A list of the final ordering dates for some of the UK’s biggest retailers

As Christmas approaches, so to do the deadlines for ordering your gifts if you want to make sure they arrive on time.

Here is a round-up of the final ordering dates for some of the UK’s most popular retailers (they are all for deliveries within the UK), and the dates you need to know if you are posting cards and parcels yourself.



Royal mail postal dates

If you are posting cards and presents you will need to know the Royal Mail’s last posting dates. Full details are here, but the main points are:

For parcels:

• By Tuesday 22 December for express48 service.

For cards and letters:

• By Saturday 19 December for second class.

• By Monday 21 December for first class.

• By Wednesday 23 December for special delivery.

Amazon

If you are planning to use the online retail giant to buy gifts this year, these are the key deadlines.

• By 11.59pm on Sunday 20 December for free UK delivery.



• By 11.59pm on Monday 21 December for standard delivery.

• By Wednesday 23 December for one-day delivery. Last order time varies by location and item.

• Customers in some postcodes can order by 12 noon on Thursday 24 December and have an evening delivery. Prime Now customers can order as late as 9.45pm in some cases. (Prime customers can use one-day delivery service, or Prime Now up to 24 December)

• Christmas Day for printable gift certificates.

Argos

• By 8pm on Wednesday 23 December for large items such as furniture.

• By 11.59pm on Tuesday 22 December for standard next-day delivery (to arrive by 1pm for delivery on 23 December).

• Up until 1pm on Thursday 24 December for same-day delivery.

• By close of business on Christmas Eve for in-store pick-up through its order and collect service.

Debenhams

• By 11.59pm on Sunday 20 December for standard UK deliveryand for orders made via the app and in-store kiosks.

• By midnight on Tuesday 22 December for hampers and personalised gifts.

• By 11.59pm on Monday 21 December for flowers.

• By 2pm on Wednesday 23 December for delivery on Thursday 24 December.

John Lewis

• By 8pm on Sunday 20 December for standard home delivery.

• By 2pm on Monday 21 December for delivery to Collect+ shops.

• By 8pm on Monday 21 December for delivery to Waitrose shops via click and collect.

• By 8pm on Tuesday 22 December for delivery to John Lewis shops via click and collect.

Next

• By 11.59pm on Tuesday 22 December for collection in-store on Wednesday 23 December.

• By 11.59pm on Thursday 17 December for furniture (you will be contacted to arrange a suitable time and day before Christmas)

Oxfam

For Oxfam Unwrapped gifts:

• By 7pm on Friday 18 December for gift cards.

• On Christmas day for e-cards.

For purchases from the second-hand store:

• By 7pm on Friday 18 December.

For cards, calendars and diaries:

• By 7pm on Friday 18 December.

Tesco Direct

• By 5pm on Monday 21 December for click and collect (to collect in-store after 3pm the next day).

• By 11.59pm on Thursday 17 December for standard delivery.

• By 11.59pm on Monday 21 December for express delivery.

Toys R Us

• By 12pm on Monday 21 December for standard delivery (Friday 18 December for some rural areas).

• By 12pm on Tuesday 15 December for large items to rural areas (two-man delivery).

• On Christmas Eve for click and collect in-store (items are available after 20 minutes).

Waterstones

Items must show on the website as “Usually despatched in 24 hours” if you want to be sure you will receive them in time. Orders must be placed:

• By 3pm on Monday 21 December for free delivery.

• By 3pm on Tuesday 22 December for first-class delivery*.

• By 3pm on Monday 21 December for courier delivery or delivery to a local store*.

• By close of business on Christmas Eve for “reserve and collect” service.

*First-class and courier deliveries to Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Scottish Highlands and Islands take longer than the rest of the UK, so order early.