Every December, the phones at Lobsteranywhere start ringing, and our live chat lights up, and it’s usually the same question: “What do I get the person who has everything?” We’ve been shipping lobster to all 50 states since 1999, and our answer hasn’t changed much. Send them dinner. Nobody regifts a box of lobster tails.
This guide covers what we actually see people send, what each gift costs this year, and the dates that matter. If you only read one thing, read the deadlines.
Good for: Christmas Eve and Christmas dinner, a quiet dinner for two, feeding the whole family, and thanking clients.
The date to remember: Christmas 2026 falls on a Friday. For frozen gifts, plan for delivery by Tuesday, December 15.
| Budget under $150? | → Lobster Tails Christmas Special (4 to 24 tails) |
| Steak lover? | → Back Bay Surf & Turf Steak and Lobster Dinner |
| Want to impress? | → Giant Lobster Tails (16 to 28 oz) |
| Hosting a crowd (4 to 16)? | → Maine Lobster Roll Party Kits |
| After Dec 15 or unsure? | → Instant Email Gift Card |
Christmas 2026: When to Order
Here’s the calendar this year:
- Christmas Eve: Thursday, December 24
- Christmas Day: Friday, December 25
- We deliver: Tuesday through Saturday. Order by 3 PM ET for next-day delivery. Saturday delivery adds $25.
Frozen gifts (tails, surf & turf, dinners, lobster meat): Have them arrive by Tuesday, December 15. They keep in the freezer, so there’s no prize for cutting it close. The week before Christmas is the busiest week of the year for every carrier in the country, and one snowstorm at a big air hub can hold up packages everywhere.
Live lobster: For Christmas, we steer people to tails instead. Live lobsters need to be cooked within a day or two of arriving, so they can’t land a week early like frozen gifts can. That means shipping them on the most delay-prone days of the year, and we don’t like those odds with your Christmas dinner. Tails arrive early, wait in the freezer, and still steal the show. If your person has their heart set on live lobster, send a gift card and let them pick a date after the holidays.
Why we don’t do Christmas Eve delivery: If anything goes wrong on the 24th, there’s no time to fix it. We’d rather tell you that now than apologize on Christmas morning.
Use the date picker at checkout to choose the exact arrival day. Order now, pick a date, and forget about it until the doorbell rings.
Our Top Picks for 2026
Prices are as of November 2026 and can move with the market. Most of these ship free with express delivery.
The Best Seller: Lobster Tails Christmas Special (6 to 7 oz)
If we had to pick one gift, it’s this one. Each 6 to 7 oz tail is about what you’d get from a 1½ lb lobster, without anyone wrestling a lobster in the kitchen. They’re cold-water tails, they ship frozen, and they keep for months. Packs of 4, 6, 12 or 24.
From $149.95 for four tails | Free express delivery Shop Lobster Tails Special →
Fresh Lobster Tail Meat (Raw, Out of the Shell)
This is lobster with the hard part already done. Five whole tails, taken out of the shell raw using high-pressure processing, so every bit of the pound is meat. Butter-poach them, sear them, or drop them into pasta. No crackers, no picks, no mess. Ships frozen.
$148 for a five-pack (about 1 lb) | Free delivery Shop Fresh Lobster Tail Meat →
Giant Lobster Tails: The Ones People Take Pictures Of
William Horst of Hooked on BBQ with two Monster tails.
These come from the cold, deep water of the North Atlantic, and they are big. Tails this size are what make everyone at the table put their phones down. Supply is tight every December, so don’t wait on these.
- Whale of a Tail (16 to 20 oz). Packs of 2, 4, 8 or 12. From $198 | Free express shipping
- Monster Lobster Tails (20 to 24 oz). From $238 | Free overnight delivery
- Moby Super-Colossal (25 to 28 oz). Named for the whale, and yes, longer than your forearm. We only get a handful. From $258 | Free overnight delivery
One tip: Big tails aren’t tough. Overcooked tails are tough. Our lobster tail cooking guide has the times by size.
Colossal Shrimp
Black tiger shrimp raised in Vietnam’s mangrove forests with no added feed, chemicals or antibiotics. Pick Colossal (16 to 20 per pound) or Super Colossal (8 to 12 per pound). Peeled, deveined and frozen in 1 lb resealable bags.
For a party, try our Shrimp Christmas Tree. It takes about 35 minutes and it’s always the first thing gone.
From $29.95/lb Shop Colossal Shrimp →
Maine Lobster Ravioli
Made locally with Maine lobster, ricotta and mozzarella, 10 to 12 big ravioli per pound. Brown butter, a cream sauce or our pink vodka sauce all work. Ships frozen.
From $34/lb Shop Lobster Ravioli →
For Two
You’re My Lobster
Yes, it’s named after the Friends episode. Inside: a pound of cooked Maine lobster meat, 16 oz of lobster bisque, and a milk chocolate lobster filled with caramel, pecans and buttercrunch toffee. That’s enough meat for four overstuffed lobster rolls or a pot of lobster stew. It works for a couple, an anniversary, or anyone you’d call your lobster.
$149 | Ships free | Serves 1 to 2 Shop You’re My Lobster →
For the Family Table
Maine Fresh Catch Dinner
Maine lobster tails, colossal shrimp (16 to 20 count), jumbo sea scallops and whoopie pies for dessert. Ships frozen, so the date is flexible. For 2 or 4.
From $189 | Ships free Shop Maine Fresh Catch →
Down East Seafood Feast
A New England Christmas in one box: two 6 to 7 oz lobster tails, a pound of sea scallops, our award-winning clam chowder (serves 2) and a wild Maine blueberry pie.
$189 | Ships free Shop Down East Dinner →
Maine Lobster Roll Kits
For Christmas Eve open houses, a ski weekend, or New Year’s. Each kit has tail, claw and knuckle meat, brioche rolls baked here locally, Maine sea salt butter and instructions. Make them cold with mayo, Maine style, or warm with butter, Connecticut style. Kits for 4, 8 or 16.
From $159 | Free express delivery Shop Lobster Roll Kits →
For the Steak Lovers
Back Bay Surf & Turf
Center-cut filet mignon a full 1½ inches thick, jumbo cold-water lobster tails and our New England clam chowder. A lot of catalog companies sell warm-water tails at this price. We don’t. From grill to plate in about 20 minutes. Ships frozen with free overnight delivery, for 2 or 4.
From $218 | Free delivery Shop Back Bay Surf & Turf →
Lazy Man Lobster Dinner
Christmas dinner for people who’d rather not do dishes. Shucked Maine lobster tails and 8 oz filet mignons, with no shells and nothing to crack. Steam the lobster 4 to 5 minutes and dinner is ready. Each dinner comes with 2 to 3 tails and one filet per person, plus Maine sea salt butter.
From $189 | Free delivery Shop Lazy Man Lobster →
Last-Minute or Not Sure? Send a Gift Card
Gift cards go out by email in minutes. They pick what they want and the day it arrives, so you don’t have to guess their schedule or their freezer space. Any amount.
From $50 Buy an Email Gift Card →
Live Lobster, Tails, or Picked Meat?
| Product | Best For | Work Involved | How Long It Keeps | Starting Price |
| Live Maine Lobster | People who want the full New England lobster dinner | Some | Cook within 24 to 48 hours | About $46 per 1½ lb lobster |
| Lobster Tails (in shell) | Anyone who wants it easy and flexible | Easy | Up to 6 months frozen | About $20 to $39 per tail |
| Picked Lobster Meat | Lobster rolls, pasta, bisque | Almost none | Fridge a few days, or freeze | $89 per lb |
The short version:
- Live lobster if they love the whole ritual and will cook it right away. (Outside the Christmas rush.)
- Tails if they want flexibility, love surf & turf, or might save it for later.
- Picked meat if they’re making rolls or pasta and don’t want any work.
- Still stuck? Send a gift card.
Picked Lobster Meat
Cooked Maine lobster meat, out of the shell and ready for rolls, pasta, risotto, bisque or a salad. Some products ship fresh and some frozen. Refrigerate it as soon as it arrives, or freeze it for later.
From $89/lb Shop Lobster Meat →
How We Ship in December
We’ve been doing this since 1999, and winter shipping is mostly about not taking chances.
- Insulated boxes sized to hold temperature the whole trip.
- Frozen gel packs keep live lobsters cold, just above freezing. Never dry ice with live lobster. It kills them.
- Seaweed packing around live lobsters keeps them cool and damp.
- Express transit, usually about a day door to door.
- Free express delivery on many holiday packages.
One heads-up: if you put frozen items in the same box as live lobster, we use gel packs instead of dry ice for the whole box. Your frozen items may show up cold rather than rock solid. That’s normal, and they’re fine to cook or put right back in the freezer.
When the Box Arrives
Open it the same day.
- Check that it’s cold. The gel packs should still be frozen or very cold.
- Tails and meat: Into the fridge if you’re cooking in a day or two. Otherwise freeze at 0°F or colder for up to 6 months.
- Live lobsters: Leave them in the box, in the fridge. Never put them in fresh water, and never in the freezer. Cook within 24 to 48 hours.
- Something look wrong? Call us at 978.225.8828, message us on live chat, or email service@lobsteranywhere.com with your order number. Don’t wait until Christmas morning.
More help: live lobster storage guide · how to cook lobster
Round Out the Table
From the box: New England Clam Chowder (creamy and full of clams) and Lobster Bisque (rich and smooth).
From your kitchen:
- Drawn butter, or brown butter with lemon (see our best lobster sauces)
- Lemon wedges and parsley
- Garlic bread or a good sourdough
- A green salad or roasted vegetables
- Something cold and crisp: white wine, champagne or a good beer (see our wine and lobster pairing guide)
What Customers Say
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ John B., Van Nuys, CA
“They arrived on time and were still frozen here in Los Angeles. Grilled and absolutely delicious—my dad was thrilled on Christmas Eve.” Product: Tails Special
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mary T., Indianapolis, IN
“Ordered the Lobster Tails special for friends. Arrived as scheduled, thawed beautifully, and the cooking instructions were spot on.” Product: Lobster Tails Special
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Gayle S., Denver, CO
“Perfect Christmas gift—everybody loves them.” Product: Gift Delivery
Christmas Lobster FAQs
When should I order lobster for Christmas 2026?
Christmas is on a Friday this year. For frozen gifts like tails, surf & turf and seafood dinners, plan delivery by Tuesday, December 15. Frozen lobster keeps, so arriving early costs you nothing, and it keeps your gift out of the worst of the holiday shipping rush and winter storms.
Can I send live lobster for Christmas?
For Christmas, we recommend lobster tails instead. Live lobsters need to be cooked within a day or two of arriving, which means shipping them during the most delay-prone days of the year. Tails can arrive a week or more early, wait in the freezer, and still be the star of Christmas dinner. If your person has their heart set on live lobster, send a gift card and let them pick a date after the holidays.
What if the carrier is late?
It happens in December, usually because of storms at the big air hubs. Our boxes are packed to hold temperature well past normal transit time, but ordering early is your best protection. If a package is late, call us right away at 978.225.8828 or reach us on live chat.
How do I store lobster when it arrives?
Open the box right away and make sure it’s cold. Tails and lobster meat can go in the fridge if you’re cooking in a day or two, or in the freezer (0°F or colder) for up to 6 months. Live lobsters stay in the box in the fridge, never in water and never in the freezer, and get cooked within 24 to 48 hours. Our live lobster storage guide has the details.
I waited too long. Now what?
Send an email gift card. It arrives in minutes, and they choose what they want and when it shows up. From $50.
Live lobster or tails: which is the better gift?
Depends on the person and the timing. Live lobster is the full New England experience, but it has to be cooked within a day or two. Tails can sit in the freezer for months and are easier to cook. Around Christmas, tails or a gift card are the safer bet.
Do you ship to all 50 states?
Yes. Rural addresses can take a little longer, so order early if that’s where it’s going.
Can I pick the delivery date?
Yes. Choose any Tuesday through Saturday at checkout. Saturday delivery is an extra $25. For Christmas, we recommend arrival by Tuesday, December 15.
What if nobody is home when it arrives?
Most carriers leave it at the door. The box stays cold for hours, but someone should bring it inside and into the fridge or freezer the same day. Let the person know it’s coming. It is a gift, but it shouldn’t be a surprise to the doorstep.
Do you gift wrap or include a note?
Every box is topped with our vintage Maine paper, so it opens like a gift. Add a personal message at checkout and we’ll tuck it inside.