When to Order Your Holiday Cards

Timing matters. With mail volume peaking in late November and December, planning ahead is the key to making sure your holiday card reaches its destination when you intend.

This guide breaks down the best times to order, personalize, and send your holiday cards, plus a practical checklist your team can rely on.

For most businesses, the ideal time to order holiday cards is late September through early November. Ordering during this window ensures there is enough time to create your design, receive your cards, check to make sure there are no issues, and mail your greetings. If there is a printing error, ordering early ensures that you can send for replacement cards without jeopardizing your deadline.

The earlier you start, the smoother the process will be—especially if you’re coordinating signatures across teams or departments.

When to Personalize and Sign Your Cards

Once your cards arrive, plan one to two weeks to prepare them. This includes:

• Adding your logo, business message, or custom greeting
• Writing personal notes for key clients
• Coordinating signatures from leadership or multiple departments

If you have a large team, make sure that you set internal deadlines. Some businesses even schedule a fun signing day to get everyone together while making the process enjoyable and efficient.

When to Mail Your Holiday Cards

The best timeframe depends on the type of holiday card you’re sending.

General Holiday Cards

Mail between November and mid-December. This ensures your card arrives during the holiday season and never last-minute. For Thanksgiving cards, you should err on the side of caution and mail in early November. For Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and universal holiday cards, late November to early December is okay.

Christmas Cards

Mail December 1–15. Cards sent in early December tend to arrive on time.

New Year Cards

Mail December 26–January 10. A great option if you want to avoid the holiday rush. New Year cards stand out and still deliver a warm, timely message.

International Cards

Mail as early as November. International timing varies widely, so plan and confirm specific country guidelines.

Addressing, Postage & Envelope Prep

Preparing your envelopes takes time—more than most businesses expect. Start this process as soon as your cards arrive.

Tips to stay organized:

• Keep your address list updated year-round—create a digital copy that is easily updatable.
• Use printed envelopes and mailing labels to save time
• Know the correct postage for your card weight
• Order a few extra stamps and envelopes—just in case

Try Our Mailing Service!

At Brookhollow, we offer a full mailing service where we will stamp, address, and mail your cards directly to your recipients for you. For a small additional fee, you’ll be able to tackle the holidays stress-free!

Holiday Mailing Checklist

Use this quick checklist to stay on track or download and print your own.

• ☐ Order your holiday cards
• ☐ Update and finalize your mailing list
• ☐ Personalize cards with your logo or message
• ☐ Add handwritten notes or team signatures
• ☐ Address envelopes or print labels
• ☐ Apply postage
• ☐ Mail by your ideal deadline

Ready to start? Explore Brookhollow Cards’ holiday card collection and get ahead of the rush!

Tags: Direct Mail Marketing, Greeting Card Marketing, Holiday cards