Mailing a Christmas card or gift? Ship by these dates.

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Online shopping for holiday gifts is a benefit to people who wish to avoid lines and crowds or who may not be able to find certain items on shelves near home, but those preparing to mail gifts to loved ones should know by when they need to do so.

Though carriers often allow last-minute shipping, their prices often increase, so companies like Offers.com compiles lists of when you need to ship by with each carrier to get your gift there on time.

Dec. 25 falls on a Tuesday this year, so weekend rates and availability are something to look out for.

To make sure your package gets to its destination by Christmas, here are the ship-by dates:

- Dec. 13: FedEx SmartPost, FedEx Home Delivery, FedEx Ground

- Dec. 14: USPS Retail Ground

- Dec. 17: UPS Ground

- Dec. 18: UPS 3-Day Select

- Dec. 19: FedEx Express Saver

- Dec. 20: USPS First-Class Mail and Priority Mail, FedEx 2Day, UPS 2nd Day Air

- Dec. 21: FedEx Overnight

- Dec. 22: USPS Priority Mail Express, UPS Next-Day Air

- Dec. 25: FedEx SameDay

You can ship an item on Christmas and get it there on Christmas using FedEx SameDay, a service available every day of the year in all 50 states.

It is not cheap, though.

Shipments weighing up to 25 pounds cost $235, according to Offers.com.

If you're shipping to someone who is stationed at a military base overseas, there are different deadlines through USPS to make sure cards, packages and gifts arrive on time. The USPS is the only carrier allowed to deliver mail to Army Post Offices, Fleet Post Offices and Diplomatic Post Offices.

The only way remaining to get items to bases on time is through Priority Mail Express Military Service, through which items need to be sent by Dec. 18.

Many stores provide free standard shipping on domestic U.S. orders. Check either their website or Offers.com to see what the standards are.