Here is a quick reminder of those all-important last posting dates:

UK Standard parcels:
Wednesday 15 December

UK Second class post
Saturday 18 December

UK First class post
Tuesday 21 December

UK Parcelforce Next day delivery
Wednesday 22 December

UK Royal Mail Special Delivery
Thursday 23 December

USA, Canada and Eastern Europe:
Friday 10 December

Rest of Europe:
Monday 13 December

South & Central America, Caribbean, Africa, Middle East,
Asia, Far East (including Japan), Eastern Europe, Australia and New Zealand:
Monday 6 December


Here are the latest ordering deadlines for the biggest gift shops and retailers:

18 December
Amazon: Free Super Saver delivery(midnight)

19 December
Asda Direct: Small/medium items standard service

20 December
Amazon: First class post (midnight)
Hamleys: Free delivery over £40
M&S: Standard delivery (12 noon)

21 December
Buyagift: First class (3pm)
Currys: standard delivery (1pm)
Debenhams: standard delivery (12 noon)
Ernest Jones: Standard delivery (2pm)
Fig Leaves: standard delivery (12 noon)
Firebox: standard delivery (12 noon)
Flying Flowers: standard delivery (2.30pm)
GAME: Standard delivery (12 noon)
Game Station: Standard delivery (12 noon)
John Lewis: Free standard delivery (3pm)
La Senza: Free delivery over £40 (2pm)
M&S hampers: Nominated day delivery (12 noon)
PC World: standard delivery (1pm)
Red Letter Days: standard delivery (12 noon)

22 December
Boots: Next day delivery (2.30pm)
Fig Leaves: Express delivery (midnight)
House of Fraser: Next day delivery (1.30pm)
IWantOneofthose: all orders (end of day)
M&S: Gift cards (3pm)
Red Letter Days: Courier delivery (2pm)
Tesco Direct: last order date (midnight)

23 December
Ann Summers: Free delivery over £35 (4pm)
Amazon: Express delivery (2pm)
Amazon: Prime service (3.30pm)
Asda Direct: Next day service (end of day)
GAME: Express delivery (12 noon)
iTunes: Gift cards (end of day)
La Senza: Next day delivery (12 noon)
Thorntons: Premium/next day delivery (4pm)
Prezzybox: Standard delivery (end of day)
Very: Standard delivery (8pm)
WHSmith: Gift cards (end of day)

24 December
Amazon: Evening delivery to selected postcodes in Birmingham and London (8.30am)

25 December
Amazon: Gift certificate by email
Buyagift: Experience vouchers by email
iTunes: Gift card by email
Lastminute: Gift vouchers by email
Red Letter Days: eVoucher