December is when print shops sell the most and have the least time. This guide works backward from Christmas Day: the last recommended dates to reorder blanks, how long you have to press, the carrier ship-by dates for your customers, and which blanks press fastest when the calendar runs out. Our Black Friday 2026 guide covers November; this one starts on December 1.
Short answer: To ship finished gifts to your customers by USPS Ground Advantage on December 17, we recommend ordering blanks from Photo USA by Tuesday, December 1 if your shop is far from both of our warehouses, and by Monday, December 7 at the latest if you are within about three business days of Fremont, CA or Shepherdsville, KY. That leaves you December 11 to 16 to press and pack.
| Date (2026) | What happens |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, December 1 | Safest recommended date to order blanks if your shop is far from both warehouses. Ground delivery takes up to 7 business days. |
| Monday, December 7 | Latest recommended blank order date for shops about 3 business days of ground transit from Fremont or Shepherdsville |
| Friday, December 11 | Aim to have every blank you need in hand |
| Saturday, December 12 | A good cutoff for customer orders that will be shipped |
| Monday, December 14 to Wednesday, December 16 | Press, pack and label. December 14 is also Green Monday, a second wave of online orders. |
| Thursday, December 17 | USPS Ground Advantage and FedEx Ground (5 day transit) last recommended ship date |
| Friday, December 18 | USPS Priority Mail and FedEx Ground (4 day transit) |
| Monday, December 21 to Wednesday, December 23 | FedEx Ground for 3, 2 and 1 day transit zones, and local pickup or hand delivery |
The carrier dates above are the recommended ship-by dates USPS and FedEx published for delivery before Christmas in the lower 48 states. FedEx Ground transit depends on the ZIP code, so check your own lanes before promising a date. Most Photo USA orders ship within one business day, and ground delivery usually takes 3 to 7 business days, running toward the longer end in December. These are planning dates only, not guaranteed delivery dates, so build in a day or two of room.
Short answer: Puzzles and mugs are the fastest blanks to turn in December. A puzzle presses in a recommended 45 to 90 seconds and a mug in 120 to 180 seconds, so one press can turn about 24 puzzles or 15 mugs an hour. Photo slates take up to 10 minutes each, so start them early or leave them out of your last week.
| Blank | Recommended press time | Loads per hour, one press | Per load | Case price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 oz white ceramic mug, Black ORCA | 120 to 180 sec | About 15 | One mug per press | $67.48 / 36 |
| 252 piece puzzle, 10.5 x 13.5 in. | 45 to 90 sec | About 24 | One puzzle per load on a 15 x 15 in. press | $587.40 / 220 |
| 3 in. circle ceramic ornament | 150 to 360 sec | About 9 | Several ornaments per load, both sides at once | $162.00 / 100 |
| 4.25 x 4.25 in. ceramic tile | 240 to 360 sec | About 9 | Several tiles per load | $70.76 / 48 |
| 5.85 x 5.85 in. photo slate | Up to 600 sec | About 5 | One or two slates per load | $156.60 / 40 |
Loads per hour assume the longer recommended press time plus about a minute to load and unload, on a single press with one operator. Ornaments and tiles make up for a longer press time by fitting several to a load, so a 15 x 15 in. flat press turns far more of them per hour than the load count suggests. Our sublimation time and temperature chart lists recommended settings for every blank. As always, temperature and time trade off and every press runs a little differently.
Short answer: Press a small stock of designs that do not need personalization, such as "Merry Christmas 2026" ornaments, "Our First Christmas" ornaments and seasonal mugs, before December 14. Then the last week is spent on names and photos, not on every order from scratch.
A pre-pressed best seller turns a late order into a pack and ship job. Two or three designs are enough: a dated ornament, a family or pet photo ornament template where only the photo changes, and a holiday mug. For ideas that sell, see our guide to photo ornament ideas. If you need low priced fill-ins for stocking stuffers and gift exchanges, our stocking stuffer ornament guide has the options.
Short answer: Local pickup, same day personalization and printed gift certificates. Once the carriers stop, the shops that keep selling are the ones a customer can drive to.
Short answer: Avoid new product types and slow presses in the last two weeks. Every new blank needs a test press, and blanks with long press times, such as slates and oven pressed items, tie up your equipment when you can least afford it.
December is the time to sell more of what you already press well. Large photo slates (up to 10 minutes each), oven pressed pet bowls and shot glasses (about 17 minutes in a sublimation oven) are better started in November or saved for January. If you want to add a new blank, order one case early in the month and run a test before you list it.
Need to restock before the December rush? Photo USA sells by the case with a one case minimum and no minimum number of cases, and most orders ship within 24 hours from Fremont, CA and Shepherdsville, KY. We also offer a wholesale imprint service if you would rather receive finished pieces. Email hello@photomugs.com or contact us with the items and quantities you need.
Short answer: Post one clear cutoff date on your homepage, product pages and order confirmation, and add the local pickup option underneath it.
Here is wording you can copy and adjust: "Order by Saturday, December 12 for shipped delivery before Christmas. After that, local pickup is available through December 23. Personalized items are made to order, so please check names and dates before checkout." One date in one place is easier for customers than a chart, and it keeps you from taking an order you cannot deliver.
We recommend ordering by Tuesday, December 1 if your shop is far from both Photo USA warehouses, and by Monday, December 7 at the latest if you are within about three business days of Fremont, CA or Shepherdsville, KY. That leaves time to press and ship to your customers by USPS Ground Advantage on December 17. These are planning dates, not guaranteed delivery dates.
USPS recommends December 17 for Ground Advantage, December 18 for Priority Mail and December 19 for Priority Mail Express for delivery before Christmas in the lower 48 states. FedEx Ground ranges from December 17 for 5 day transit to December 23 for 1 day transit, and FedEx Ground Economy is December 15.
Puzzles press in a recommended 45 to 90 seconds and mugs in 120 to 180 seconds, so one press can turn about 24 puzzles or 15 mugs an hour. Ornaments and tiles take longer per load but fit several to a load on a flat press.
Most orders ship within one business day from Fremont, CA or Shepherdsville, KY. Ground delivery usually takes 3 to 7 business days, and transit can run toward the longer end in December.
Local pickup, while you wait personalization on mugs and puzzles, printed gift certificates for a custom item made in January, and New Year delivery for mugs and tumblers.
Set it two to four days before your carrier's ship-by date so you have time to press, pack and label. For USPS Ground Advantage on December 17, a customer cutoff around December 12 works for most shops.
You can, but order one case early in the month and run a test press before you list it. Every new blank type needs its own settings, and the last two weeks of December leave no room for redos.
Ceramic ornaments, 11 oz white mugs and small puzzles. Photo USA sells the 3 in. circle ornament at $162.00 for a case of 100, the 11 oz Black ORCA mug at $67.48 for a case of 36, and the 252 piece puzzle at $587.40 for a case of 220.
One last note: the press settings in this guide are recommended starting points only. Temperature and time work against each other, so a higher temperature needs less time and a lower one needs more, and every heat press and oven runs a little differently. Press one test piece and adjust for your own machine.
