Don’t miss these Christmas shipping deadlines at Walmart, Target, Amazon so your gifts arrive by December 25

If you haven't started your holiday shopping, you're already behind. Just kidding — but the sooner you begin shopping, the higher your chances are of receiving your packages on time. Christmas Day is still roughly five weeks away, and if you've got a load of gifts to buy this year, make sure you don't miss these online shopping deadlines for stores.

You can get a head start by checking out the early Black Friday sales happening now at retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Target. If you do find that you've procrastinated until the final week and have no time left to get your order shipped, most of these stores have a same-day pickup option.

Here's when you need to have your orders placed so they'll be ready to go under the tree by Christmas morning. Be aware that these are estimated dates and can be affected by inclement weather and other delays. We recommend planning ahead to avoid any letdowns.

Amazon Christmas shopping deadlines

As an Amazon Prime member, you have a few free shipping options available to you. Here's when you'd need to order your gifts to have them arrive on time. Note that not all items will have 1-day and same-day delivery options, so plan accordingly.

2-day delivery: Order by Dec. 22 to arrive on Dec. 24.

1-day delivery: Order by Dec. 23 to arrive on Dec. 24.

Same-day delivery: Order on Dec. 24 to arrive the same day.

If you're not a Prime subscriber, you'll need to make your purchases sooner. Amazon says it takes around four to five business days for standard shipping. So if you need your gifts to arrive by Dec. 24, you'll need to make the purchase no later than Dec. 17.

Walmart Christmas shipping deadlines

As long as the products you're ordering are from Walmart and not third-party sellers on Walmart’s website or app, they should arrive within two to five days on average. Each product on Walmart’s website lists the shipping time according to your address. For instance, it could say "arrives in 3+ days," or "arrives tomorrow." Check these estimates carefully before purchasing, in case you need to look elsewhere or buy a different gift in order to meet your shipping deadline.

Arrives in three or more days: Order by Dec. 19.

Arrives in two days: Order by Dec. 22.

Arrives next day: Order by Dec. 23.

If you're a Walmart Plus subscriber, you may also have the option for same-day delivery. If that's the case, you can order on Dec. 24 for delivery on Christmas Eve — but same-day delivery does not apply to Christmas Day itself. Note also that not all products are eligible for same-day delivery, so make sure to check before you complete your order.

If all else fails and there's an item you need but won't ship in time, you can always use curbside pickup which still helps prevent you from walking into a chaotic store.

Target Christmas shipping deadlines

When ordering from Target, you can expect your shipment to arrive within three to five business days. However, the large retail chain notes that the delivery date can be delayed due to high-volume shipping, which is likely during the holidays. Free two-day shipping is also available as long as you spend at least $35 (or have a Target Circle card) — check to make sure this is available where you live. Here are the deadlines for placing your order in time for Christmas.

Delivered within five business days: Order by Dec. 17.

Delivered within two business days: Order by Dec. 20.

If you live in an area where weekend deliveries are available, you could receive your shipment the Saturday or Sunday before Christmas, but it's not guaranteed — for example, if you order on Dec. 20, it's possible to receive your package on Dec. 22.

You can also take advantage of Target's free same-day curbside pickup if the item you need is in stock at your local store.

Christmas gift shipping deadlines for other popular stores

These are the deadlines for free standard shipping (you can pay extra to receive your items sooner) to have your gifts arrive by Dec. 24. Note that you may need to meet a minimum purchase threshold to be eligible for free shipping. Also, if you miss any shipping deadlines, all of the stores listed below — excluding Apple — offer same-day curbside pickup.

• Sephora: Dec. 20 at 6 a.m.

• Best Buy: Varies by product and location – you may be able to score free next-day or two-day shipping.

• Apple: Dec. 23 by 5 p.m. if ordering a Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple TV or Apple Watch, and Dec. 22 for almost anything else.

Not sure what gifts to buy yet? Here are some of the best Amazon Black Friday deals you can shop now. And if you're mailing gifts this year, don't miss these holiday shipping deadlines.