ALGONQUIN, IL — While some Algonquin and Lake in the Hills shoppers are eager to return to stores for the 2021 holiday season, many will once again turn to their computers and smartphones to do the majority of their Christmas shopping.

The country is quickly approaching a second holiday season amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and at least one early forecast predicts more than 80 percent of consumers plan to do more of their holiday shopping online.

In fact, more than 94 percent of U.S. consumers will do at least some of their holiday shopping online, according to a survey by DealAid.org.

Most — about 39 percent — will also wait until December to start checking items off their lists. About 28 percent will actually start prior to Thanksgiving.

Whether you start now or wait until December, there’s still plenty of time to shop. However, the U.S. Postal Service and other major package delivery companies are reminding shoppers to build in plenty of extra time to ensure all those gifts are delivered by Christmas Day.

Extra time may be especially important given the Postal Service’s new "service standards,” rolled out earlier this month. The new standards will result in slower mail delivery and higher prices at the post office.

While the service changes will be more noticeable in certain parts of the country, others won't see much of a disruption.

Before you decide to wait, here are the 2021 holiday shipping deadlines you need to know:

If you’re shipping abroad or to a member of the U.S. military, special deadlines apply.

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