holiday Shipping Deadlines
Workdays are Monday to Friday from tomorrow up to Christmas Eve, minus the federal holidays Veterans Day (Nov 11) and Thanksgiving (Nov 26).
Not published yet
- UPS and FedEx 2026 holiday shipping dates: not on their official sites when we checked. We add them once they are.
Sources
Checked on 7 October 2026.
Other dates
- Hanukkah
- Friday, December 4, 2026
- St Nicholas Day
- Sunday, December 6, 2026
- Christmas Eve
- Thursday, December 24, 2026
- New Year's Eve
- Thursday, December 31, 2026
- New Year
- Friday, January 1, 2027
- Three Kings Day (Día de Reyes)
- Wednesday, January 6, 2027
- Orthodox Christmas
- Thursday, January 7, 2027
How many days until Christmas?
The answer is on the clock above: days, hours, minutes and seconds to December 25, based on your device's time. It updates itself every second.
When does Santa come?
On the night of December 24, Christmas Eve. Kids find the presents under the tree on the morning of the 25th.
Is Christmas Day a federal holiday?
Yes, December 25 is a US federal holiday. Christmas Eve, December 24, is not.
What is the last day to mail Christmas packages in 2026?
USPS recommends Dec 17 for Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail, Dec 18 for Priority Mail and Dec 19 for Priority Mail Express (contiguous US). For Alaska and Hawaii, Ground Advantage is Dec 16; international First-Class and Priority Mail International, Dec 9.
How many workdays are left until Christmas?
The countdown shows it live: Monday to Friday from tomorrow up to Christmas Eve, minus Veterans Day and Thanksgiving.
When is Christmas 2026?
Christmas Day 2026 is on Friday, December 25, 2026, and Christmas Eve is the Thursday before it. With Christmas on a Friday, most families get a three-day weekend.
How does this countdown handle US time zones?
The clock counts to midnight on December 25 wherever you are, using your device's own clock and time zone. A family in New York reaches Christmas three hours before one in Los Angeles, four before Anchorage and five before Honolulu — and each of them sees its own number here. The line under the clock names the zone it is counting in. Travelling for the holidays? The countdown switches zones when your phone does.
How many sleeps until Christmas?
Sleeps are the nights left before Christmas morning, tonight included — the number children actually ask for. The clock also shows how many weeks and weekends are left, which is what matters for shopping, school concerts and trips to see the lights.
Other days American families count down to
America keeps more than one Christmas. Families with roots in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Spain wait for the Three Kings on Wednesday, January 6, 2027. Families from Germany, the Netherlands and Central Europe put out shoes for St Nicholas on Sunday, December 6, 2026. Ukrainian, Serbian, Russian and other Orthodox families celebrate Christmas on Thursday, January 7, 2027. And the first Hanukkah candle is lit on the evening of Friday, December 4, 2026. Each has its own clock:
Where to see the Kings ride and where to buy the bread: Three Kings Day parades in US cities and rosca de reyes bakeries near you. And for December 6: what to put in the shoes for St Nicholas.
While you wait: Christmas lights near you
The best way to fill the last weeks is a drive or a walk through the lights. We checked the displays people search for most in 20 US cities — hours, prices, parking and what visitors say about them.
- Dallas
- San Antonio
- Houston
- New York City
- Los Angeles
- San Diego
- Atlanta
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Las Vegas
- Austin
- St. Louis
- Phoenix
- Nashville
- Orlando
- Denver
- Seattle
- Philadelphia
- Boston
- Miami
Still shopping? Our free Christmas gift finder suggests ideas by person, age, hobby and budget — from gifts for Mom to white elephant gifts.
Or wander a German-style market with glühwein and gingerbread: see our guide to Christmas markets near you.
On Christmas Eve, follow the sleigh live on our Santa tracker.