Christmas Packaging Order Deadlines for Australian Retailers and Cafes (2026)

The last two weeks before Christmas are the worst time to find out your shelf of bags is nearly empty. Paper bags, tissue and tape all sell faster in December, and a stock-out on a Friday afternoon in the middle of the rush costs you sales you cannot get back. This guide gives you dates to order by in 2026, how much extra to stock, and what to put on the list for your type of business.

If you already know what you need, start with our paper bags and tissue paper, or browse the Christmas wrapping range. If you are still working out quantities, read on.

The dates that matter in 2026

Christmas Day falls on a Friday this year, so the final trading weekend is Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 December, with a last rush on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 December. Boxing Day is a Saturday. Black Friday is Friday 27 November and Cyber Monday is 30 November, so online sellers get an early peak that starts a month before Christmas itself.

For most shops, retail and cafe demand builds from the start of December. Gift buying, office parties and catering orders all land in the same three weeks. That is when bags, tissue, ribbon and tape go fastest.

Our same-day dispatch cut-off is 12pm on weekdays. Carrier cut-offs for Christmas delivery are set by each carrier and change every year, so check your carrier's published dates and work backwards from them.

A simple order-by timeline

These are our suggested dates, not hard cut-offs. They give you room for freight, a recount and a second top-up if sales run ahead of plan.

By Friday 30 October: place your main order. Work out your December volume and order it now, in one go. Ordering in bulk this early gets you the full range of sizes and colours, and leaves time to fix any mistake in your quantities.

By Friday 13 November: top up before Black Friday. Count what is left. If you sell online, this is the order for mailers and tape, because your first big spike lands two weeks later.

By Friday 27 November: place your last planned order. This is the top-up that carries you through the main December weeks. After this date, plan to order only what you cannot do without.

Friday 4 to Friday 11 December: emergency top-ups only. Ordering before 12pm on a weekday gets same-day dispatch from us, but freight to regional areas takes longer, and carriers are busy. If you are outside metro areas, treat Friday 4 December as your last comfortable order date.

Popular Christmas lines to order early

How much extra to stock for December

Start with last December. Pull the number of bags, rolls and sheets you used and compare it with a normal month. Most retailers find December runs well above average, and a buffer is cheaper than a stock-out. A 20 per cent buffer on top of last year is a common starting point; add more if your trade has grown or you are running a Christmas promotion.

Two practical tips. First, order your fastest-moving size in the largest pack you can store, since cartons cost less per bag than small packs. Second, keep a small reserve of your most popular bag size and colour that you only open if you run short.

What to order, by type of business

Gift shops and homewares stores. You need bags in two or three sizes, tissue in your brand colours, and enough wrapping paper for gift-wrap tables. Our gift shops and homewares page lists the lines that move fastest. Add cellophane bags if you sell small items like candles and chocolates.

Cafes and food businesses. Christmas catering and takeaway orders push up the number of bags you hand out. Check your stock of takeaway food bags and paper carry bags, and see our cafes and coffee shops page for what to carry.

Online sellers. Your peak starts at Black Friday, so stock mailing bags and packaging tape first. The e-commerce page covers the full list, and you can see all sectors on our industries page.

Three mistakes that cause December stock-outs

Ordering one size only. A single bag size looks tidy, but it fails the moment a customer buys something that does not fit. Carry at least a small, a medium and a large.

Forgetting the small items. Tape, tissue, twist ties and labels run out quietly, and they are the items that stop a packing bench dead. Add them to your main order, not as an afterthought.

Counting stock by eye. A shelf that looks full can hold two days of Christmas sales. Count it, write the number down, and compare it with last year's daily use before you decide it is enough.

If you run short at the last minute

It happens. If you are in Brisbane you can collect from our Archerfield warehouse, which is open 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday. Order before 12pm on a weekday and we dispatch the same day. For a larger or mixed order, request a quote or call us on 1800 555 343, and also check our peak season stock-up page for current offers.

Frequently asked questions

When should I order Christmas packaging?

Place your main order by the end of October if you can, and a top-up in mid November. A last planned order by 27 November leaves room for freight and one more top-up in early December.

How much extra packaging do I need for December?

Check last December's usage and add a buffer. Many retailers start with 20 per cent more and adjust for growth or promotions. It is better to carry a little extra than to run out in the final week.

What is the last day to order for Christmas?

There is no single date, because it depends on where you are and which carrier delivers. We dispatch the same day when you order before 12pm on a weekday. For regional areas, we suggest ordering by early December, and you should check your carrier's published Christmas cut-offs.

Can I pick up my order instead of waiting for delivery?

Yes. You can collect from our Archerfield QLD warehouse during opening hours, 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday. Call us on 1800 555 343 to confirm stock before you drive over.

Do you offer bulk pricing for Christmas orders?

Yes. For larger quantities, use our request a quote page and we will price it for you. We also back our prices with a 5 per cent price-beat guarantee.