Despite my best intentions, I always end up frantically Google-searching for last-minute Christmas gifts sometime circa December 18th – despite the fact that Christmas falls on the same day every year and I have 365 days' worth of notice. I’m a procrastinator, what can I say? Whether it's my sister/best friend/auntie/mother-in-law that I've forgotten about (they should, by no means, take it personally), Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without last-minute Christmas gift shopping.
Sure, some (rare kind of) person exists who manages to tick every family member off their to-buy-for lists as soon as October 1st hits, but most of us wind up surprised that the festive season has come around so quickly again. So, what can one do? Sure, you could pick up a gift card or a sub-par chocolate gift from the local supermarket on your way to said recipients' festive soirée, but last-minute doesn't have to equal careless. With my edit of the best last-minute Christmas gift ideas, you’ll find chic gift options for the whole family with a less-than-ideal amount of time.
Everything my fellow last-minute shoppers need in the final weeks of the Christmas countdown is down below: from next-day-delivery shipping costs at stores including Boots and Net-A-Porter, plus final Christmas shipping dates and cut-off times for ordering. From Selfridges' offering of same-day (!) delivery to addresses inside the M25 right up until 23 December to Amazon's forever-trusty free next-day delivery for Amazon Prime members, there's a plethora of ways you can get thoughtful, luxury gifts (think: Anya Hindmarch goodies and Versace slippers) with just a day or two to spare.
After more gifting content? Experience gifts are another great last-minute choice, while our ultimate edit of gifts for her will have every woman on your list ticked off in no time. We've also got gifts for teenage girls, gifts for husbands, gifts for boyfriends, gifts for practical people and beauty gift sets.
Ahead, the best last-minute Christmas gifts from the stores that have blessed us with speedy shipping.
1. THE WHITE COMPANY
Next-day delivery: Yes. For next-day delivery at The White Company, you need to order by 4pm. Orders placed by 4pm Monday–Thursday will be delivered the next day, while orders placed Friday, Saturday or by 4pm Sunday will be delivered on the following Monday.
Cost: £7.95.
Christmas shipping cut-off: For last-minute gifts at The White Company, order by 19:00 on Wednesday 20th December with standard delivery to receive by Christmas Day. You can order with next-day delivery by midday on Thursday 21st December and still receive by Christmas.
No gift guide of last-minute holiday gifts would be complete without a mention of The White Company, not least because their luxe home fragrance, bed, cashmere and bath products make thoughtful gifts for anyone.
Whichever of your loved ones you’re buying for, a scented candle in the brand’s iconic Winter scent makes the perfect gift, while their shower gel beauty cracker makes for a fabulous stocking stuffer. Of course, if you have a little more money to spend, the brand’s dressing gowns, slippers and bedding will be much appreciated by the self-care enthusiast, and everything crafted from cashmere is certified by the Good Cashmere Standard.
2. ASOS
Next-day delivery: Yes.
Cost: FREE for ASOS Premier members.
Christmas shipping cut-off: Order by 20th December for standard delivery by Christmas, and standard Click & Collect. Order by 23/12/2023 before the website cut-off on next-day delivery in time for Christmas, and next-day click and collect services.
ASOS is a treasure trove of beauty best sellers, TikTok trending accessories and tech gifts (think: retro iPhone cases or cute Popsockets) every holiday season, and this year’s offering of last-minute gift ideas does not disappoint. We’ve got our eyes on Harry Styles & The Clothes He Wears – a coffee table book which will be a great gift for teenage girls – and all manner of cosy knitwear.
Save when you shop for last-minute gifts with these ASOS discount codes.
3. BOOTS
Next-day delivery: Boots' Next Day Delivery is available seven days a week on orders placed before 8pm; your beauty gifts will usually delivered between 8am and 9pm. The earliest delivery date for these orders will be shown at the checkout. Next day delivery is not available on medicines, these are shown with a green pharmacy cross symbol.
Cost: Boots standard delivery is free when you spend £25 or more.
Christmas shipping cut-off: Order by 19th December before 10pm for home delivery in time for Christmas. Order by 22nd December before 5pm for Click and Collect before Christmas.
4. CULT BEAUTY
Next-day delivery: Next day delivery via Royal Mail, seven days a week, is available through Cult Beauty - you just have to make sure you order before 11:30pm. Just note: during busy periods, express delivery may be unavailable.
Cost: £5.95.
Christmas shipping cut-off: Order with Next Day Delivery and Next Day Delivery Click & Collect by midnight 22nd December for orders to arrive before Christmas. For orders being placed using: Standard Delivery, Tracked Click & Collect, InPost Lockers or Eco Delivery, order on or before 20th December for delivery in time for Christmas. No deliveries will take place between 25th and 26th December, or on 1st January.
5. ANTHROPOLOGIE
Next-day delivery: Anthropologie's Express delivery service takes one-two days if you place your order before 10pm GMT Mon-Fri. Orders places over the weekend arrive on Tuesday.
Cost: £6.
Christmas shipping cut-off: In the UK, order by 20th December at midnight for standard delivery.
6. VIRTUAL GIFTS
If you’ve missed the boat to send a gift box in the post, a digital gift card or virtual experience gift could save the day. And they make great Secret Santa gifts gifts for every giftee, to boot. From Netflix subscriptions to Disney+ memberships and a three-month subscription box for Friday night curries for the foodie in your life, there’s plenty to choose from.
We’ve got an entire list for your perusal in this direction, but our top pick? A Masterclass subscription, which will unlock a years’ worth of courses and classes lead by celebrities. Think: Samuel L. Jackson teaches acting and his journey from New York to Hollywood or Diane von Furstenberg teaches building a fashion brand.
Lion King Theatre Tickets and Five Course Dinner with CocktailCocktail at The View from The Shard and Three Course MealLangstone Manor Three Night Glamping Break for Two, DartmoorGuided Day Trip to Lake District National Park with Lake Cruise & Steam Train Ride for Two7. NET-A-PORTER
Next-day delivery: Net-A-Porter can go one-better: how about same day delivery? With Net-A-Porter Premier Daytime (£15), place an order before 10am for same-day service in London and selected surrounding areas. You'll get an allocated two-hour delivery window after checking out. Or, select a nominated date for delivery up to seven days in advance.
Cost: £12.
Christmas shipping cut-off: To ensure your purchase arrives on or before 24th December 2023, please order by 3pm 19th December for Standard Delivery, 3pm 21st December with next day delivery and 10am 24th December with Premier delivery.
Save when you shop for last-minute gifts with these Net-A-Porter discount codes.
8. SEPHORA
Next-day delivery: Yes! Order before 6pm Sunday-Friday for orders to be delivered the next working day. Sephora UK also offers a Premier delivery service where you receive 12 months free next day deliveries.
Cost: £4.95 for a one-off shipment or £9.95 for the Premier delivery service.
Christmas shipping cut-off: Under the standard delivery option, order by 19th December. With next-day delivery or Evri and ASDA click and collect, order by 6pm on 22nd December.
9. SELFRIDGES
Next-day delivery: Yes! In fact, for UK customers ordering for delivery within the M25, Selfridges actually offer a same-day delivery service, helping to bring you urgent outfits, last-minute gifts and your favourite beauty, food and home products faster. Complete your order by midday for delivery the same evening between 7-10pm.
Cost: Dependent on what you're ordering. Standard delivery is free over £150.
Christmas shipping cut-off: To get your last-minute gifts from Selfridges in the UK, order under standard delivery by 18th December, next-day delivery on 22nd December and same-day delivery on 23rd December.
10. MATCHES FASHION
Next-day delivery: Yes. Place order before 7pm Monday to Thursday for next-day delivery (orders placed after 7pm on Thursday will deliver the following Monday, excluding bank holidays).
Cost: £8. For standard delivery, free delivery is available on all orders over £200.
Christmas shipping cut-off: For delivery by 25th December, order by December 21st.
11. M&S
Next-day delivery: Yes - though costs and delivery cut-off times depend on the category you've ordered from (Christmas hampers, fashion, food, flowers, furniture etc.) Generally, order by 8pm and you'll get your delivery the next day.
Cost: From £4.99 for next day or nominated day delivery.
Christmas shipping cut-off: M&S has differing last-minute gift delivery cut off dates for different categories on their website - from flowers to wine and hampers. You can find them all on their help page right here, but generally, cut-off dates with standard delivery tend to be between 18th and 23rd (except for orders of personalised gifts which will need to be made earlier).
Save when you shop for last-minute gifts with these Marks and Spencer discount codes.
12. AMAZON
Next-day delivery: Yes, if you've got Amazon Prime.
Cost: Free for Amazon Prime members.
Christmas shipping cut-off: Amazon hasn’t released one singular delivery cut-off date this year, as it depends on the seller you're buying from. But, if we follow the retailer’s usual routine, you should be able to order most items with Free Delivery 3-5 days before Christmas – or one day before Christmas with One-Day Delivery, which costs £3.99 to £4.99 (or free for Prime subscribers).
Save when you shop for the best last-minute Christmas gifts with these Amazon promo codes.
13. LOOKFANTASTIC
Next-day delivery: Order before 11:30pm for next day delivery, 7 days per week, for next-day delivery at LookFantastic.
Cost: £4.95 Next Day Delivery cost, or free on orders over £100. Not that we needed another excuse to buy new beauty products.
Christmas shipping cut-off: Order on next day delivery and next day delivery Click & Collect by midnight 22nd December for orders to arrive before Christmas. For orders being placed using: Standard Delivery, Tracked Click & Collect, InPost Lockers or Eco Delivery, please order on or before 20th December for delivery in time for Christmas.
Save when you shop for last minute gifts with these LookFantastic discount codes.
14. BEAUTY BAY
Next-day delivery: Order by 6PM for Next Day Delivery at Beauty Bay, and your order will be delivered Mon-Sun between 7am and 8pm. You get tracked two-hour updates (*so* good) - and you can even sign up for unlimited next day deliveries with Beauty Bay's Haul Pass.
Cost: £4.95 or free if you spend £65.
Christmas shipping cut-off: Want your order in time for Christmas? Order your haul by 21st December.
Save when you shop for last-minute gifts with these Beauty Bay discount codes.
15. MASTER OF MALT
Next-day delivery: Yes! All orders placed before 9:30pm ship the same day. “What you see at the checkout will vary based on your order and where it’s going,” Master of Malt states – “but you’ll usually see express delivery (next day unless it’s a bank holiday) in the UK is available on most products if ordered before 9:30pm.”
Cost: We charge a flat rate for any number of bottles to a single address with prices starting from £4.95 within UK Mainland.
Christmas shipping cut-off: Order by 23rd at 9:30pm for delivery by Christmas.
16. JOHN LEWIS
Next-day delivery: Order by 8pm for next day delivery.
Cost: £7.50 for small and medium items; £19.95 for larger items like pieces of furniture.
Christmas shipping cut-off: Under standard delivery, order by 7pm on 19th December. Under next day delivery, order by 8pm 22nd December. For delivery by 10:30am on a nominated day, order by 8pm 22nd December. For same day delivery - to selected locations only - order by 10am 22nd December.
Save when you shop for last-minute gifts with these John Lewis discount codes.
17. ALLSAINTS
Next-day delivery: Yes. You can place an order to arrive the next business day with AllSaints.
Cost: £5.95.
Christmas shipping cut-off: To receive your items before Christmas, please see the dates below.
- Free Standard Delivery - order no later than 7pm, 19th December;
- Next Day Delivery - order no later than 7pm, 21st December;
- Saturday Delivery - order no later than 7pm, 22nd December to arrive on 23rd December;
- Sunday Delivery - order no later than 2pm, 23rd December to arrive on 24th December.
For more from our Commerce Editor Sophie Cockett, follow her on Instagram @sophiecockettx.
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