Christmas is still a few days away, but there is still time to buy last minute Christmas gifts online is narrowing. We would recommend ordering at least 5-6 days ahead of Christmas if you’re able to, to avoid delays caused by Covid restrictions and delivery demands.
If you’re still stuck for what to buy, you might find our round-up of the best Christmas tech deals of the year useful.
Without Prime
- Free delivery: Order by Sunday 20 December, at 11:59pm
- Standard delivery: Order by Tuesday 22 December
- One-day delivery (£5.99 per delivery for non-Prime members): Order by Wednesday 23 December, by last order time (as listed on the product page) to receive the item by Christmas Day. This also depends on the item and your location.
- Same-day delivery (evening delivery): Order by Thursday 24 December at midday if you’re in Greater London or in one of the other eligible cities .
With Prime
Prime Members receive free One-Day delivery as the default option (that is, if the product you buy is eligible for One-Day delivery).
- One-day delivery: Order by Wednseday 23 December, last order time depends on the item and your location. The item should arrive by 24 December.
- Same-day delivery: Order by Thursday 24 December at midday if you live in one of the 14 eligible cities .
- Prime Now: Order by Thursday 24 December (Christmas Eve)
Typically with Prime Now , you should get free 2-hour delivery by midnight on Christmas Eve for order values over £40 if you order by 9:15pm (7:15pm in Glasgow). However, given the demands on delivery services due to the ongoing pandemic, delivery slots may be limited.
Christmas Day – No deliveries made
Last order dates for other major UK retailers
Last Royal Mail Posting Dates
If you’re sending gifts or cards by mail from the UK, the Royal Mail has recommended its last dates to ensure delivery by Christmas. We recommending sending gifts before these dates however – especially for international deliveries – due to the impact of Covid restrictions and delivery demands.
- 2nd Class and 2nd Class Signed For – Friday 18 December
- 1st Class and 1st Class Signed For and Royal Mail Tracked 48 – Monday 21 December
- Royal Mail Tracked 24 – Tuesday 22 December
- Special Delivery Guaranteed – Wednesday 23 December
Keep in mind that the Royal Mail Tracked 48 and Tracked 24 options (which offer 2-day or 1-day express delivery) are unavailable at Post Office branches and will have to be purchased online from Parcel Force. You can get a price quote using Royal Mail’s tool here . See Royal Mail’s recommended dates for international delivery .
Last-minute Christmas Gift Cards
If you’re shopping on Christmas Eve and can’t find anything to buy from Currys PC World, you might like to buy a digital gift that can be sent via email or printed at home. Go to Currys to get one .
You’ll also find lots of e-gift cards online , including ones for retailers like Debenhams, Starbucks and lots more.
Next gift cards are available to buy digitally here .
One4All is another gift card option which works in over 55,000 stores on the High Street and online. Standard shipping costs 99p though is free for orders over £50 and arrives in 2 to 3 days. Special Delivery costs £6.50 and takes 1-2 business days to arrive.
Author: Somrata Sarkar, Contributor, Tech Advisor
Previously a Tech Advisor Senior Staff Writer, Somrata researches and writes about the best tech deals to help readers make smart, informed buying decisions. She’s an expert on accessories and also reviews laptops, phones, audio and other devices.
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