UPS forecasts it will handle a record 585 million packages this December amid the peak holiday season, up 11 percent from last year.

Those packages would circle the earth nearly 4.5 times if lined up side by side and averaging 1 cubic foot each, according to the Sandy Springs-based shipping giant.

The forecast comes as UPS prepares for improvements aimed at avoiding the delays that plagued its holiday deliveries last year and led to some dissatisfied customers.

The peak day for UPS this year will be Monday Dec. 22, when the company expects to deliver more than 34 million packages. On a typical day UPS delivers 17 million packages.

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Delaney Britt Dutton (left) and Ethan Dutton of Brunswick visited the World of Coca-Cola on Saturday, July 19, 2025, in Atlanta. She views corn syrup as potentially toxic and “bad for you.” (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

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Credit: Hyosub Shin/AJC