US packaging calendar

How to use this calendar

Every date on this page shows two deadlines worked backwards from the event: when to start design and when to order boxes. The order-by date allows about a week for design and proofing, 10–14 business days of production after you approve your proof, 3–7 business days of shipping, and time for your team to pack orders before customers start buying. Dates update automatically: past events disappear, and each card shows how many days are left to order.

Press Add deadline to calendar on any card to save the order-by date to Google Calendar, Outlook or Apple Calendar, with a reminder one week before.

Why packaging deadlines come earlier than you think

Most brands plan the product, the promotion and the photography for a big date, and order packaging last. That is when rush fees, compromises and plain stock boxes appear. Custom packaging is a manufactured product: it needs a dieline, a proof, production time and freight. In the weeks before Black Friday and the December holidays, printers, carriers and warehouses are all at their busiest, so every step takes longer.

A simple rule: if a date is important to your sales, order packaging about two months before it. For gifting holidays such as Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, eight weeks gives you time to approve a proof calmly, receive boxes, photograph them and pack early orders. For trade shows, six weeks is usually enough for booth displays, sample boxes and printed cards.

What to plan for each type of date

Gifting holidays (Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Lunar New Year, the December holidays): customers expect gift-ready presentation. Consider rigid or magnetic boxes, inserts that hold a set, printed tissue and a message card. A seasonal sleeve or sticker over your standard box is an affordable way to create a limited edition without new tooling.

Shopping events (Black Friday to Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday, Amazon Prime Day): volume is the challenge. Stock up on right-sized mailers and shipping boxes so peak orders do not ship in oversized stock boxes, and check dimensional weight costs before the rush. Our DIM weight calculator shows what each box size costs to ship.

Seasonal moments (Easter, July 4, Halloween, Thanksgiving, the Super Bowl): short digital print runs of seasonal designs work well, because quantities are smaller and artwork changes every year.

Retail seasons (Back to School): retail-ready display boxes, hanger boxes and shelf packaging need to reach stores early, often before the season starts.

Planning dates (carrier rate changes, Earth Day): use them as reminders to review box sizes, shipping costs and sustainability claims.

Planning a year of packaging

Brands that order packaging two or three times a year, instead of every few weeks, usually pay less per box and avoid emergencies. A practical rhythm for many e-commerce brands:

1. January: review last year's packaging costs and damage rates; plan Valentine's Day and spring launches.
2. March: order Mother's Day and spring packaging; refresh evergreen stock.
3. June: plan summer promotions and Back to School.
4. August to early October: order holiday and Black Friday packaging, the most important order of the year.
5. November: check stock levels daily and reorder shipping boxes before carriers slow down.

If you want us to keep your timeline, tell us your key dates when you request a quote and we will plan proofs, production and delivery around them.

A note on dates

Dates for holidays such as Thanksgiving and Mother's Day are calculated from their official rules. Trade show dates come from the organizers. Some dates, such as Amazon Prime Day and the back-to-school season, are announced later or vary by region; they are marked as estimates. Carrier rate changes are set by each carrier, so check their announcements.