Holiday card mailing has about six steps, and each one depends on finishing the one before it. This checklist breaks the full process into weekly blocks so nothing gets bottlenecked.
Done in seconds. No sign-up required.
Start the first week of November. Finish by the first week of December. Each week has one primary task so you're never doing everything at once.
Pull out last year's list. Remove anyone who's moved or fallen out of touch. Add new people. Send a quick text or email to anyone whose address you're not sure about. This is the step most people skip, and it's why cards get stuck later.
If you're ordering custom photo cards, do it now. Production takes 5 to 10 business days at most online printers. If you're buying pre-made cards from a store, pick them up this week. Get stamps too. Count your list and buy accordingly.
Spread the writing across a few evenings. Ten cards per sitting is manageable. Add at least one personal line to each card beyond the printed message. Address envelopes as you go. Having everything ready at once makes the mailing step painless.
Finish any remaining cards. Double-check addresses, seal envelopes, and apply stamps. If you have international recipients, separate those cards. They need to go out first, ideally this week.
Drop your domestic cards at the post office or in a blue collection box. First-Class Mail needs about 5 to 7 business days during the holiday rush. Mailing this week ensures delivery before Christmas with room to spare.
Gathering supplies in advance prevents those mid-process trips to the store that kill momentum. Here's the complete list:
A checklist sitting in a browser tab doesn't mail cards. The missing piece is the trigger that tells you "today is the day to begin." That's what a holiday card mailing reminder does. Set it for November 1, and when the email arrives, open this checklist and start with Week 1.
The cards that don't get sent almost always fail at the starting point. The writing is the easy part. Starting is the hard part. A reminder solves the hard part.
There's no right number. The average U.S. household sends about 30 cards. Start with people who would notice if they didn't get one: close family, good friends, and anyone who sent you a card last year. You can always expand the list later.
A simple group text or email works: "Updating my holiday card list, can you send me your current address?" Most people are happy to share. Do this in October or early November so you're not chasing addresses while trying to write cards.
Print the main greeting if you want, but add at least one handwritten line. A personal note, even just "Hope the new job is going well," transforms a generic card into something people actually keep. It takes 30 seconds per card and makes a real difference.
A standard holiday card with one insert fits within the one-ounce First-Class letter rate (currently $0.73). Square cards and oversized cards may need extra postage. Weigh one at the post office if you're not sure. Non-machinable surcharges apply to rigid or unusually shaped envelopes.
Order by the first week of November. Online print shops typically need 5 to 10 business days for production plus shipping. Ordering early also means better selection and fewer rush fees. Store-bought cards skip this step entirely.
Prioritize. Send physical cards to your inner circle, and consider a brief personal email or digital card for the rest. A shorter list done well beats a long list done poorly. The people who matter most should get the handwritten version.
Set a reminder for November 1. When it arrives, come back to this checklist and work through it week by week.
Set My Card Mailing ReminderLast modified: