id= »article-body » class= »row » section= »article-body »> It’s not your imagination — Thanksgiving landed as late as it can this year, cutting short the holiday shopping season by a whopping six days.

Dale Smith/CNET This story is part of Holiday Survival Guide 2019, featuring tips on the best ways to manage the holiday season. Every year the holidays seem to arrive sooner than last, but this winter it’s no illusion — Thanksgiving landed a week later than usual, leaving shoppers with six fewer days to check off all the names on their gift lists. If you’re already the kind of person who considers last-minute shopping a competitive sport, this season might be the toughest yet (you can check out our lazy person’s guide to the holidays here for a start). But don’t dismay — the key to winning at this game is strategy, and we’ve put together the ultimate playbook for 2019, with checklists, countdowns and more.

Despite the shortened season, holiday shoppers are expected to spend a record-breaking $143 billion online in 2019, according to Adobe Analytics. That means major retailer stores like Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy will be scrambling to ship orders in time, and you better not count on your nearby drug store having anything left but Toyota Supra-themed wrapping paper if you stroll in at a quarter ’til midnight on Dec. 24.

So, whether you’re preparing for Christmas, Hanukkah, Festivus or any other wintertime celebration, here’s our procrastinator’s holiday countdown guide, 2019 edition.

Now playing: Watch this: Best gifts under $100 for the holidays 2:33 First off, keep an eye on those sales
Black Friday and Cyber Monday may be over, but holiday deals still abound. Many retailers have extended Black Friday prices (or discounts very near what they offered on Black Friday) into the regular holiday shopping season. Get started with CNET’s 2019 list of our editors’ top picks for holiday gifts. Also check out these CNET gift lists:

Best gifts under $250

Best gifts under $100

Best gifts under $50

Best gifts under $25

If you’re really tapped out on time and imagination, remember you can always give gift cards. Amazon has a wide range of gift cards available, some of which you don’t even have to wait for shipping (they include a digital code you can print out yourself).

Now playing: Watch this: Best gifts under $50 for the holidays 2:35 Retail shipping deadlines you need to know
Earlier this year, Amazon made a big push to drop two-day shipping for Prime members down to just one day, which set off something of a shipping war with rival retailer Walmart. Best Buy has gotten in on the next-day shipping action too, this year, saying the speedy service is available for up to 99% of Best Buy customers. 

This year, ormekur kat apotek Amazon has an even more aggressive set of Christmas shipping deadlines than last December, helped in part by Christmas falling on a Wednesday rather than a Tuesday, as it did in 2018.

Amazon’s recent push to provide one-day shipping on many items means you can technically wait until Dec. 23 to order and still get your items in time to wrap them up for Christmas.

Angela Lang/CNET Hanukkah, however, begins three days before Christmas on the evening of Dec. 22, a Sunday — one day before Festivus, Dec. 23. 

That said, here are the official deadlines for ordering from Amazon to guarantee prompt gift arrival in the 48 contiguous states:

Amazon shipping deadlines

Shipping speed Order by this date To get it by this date

Two-day (most items) Dec. 20 Dec. 22

Dec. 21 Dec. 23

Dec. 22 Dec. 24

Next-day (many items) Dec. 21 Dec. 22

Dec. 22 Dec. 23

Dec. 23 Dec. 24

Same-day ($35 minimum order) Day ordered Day ordered
Retailers such as Walmart, Target and Kohl’s generally all have identical, and in some cases longer, shipping windows, depending on the items ordered. Best Buy is promising overnight delivery for 99% of customers, however if the item you want or the ZIP code you’re shipping to doesn’t allow for it, shipping times will likely mirror these as well. 

Ordering deadlines for most online store (for the lower 48) are:

Most other retailers’ shipping deadlines

Shipping speed Order by this date To get it by this date

Standard Dec. 14 Dec. 21

Dec. 16 Dec. 23

Dec. 17 Dec. 24

Express Dec. 18 Dec. 22

Dec. 19 Dec. 23

Dec. 20 Dec. 24

Next-day ($35 minimum) Dec. 19 Dec. 22

Dec. 20 Dec. 23

Dec. 23 Dec. 24

In-store pickup Day ordered Day ordered
Deadlines for the big three shipping companies
If you’ll be shipping gifts to loved ones yourself, or buying from merchants other than Amazon, such as those with stores on eBay, you’ll need to know which services guarantee delivery by Christmas. 

Note that, in the case of orders from eBay or other retailers, these dates do not include handling time, so you may need to factor that in as well. 

Here are the published shipping deadlines for the three biggest package couriers in the US, FedEx, USPS and UPS in the lower 48 are:

FedEx shipping deadlines

Shipping speed Ship by this date For delivery by this date

Ground/Home Delivery Dec. 13 Dec. 21

Dec. 16 Dec. 23

Dec. 17 Dec. 24

Express Saver Dec. 17 Dec. 21

Dec. 18 Dec. 23

Dec. 19 Dec. 24

Overnight Dec. 20 Dec. 21

Dec. 20 Dec. 23

Dec. 23 Dec. 24

Same Day Day ordered Day ordered
Now playing: Watch this: How to protect your holiday packages 4:03 USPS shipping deadlines

Shipping speed Ship by this date For delivery by this date

First Class/Priority Dec. 18 Dec. 21

Dec. 19 Dec. 23

Dec. 20 Dec. 24

Priority Mail Express Dec. 20 Dec. 21

Dec. 21 Dec. 23

Dec. 23 Dec. 24
UPS shipping deadlines

Shipping speed Ship by this date For delivery by this date

3 Day Select Dec. 16 Dec. 21

Dec. 18 Dec. 23

Dec. 19 Dec. 24

2nd Day Air Dec. 18 Dec. 21

Dec. 19 Dec. 23

Dec. 20 Dec. 24

Next Day Air Dec. 20 Dec. 21

Dec. 21 Dec. 23

Dec. 23 Dec. 24
Make a list and check it often (twice won’t cut it)
‘Tis the season of gift list-making, gift-wrapping and, of course, gift-giving. To make sure you don’t leave anyone in the lurch this season, consider using an app to create your lists for maximum organization. 

For your gift list, make sure you consider everyone in your life, from family and friends to co-workers and others you see every day.