LAST OOOOORDERS! The deadlines for free and cheap delivery before Christmas are FAST approaching
This year, more than ever before, we're heavily reliant on online retailers and the postal service for our Christmas present shopping, and the deadline for ordering to get ’em in time for Christmas may be sooner than you think. We've collated top retailers' own final cut-off dates, which in most cases comprise two separate deadlines – firstly, for cheapest standard delivery, and secondly, faster 'express' delivery that usually costs more.
Important: Royal Mail has warned that there could be delays this year, and even some retailers who use other couriers – including H&M, Screwfix and The Body Shop – say their deliveries could take longer than usual. John Lewis told us its cut-off dates are subject to change, while many others have stressed that 'last order' dates aren't a guarantee you'll receive your items in time for Christmas. Below we've given you each last order date as disclosed to us by each retailer, but regardless of the deadline, we still suggest you go sooner rather than later to minimise the risk of disappointment – don't leave card-sending and present-shopping to the last minute.
Christmas last order dates 2020 (so you get it by Christmas Eve)
Retailer |
Last order date for cheapest deliv + cost |
Last order date for express deliv + cost |
Last order date for click and collect + cost |
Adidas |
Mon 21 Dec, 7.30pm £3.99 or free on £25+ or if you're an Adidas member |
Wed 23 Dec, 3.30pm £9.99 |
Thu 17 Dec Free |
Amazon |
Varies by product Price ranges depending on size |
Wed 23 Dec for One-Day delivery 'Free' for Prime members (£79/yr) (i)
Thu 24 Dec for Same-Day delivery |
TBC |
AO |
Tue 22 Dec (i) Free |
Tue 22 Dec (i) £29.99 |
Mon 21 Dec Free |
Argos |
Tue 22 Dec £3.95-£6.95 depending on size |
Thu 24 Dec, "mid-morning" (i) £3.95-£14.95 depending on size |
Thu 24 Dec (i) Free |
Asos |
Sun 20 Dec, 11.59pm £4 or free on £35+. 'Free' for Premier Delivery members (£9.95/yr) |
Wed 23 Dec, time TBC £5.95, 'free' for Premier Delivery members (£9.95/yr) |
Sun 20 Dec for standard £4
£5.95 |
Boots |
TBC £3.50 or free on £30+ |
TBC |
TBC £1.50 or free on £20+ |
Currys |
Wed 16 Dec for large items Ranges depending on size
Free |
Sun 20 Dec for large items (i) From £20 Tue 22 Dec for smaller (most) items (i) £5 |
Thu 24 Dec, 3pm (i) |
Dusk |
Fri 18 Dec £3.99 or free on £50+ |
Tue 22 Dec £4.99 |
Doesn't offer click and collect |
Evans Cycles |
Sun 20 Dec, 12pm £4.99 |
Wed 23 Dec, 6pm £7.99 |
TBC £4.99 |
Game |
Fri 18 Dec £4.99 |
Wed 23 Dec £7.99) |
Fri 18 Dec, 4pm £4.99, or 'click and reserve' (pay when you arrive) free |
Halfords |
Fri 18 Dec, 8pm for built bikes (i) £15-£25
Ranges depending on size |
Doesn't do express delivery |
Sat 19 Dec, 8pm if in stock in store
|
Harvey Nichols |
Mon 21 Dec, 3pm £5 |
Wed 23 Dec, 3pm £8 |
TBC |
H&M |
Mon 21 Dec £3.99, or free for members |
Faster delivery currently unavailable |
Mon 21 Dec £3.99, or free for members |
John Lewis |
Fri 18 Dec £3.50, free on £50+ |
Tue 22 Dec TBC |
Tue 22 Dec, 4pm £2 |
Kurt Geiger |
Fri 18 Dec £4.95 |
Tue 22 Dec, 8pm £7 |
Tue 22 Dec, 5pm Free |
La Redoute |
Wed 16 Dec From £3.99 |
TBC |
TBC |
Lookfantastic |
Mon 21 Dec, 11pm £2.95 or free on £25+
£2.95 or free on £25+ |
Wed 23 Dec, 5pm £4.95 |
Mon 21 Dec, 11pm £2.95 |
Matalan |
Sun 13 Dec, 11.59pm £3.95 or free on £50+ |
Sun 20 Dec, 4pm (i) £4.95 |
TBC From free |
M&S |
Fri 18 Dec, 8pm £3.50 or free on £50+ |
Wed 23 Dec, 6pm £4.99 |
Wed 23 Dec, 6pm Free |
Next |
Tue 22 Dec (£3.99) |
Tue 22 Dec (£3.99) |
Wed 23 Dec (free) |
Nike |
Sun 20 Dec,11.59pm (TBC: checking this info is up to date for 2020) £4.50 or free on £50+ or for members |
TBC |
Sat 19 Dec, 11.59pm TBC |
Office |
Thu 17 Dec, 8.30pm £3.50 |
Wed 23 Dec, 1pm £7.95 |
Fri 18 Dec, 5.30pm Free |
Patch Plants |
Sun 20 Dec for London From £5, free on £50+
From £5 |
No faster options available |
Doesn't offer click and collect |
Schuh |
Mon 21 Dec, 10pm £3, free on £25+ |
Tue 22 Dec, 10pm £4.99 |
Tue 22 Dec Free |
Screwfix |
Sat 19 Dec, 4pm for NI, Scottish Isles, Isle of Man £5 or free on £50+
£5 or free on £50+ |
TBC |
Thu 24 Dec, before 4pm store closing time, some items can take 24-48 hrs Free |
Selfridges |
Sat 19 Dec £5 or 'free' for Selfridges+ members (£10/yr) |
Mon 21 Dec 'Free' for Selfridges+ members (£10/yr) |
Tue 22 Dec Free |
Shoeaholics |
Fri 18 Dec £3.50 |
Tue 22 Dec, 8pm £6.99 |
Doesn't offer click and collect |
Smyths Toys |
Wed 16 Dec, 5pm Islands and Scottish Highlands, large, bulky items From £4.99
From £2.99 or free on £19+ |
TBC |
TBC |
The Body Shop |
Fri 18 Dec, 12pm £3 or free on £30+ |
Sun 20 Dec, 11am £4.49 |
Thu 24 Dec, 12pm (i) Free |
The Entertainer |
Sat 19 Dec, 11.59pm £3.99 or free on £39.99+ |
Tue 22 Dec, 3pm £5.99 |
Thu 24 Dec, 12pm (if in stock in store) Free (min spend £15) |
Waterstones |
Sun 20 Dec, 11.59pm £2.99 or free on £25+ |
Tue 22 Dec, 3pm £3.99 |
Thu 24 Dec, from two hours after ordering Free |
Wickes |
TBC £2.95 or free on £75+ |
TBC £7.95 or free on £75+ |
TBC Free |
These are the standard options for most, though do note, some may have earlier dates for specific items, so make sure you check. (i) Subject to one or more of a number of factors, including delivery capacity and availability, store opening hours or product exclusions, so go quick. |
|||
These are just a few of the biggies. Yet many retailers do list the info on their websites for all to see – so it’s worth checking if you’re after one not listed above.
If opting for click and collect, always leave yourself enough time to collect from the store before it closes, and bear in mind that different branches may have varying closing times.
Late delivery rights
By law, delivery only needs to be “within a reasonable time”, which could be up to 30 days – no use for Christmas. For you to get a refund if an item doesn’t arrive in time, the retailer must have stated goods will arrive by the 25th. If you can’t prove this, you’ve no comeback. You’ve extra rights when buying via the web though, including being able to return items if you get in touch with the store within 14 days of delivery.. For more info, see our guide on Delivery Rights.
A gentle reminder…
In previous years, retailers have brought forward their last order dates due to couriers struggling to cope with demand or bad weather. Though last order dates are a useful guide, it’s better to take them with a pinch of salt than to trust them as a guarantee.
Basically, if you’re going to buy online, do it sooner rather than later – unless you’re happy to hold on for the chance of a last-minute bargain, despite knowing the risk of it not arriving in time.
Have you had good/bad experiences when ordering Christmas presents online at last minute? Let us know in the comments below, on Twitter.
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If you answer 'NO' to any of the following questions, don't buy.
Skint? Ask:
- Do I need it?
- Can I afford it?
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- Will I use it?
- Is it worth it?
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