Christmas 2020: last postage and delivery dates for sending gifts
COVID-19 is affecting postal delivery times, changing how late we can leave Christmas shopping - so how long do we have?
These products are hand-picked by our team to help make shopping easier. We may receive payments from third parties for sharing this content and when you purchase through links in this article. Product prices and offer details are not assured, and should be confirmed independently with the retailer. Learn more
This year, more than any before, it is imperative that everybody stays on top of their Christmas shopping - well before the week before Christmas rolls around.
Due to COVID-19 safety protocols enforced to keep employees and customers safe - and the reduction of domestic and international flights - Australia Post’s usual delivery times have temporarily slowed. Fortunately, the postal service has laid out dates by which you should send your gifts to loved ones, so they will still have a present to wake up to on 25 December.
Locally, send Parcel Post by 12 December, and by Express Post, at latest by 19 December. Those with family and friends in the USA, Canada, the UK and Europe should aim to get their packages in the mail by November 16; in Asia, by November 23; and those gifting someone in New Zealand, by November 27.
Life can get in the way of best laid plans though - what to do if you still haven’t managed to get through your Christmas list by these dates? Below is a list of retailers you might be considering buying from this holiday season, and estimates of when to last order from them so your gift will arrive at your friend or family’s door (in Metro areas) by December 25.
To avoid disappointment, we suggest that you order gifts well in advance - by at least three days more than those given by brands, as listed below. Finally, if you should be opting to Click & Collect, please carefully review and participate in each store’s COVID-19 safety protocols.
Amazon - 22-23 December
Free domestic shipping, free international shipping on orders over $49 with Amazon Prime.
Amazon offers guaranteed two-day delivery on local orders and priority deliveries in as fast as one business day.
International delivery is within 9-12 days for Amazon-supplied orders; individual sellers vary.
RELATED: Multi-use cooker home cooks keep selling out
Adore Beauty - 24 December
Free domestic shipping, free express shipping for orders over $50.
Adore Beauty has the option of same day delivery when ordered before 4pm.
Express delivery within 1-3 business days.
Standard delivery within 2-6 business days.
Camilla & Marc - 24 December
Free express delivery for orders over $300.
Camilla & Marc offers same day delivery on orders made before 12pm.
Express delivery within 1-3 business days.
Standard delivery within 2-5 business days.
Marks & Spencer - 19 December
Free standard shipping for orders over $100, free express shipping for orders over $150.
Express delivery within 4-5 business days (an additional 4 business days for Victoria)
Standard delivery within 10-14 business days.
The Iconic - 24 December
Free shipping for orders over $50.
The Iconic offers the option of express delivery in as short as three hours for Metro areas.
Standard delivery is within two days - if not from one of The Iconic’s partners - and ParcelPoint/pick-up is also an option within the same time frame.
Booktopia - 23 December
Booktopia offers next day delivery to Metro areas on stocked items ordered by 1:30pm.
Standard delivery times vary between 6-24 business days.
Lorna Jane - 19 December
Free standard delivery for local orders over $180.
Standard delivery within 1-5 working days.
Bed Bath N’ Table - 18 December
Free standard delivery for orders over $150.
Standard delivery within 2-6 business days to Metro areas; 2-14 business days to regional areas.
Adairs - 8 December (30 November for NT and TAS)
Free standard shipping for orders over $150.
Standard delivery within 10-15 days.
House - 18 December
Free standard shipping on orders over $89.
Standard delivery within 2-7 business days.
Click & Collect is available in select Melbourne stores.
Myer - 18 December
Free standard delivery for orders over $49.
Standard delivery within 2-5 business days for Metro areas; 3-10 business days for rural areas.
Click & Collect is available.
Adidas - 27 November
Free standard delivery for orders over $100.
Standard delivery within 28 days.
Catch - 22 December
Club Catch members are eligible for free or minimal charge shipping.
Express delivery within 1-3 business days for Metro areas; 2-4 business days for rural areas.
Standard delivery within 2-5 business days for Metro areas; 3-10 business days for rural areas.
Harvey Norman - 24 December
Harvey Norman offers same day delivery for orders made before 1pm, and under 22kg.
Click & Collect often requires only an hour before pick-up.
Standard delivery depends on local stock levels - can take between 2-10 business days.
ASOS - 22 December
Free standard shipping for orders over $100; and free standard and express shipping for Premier Customers.
Express delivery within 2-3 business days.
Standard delivery within 6-14 business days.
Seed Heritage - 18 December
Free delivery on orders over $100.
Standard delivery within 4-7 business days; 4-10 business days internationally.
Net-A-Porter - 19 December
Free shipping on orders over $30.
Express delivery within 2-5 business days.
Standard delivery times are calculated at checkout.
Sephora - 21 December
Free standard shipping for orders over $65.
Standard delivery within 2-3 business days for Metro areas (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane); 4-10 business days for regional and remote areas.
Express delivery within 1-2 business days for Metro areas (Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane); 2-8 business days for regional and remote areas.
Bing Lee - 23 December
Bing Lee offers next day delivery on stocked items ordered by 6pm, Monday-Friday.
Standard delivery times are calculated at checkout.
Click & Collect is available within 1-14 business days.
The Good Guys - 23 December
The Good Guys offer next day delivery on stocked items to certain areas.
Standard delivery times are calculated at checkout.
Click & Collect is available within an hour.
Nike - 12 December
Free standard shipping on orders over $200.
Standard delivery within 4-12 business days; custom Nike By You shoes within five weeks.
The Athlete’s Foot - 22 December
Free standard shipping on orders over $150.
Standard shipping within 1-3 business days to Metro areas; 4-7 business days for rural areas.
Click & Collect is available after as little as six hours of your order.
Country Road - 23 December
Free standard shipping for orders over $50.
Country Road offers same day delivery to Metro areas.
Standard local delivery within 3-5 business days; 5-10 business days internationally.
Click & Collect is available within four hours for stocked items; within 2-7 days if from the warehouse.
Cotton On - 20 December
Free standard shipping for orders over $60.
Express and Standard delivery times are calculated at checkout.
Click & Collect within 1-3 business days in Victoria; 1-4 business days in New South Wales; and all other states within 4-7 business days.
Bonds - 22 December
Free standard shipping for members.
Express delivery within 2 working days.
Standard local delivery up to 7 working days.
Beginning Boutique - 23 December
Free standard shipping on orders over $50.
Beginning Boutique offers next business day delivery to Metro areas.
Express local delivery within 2-3 business days.
Standard local delivery within 1-6 business days.
City Chic - 16 December
Free standard shipping on orders over $150.
Standard local delivery within 4-8 business days.
Click & Collect available within 7-10 business days.
Dan Murphy’s - 20 December
Standard delivery within 2-4 business days for Metro areas; 14-21 business days for rural areas.
Direct from supplier: within 4-7 business days for Metro areas; 14-21 business days for rural areas.
Pick-up instore available in under 30 minutes.
David Jones - 19 December
Free standard shipping for orders over $50.
Standard delivery within 3-10 business days.
Click & Collect is available after as little as three hours of your order.
JB Hi-Fi - 24 December
JB Hi-Fi offers the option of express delivery in as short as three hours for Metro areas.
Courier delivery can occur on the same or next business day.
Express delivery within 1-2 business days.
Standard delivery within 2-9 business days.
Click & Collect is also available at participating local stores.
Apple - 23 December
Free shipping available as early as the day after placing your order.
Standard delivery within 1-7 days.
Pick-up available from a location close to you.
RELATED: Click Frenzy is back: What to know
RELATED: Everything to know about this year’s Black Friday sales
RELATED: Cyber Monday sales: When is it? What to expect?
Lastly, the most well-renowned sales event of the year in Australia, Boxing Day, is almost here. Check back at news.com.au’s Best Of section on the day, for the best savings across all major retailers.
TikTok-viral hair mask gives ‘incredible’ results
This Christmas, give the gift of amazing hair, with a mask that promises to “reverse damage” for good.
Aussie kids wishing for a ‘fartmas’
Children across the country are demanding a very gassy gift this year and it has nothing to do with eating sprouts.
‘Worth it’: Sellout advent calendar drops
The popular Glasshouse Advent calendar gets rave reviews from shoppers, who say it’s always a hit.
‘Sell so quick’: Cotton On PJs sparks frenzy
Don’t miss out on these “too cute” Christmas pyjamas that went viral the minute they launched.