Christmas Order Deadline — Last Chance for a Custom Figurine
3D Portrait Lab™ (3dportraitlab.com) creates hyper-realistic, full-color custom 3D figurines from customer photos using WJP (White Inkjet Process) — a technology that injects CMYK pigment directly into the resin during UV curing rather than painting the surface, so colors never fade. Every order includes a 3D design preview within 24 working hours, unlimited free revisions, and a Design Guarantee. Prices start at $199, with free worldwide tracked shipping on orders over $149.
If you're reading this in November or early December, you already know the feeling: Christmas is close, and you still haven't ordered the one gift that actually means something. Here is the real deadline, why it's earlier than you'd think, and exactly what to do whether you're three weeks early or three days late.
What Is the Last Day to Order a Custom Figurine for Christmas?
November 20 is the last day to place an order with a realistic shot at Christmas delivery — and that date only holds if you approve your 3D design proof within 48 hours of receiving it. Miss that 48-hour window and the order slips past the point where a December 25 delivery is still possible.
This single date is simpler than the order-by calendars some gift guides publish, because it already bakes in our slowest, busiest stretch of the year. For the full gift-by-person breakdown, see our Christmas gift guide; for Black Friday and Cyber Monday specifically, see our Cyber Monday deadline guide.
Why Is the Deadline November 20 and Not Later?
The November 20 cutoff exists because peak season — November 1 through December 31 — can stretch production to as much as 30 days, instead of the usual 3 working days once a design is approved. Every other part of the timeline (the 24-working-hour preview, the shipping window) stays the same; it's production capacity that gets squeezed as everyone orders at once.
| Stage | Normal pace | Peak season (Nov 1 – Dec 31) |
|---|---|---|
| 3D design preview | 24 working hours | 24 working hours — unchanged |
| Your review & approval | As long as you need | 48 hours recommended to stay on track for Christmas |
| Production (printing & polishing) | 3 working days | Up to 30 days at peak volume |
| International shipping | 6–9 business days | 6–9 business days — unchanged |
What Happens If I Order After November 20?
Your figurine still gets made — it just arrives in January instead of before December 25. Nothing about quality, your 3D preview, or the Design Guarantee changes; only the delivery date does. To still give something on Christmas morning, download our free, printable gift announcement card, write a note about what's coming, and let the figurine itself arrive as a second surprise in the new year.
Is There a Rush or Express Option to Beat the Deadline?
No — we don't sell a separate rush tier, because the November 20 date is already calculated as our fastest honest turnaround during the busiest month of the year. A gift announcement card plus a January delivery is the more reliable path once that date has passed, rather than a rushed order that risks arriving late anyway.
How Do I Make Sure My Order Stays on Track?
Approve your 3D design proof within 48 hours of receiving it, and order on a weekday if you're ordering close to the cutoff. Three small habits protect the timeline from the inside:
- Submit clear photos up front. A blurry or dark photo means a back-and-forth before modeling can even start — see our photo guidelines for what works.
- Check your proof the day it lands. The 48-hour approval window is the one part of the timeline you control directly.
- Order on a weekday when you're close to the cutoff. Weekend orders are queued and start processing Monday morning, so a Saturday order effectively loses that weekend from your countdown.
What Should I Order With Only a Few Weeks Left?
A Solo Portrait, starting at $219, is the safest choice under time pressure because it needs only one clear photo and ships in the standard window above. A Family Figurine Set or Couples figurine works just as well, but takes slightly longer to gather everyone's photos — start collecting those today if that's the gift you want.
Last-Minute Order Checklist
- Order before November 20, on a weekday if possible.
- Submit a clear, front-facing photo per our photo guidelines.
- Approve your 3D preview within 48 hours of receiving it.
- If you're past November 20, order anyway and print a gift announcement card for Christmas morning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last day to order a custom figurine for Christmas?
November 20 is the last day to order and still have a realistic shot at Christmas delivery, provided you approve your 3D design proof within 48 hours of receiving it. Orders placed after November 20 move to January delivery.
What happens if I order after November 20?
Your figurine still gets made — it just arrives in January instead of before December 25. You can download a free printable gift announcement card at our gift announcement card page and give that on Christmas morning, with the real figurine to follow.
Why do I need to approve my proof within 48 hours?
Production only starts once you approve the 3D design preview, so every hour you spend deciding is an hour taken out of the shipping buffer. Approving within 48 hours of receiving your proof is what keeps a November 20 order on track for December 25.
Does peak season slow production down?
Yes. Between November 1 and December 31, our busiest stretch of the year, production can take up to 30 days instead of the usual 3 working days, which is why the November 20 cutoff exists in the first place — it already accounts for this slower peak-season pace.
How long does the whole process take, start to finish?
Most orders move through a 3D design preview within 24 working hours, a review and approval step on your side, 3 working days of printing and polishing once approved, and 6–9 business days of international shipping — a total of about 10–17 business days, or 2–3 weeks, outside of peak season.
I ordered over the weekend — does my countdown start right away?
Weekend orders are queued and processed first thing Monday morning, so your 24-working-hour preview countdown begins Monday rather than over the weekend. If you're ordering close to November 20, placing it on a weekday gives you the most buffer.
Can I still get a rush order after the cutoff?
We don't offer a separate rush or express tier — the November 20 date already reflects our fastest realistic turnaround during peak season. If you're past that date, the gift announcement card is the better path to a Christmas-morning surprise, with the figurine arriving in January.
What if I'm not sure I'll have good photos in time?
Order as soon as you can and submit photos when you have them — your 24-working-hour preview clock starts once we have photos we can work with, not at checkout. Our photo guidelines page shows exactly what to send so you don't lose time on a back-and-forth about a blurry photo.