This holiday season, Shutterfly will help deliver joy to more than half of the U.S. population — producing over 180 million holiday cards filled with cheer, heartfelt messages, and of course, a special photo or two.

As the nation’s leading destination for holiday cards, Shutterfly knows a thing or two about what our customers love, what (and who!) they share on their cards, and when they’re most likely to shop.

Take a look at some fun insights we’ve gathered over the years as we help families and friends across the country send their warmest holiday wishes.

 

Holiday Cards Are All About the Paws and the Awws

While about 3% of holiday cards showcase a new baby, 11% feature the family pet! That’s roughly 1 in 9 cards showing off our fur babies – proof that our furry friends are actually the favorite stars of the season.

Shutterfly’s cutest cards come from Vermont, where nearly 16% feature pets, and North Dakota, where nearly 5% show off new babies.  Regionally, customers in the Northeast are most likely to have pets on their holiday cards, while customers in the Midwest are most likely to feature babies.

More Photos, More Cheer!

Holiday cards are packing in even more memories.  In 2024, customers nationwide included an average of 4 ½ photos on each holiday card.  That’s a 32% jump since 2020, and 21% higher than 2023!

Washington, D.C, Colorado, and Hawaii led the way with more than 5 images per card.  And Mississippi and Louisiana had the fewest images per card, featuring more single image cards than any other states.

 

Holiday Cards, Handled: Shutterfly’s Mailing Services Are a Hit

Shutterfly Customers love the convenience of our addressing and mailing services.  Roughly one in five 2024 holiday card orders included pre-addressed envelopes, with adoption the highest in the West and the South.  Midwesterners are more likely to address their own envelopes, with the lowest use of addressing services.

And, really smart shoppers know that Shutterfly will not only address your cards, but mail them directly to friends and family for you!  Roughly one in 25 holiday card customers took advantage of Shutterfly’s Direct Mail service last year, with the South and West taking the lead on adoption.  Our Midwestern customers like to do it themselves, coming in with the lowest levels of adoption.

Timing the Season: Card Trends Across the U.S.

Not surprisingly, customers in most states place the bulk of their holiday card orders the week of Cyber Monday.  Customers in Alaska, Alabama, Indiana, and Mississippi are slightly ahead of the curve, with holiday orders peaking the week of Thanksgiving.

But before the busiest weeks, holiday card sales start to spike as early as late October.  U.S. territories and military post offices begin their holiday card rush the week of Halloween.  And most mainland states have their first holiday card spike the week of Veteran’s Day.  A handful of high-volume markets, including California, Texas, and the Mid-Atlantic corridor lag slightly into the following week of November for their first spike.

 

Ready to start your holiday card journey?
At Shutterfly, you’ll find a stunning selection of styles—from modern to rustic, classic to whimsical—plus premium touches like foil stamping and glitter accents.

Our pricing ranges from accessible to luxurious, with cardstock options including Signature Smooth, Pearl Shimmer, Luxe Double-Thick, and even eco-friendly choices made from 100% post-consumer recycled material.

With over 1,000 customizable designs, you can personalize your card by greeting, layout, color, and more. And with time-saving services like envelope addressing, mailing, and our address collector, creating and sending your cards is easier than ever.

Explore the full collection at www.shutterfly.com.