
LAST OOOOORDERS! The deadlines for free and cheap delivery before Christmas
The deadline for postal and online Christmas deliveries 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' or next-day delivery that usually costs more. We'll update this info as more retailers announce their cut-offs.
If you are choosing to send cards or buy gifts online this year, don't leave it to the last minute.
Retailer | Last date for cheapest delivery, plus cost | Last date for express delivery, plus cost | Last date for click & collect, plus cost |
---|---|---|---|
Thursday 19 December | Saturday 21 December | Monday 16 December | |
TBC | Monday 23 December | TBC | |
12pm Saturday 21 December | 12pm Sunday 22 December | TBC | |
12pm Monday 23 December | TBC | TBC | |
Thursday 19 December for large items such as furniture and appliances 11.59pm Sunday 22 December | Thursday 19 December for large items next-day delivery 11.59pm Monday 23 December for small items next-day delivery 12pm Tuesday 24 December for same-day delivery | Until store closing times Tuesday 24 December | |
Wednesday 18 December | Saturday 21 December for named day delivery Sunday 22nd December for next-day delivery | Saturday 21 December | |
Wednesday 20 December £4.50 or free on £40+ | Saturday 23 December (England, Scotland, Wales) £5.95 Friday 22 December (Northern Ireland) £5.95 | Thursday 19 December for Evri Parcelshop/locker (standard) and Royal Mail/Post Office (standard)
| |
Saturday 21 December | Monday 23 December | Sunday 22 December | |
12pm Saturday 21 December | 12pm Monday 23 December | 12pm Monday 23 December | |
11.59pm Wednesday 18 December | 12pm Friday 20 December | TBC | |
Monday 18 December for small items £3.99-£9.99 or free on £40+ Thursday 21 December for large items £20-£35 | Friday 22 December £5.99-£10.99 depending on time slot | 1pm on Sunday 24 December Free | |
Thursday 19 December for super saver delivery | Monday 23 December | N/A | |
Wednesday 18 December | 12pm Friday 20 December | TBC | |
8pm Sunday 22 December for next-day delivery | TBC | TBC | |
5pm Saturday 21 December | 2pm Monday 23 December | 12pm Friday 20 December | |
11.59pm Thursday 19 December £19.99 for oversized delivery | TBC | 11:59pm Thursday 19 December | |
Friday 20 December | TBC | TBC | |
Wednesday 18 December for standard delivery | Saturday 21 December for express delivery | Friday 20 December for external collection | |
11.59pm Wednesday 18 December | TBC | TBC | |
7pm Thursday 19 December £4.50 or free on £50+ orders | 8pm Sunday 22 December for next-day delivery 8pm Sunday 22 December for delivery by 11.30am on a nominated day. 10am Sunday 22 December for same-day evening delivery (selected locations only). | 12pm Sunday 22 December for Waitrose click & collect | |
8pm Thursday 19 December | 2pm Friday 20 December | TBC | |
12pm Thursday 19 December | 7pm Friday 20 December for Saturday 21 December delivery 3pm Saturday 21 December for Sunday 22 December delivery | TBC | |
Sunday 17 December £3.99 or free on £60+ | Saturday 23 December £5.99 | Saturday 23 December Free | |
11.59pm Thursday 19 December | 10pm on Sunday 22 December £4.99 | 11.59pm 19 December for standard click and connect 10pm 22 December for next day click and connect | |
8pm Sunday 22 December for Monday 23 December delivery £4.95 or free for Next members | TBC | 8pm Sunday 22 December Free | |
12.59pm on Wednesday 20 December (England, Scotland, Wales) Free for Nike members; £4.50 or free on £99+ for non-members6.59pm on Monday 18 December (Northern Ireland) Free for Nike members; £4.50 or free on £99+ for non-members | N/A | Same as standard delivery | |
TBC | 3pm Tuesday 17 December to receive your item(s) by 24 December | TBC | |
Tuesday 17 December | TBC | TBC | |
11.59pm Friday 20 December | 11.59pm Sunday 22 December | 11.59pm Wednesday 18 December for local shop collection including InPost, Evri and Asda 11:59pm Thursday 19 December for click & collect | |
11.59pm Wednesday 18 December | 11.59pm Sunday 22 December for next-day delivery | Check in store for click and collect | |
6pm on Monday 18 December £5.95 | 9pm on Friday 22 December £8.95 | 9pm on Saturday 23 December Free | |
Sunday 22 December for main unit orders | TBC | TBC | |
11.59pm Thursday 19 December | 11.59pm Friday 13 December for two-man delivery 11:59pm Thursday 19 December for oversized delivery 9pm Saturday 21 December for express delivery 9pm Sunday 22 December for next-day delivery | 11.59pm Thursday 19 December | |
8pm Tuesday 17 December | 8pm Friday 20 December | 4pm Sunday 22 December | |
12pm Thursday 19 December | 12pm Friday 20 December | N/A | |
11.59pm Wednesday 18 December | 11.59pm Thursday 19 December | 11.59pm Thursday 19 December | |
10pm Thursday 19 December for small items | 7pm Monday 23 December for small items | 10pm Thursday 19 December for small items (standard collection) 7pm Monday 23 December for small items (next day collection) £4.99 | |
2pm Wednesday 18 December | 2pm Friday 20 December | Tuesday 24 December (times vary by store) | |
9pm Friday 20 December | 9pm Sunday 22 December | TBC £1.99 for £10+ orders |
These are the standard options for most, though do note, some may have earlier dates for specific items, so make sure you check.
These are just several of the biggies. Many retailers 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 & 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 25 December. If you can’t prove this, you’ve no comeback. You’ve extra rights when buying online though, including being able to return items if you get in touch with the store within 14 days of delivery. For full info, see our Delivery rights guide.
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 on Twitter (X). And check out our Christmas MoneySaving guide for festive shopping tips.