Do You Have to Pre-Order HoneyBaked Ham?

HoneyBaked Ham is a beloved holiday staple for many families across the United States. Known for their signature spiral-sliced, slow-roasted ham glazed with a sweet and savory blend of honey, spices, and other natural flavors, HoneyBaked Ham delivers a convenient, delicious centerpiece to holiday meals and gatherings.

With the holidays approaching, you may be wondering – do you need to pre-order a HoneyBaked Ham or can you just walk in and buy one? Here’s what you need to know about securing your HoneyBaked Ham for the holidays this year.

When to Order Your HoneyBaked Ham

HoneyBaked Ham recommends placing your holiday ham order at least 3-4 days in advance whenever possible. As the holidays draw nearer, especially in the final 1-2 weeks before Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s Eve, their stores tend to see a major uptick in customers

Placing your order well in advance ensures you secure your preferred ham size, quantity and pickup date ahead of the last-minute holiday rush. While you can technically walk in and purchase a ham without pre-ordering at most locations availability cannot be guaranteed on specific ham sizes or quantities closer to the holidays.

HoneyBaked Ham typically begins taking pre-orders for holiday hams 6-8 weeks in advance of Christmas and other December holidays. So if you want to ensure you get the exact ham you want, you have a sizeable pre-order window.

Some key benefits of pre-ordering your holiday HoneyBaked Ham include:

• Guaranteed Availability: Pre-ordering ensures you get the specific ham size and quantity you need for your holiday meal. Walk-in availability cannot be guaranteed.

• Lock In Your Pickup/Delivery Date: Secure your ideal ham pickup or delivery date by pre-ordering. This prevents any last minute scrambling or sold out days.

• Avoid Long Lines: Pick up your pre-ordered ham from the designated pre-order line to skip the regular line during busy holiday weeks.

• First Access to New Products: Pre-order customers get early access to new seasonal hams and specials.

So while you don’t have to pre-order a HoneyBaked Ham for the holidays, it is strongly recommended to ensure ideal availability, convenience, and customer experience.

How Far in Advance You Can Order

HoneyBaked Ham allows you to place holiday ham pre-orders very early. As mentioned above, most locations start accepting pre-orders 6-8 weeks prior to Christmas and other December holidays.

On their website, HoneyBaked Ham notes you can order hams online up to 20 days in advance. So if you are ordering online for shipment or store pickup, you have a 20 day pre-order window.

In-store pre-order policies can vary slightly by location, but most stores accept pre-orders 1-2 months in advance at minimum. Checking with your local HoneyBaked Ham is the best way to confirm their specific pre-order window acceptance.

The key is to order as early as you comfortably can, while still reasonably predicting your ideal ham size and quantity. Placing your order at least 2-4 weeks out is a good general guideline.

Pre-Ordering In-Store vs. Online

You can pre-order your HoneyBaked Ham either in-store at a local HoneyBaked Ham location or online through their website. Both options allow you ample time to secure your holiday ham well in advance.

Here are some pros and cons to weigh for in-store vs. online pre-orders:

In-Store Pre-Orders

• Consult with staff in person on sizing, delivery/pickup, and other details
• Pay in full at time of order
• Limited to store hours for placing order

Online Pre-Orders

• Order anytime from anywhere online
• Wider 20-day advance order window
• Pay online or at pickup time

Many customers opt to pre-order online to secure their order at any time from the convenience of home. However, if you prefer ordering in person or want to pay in full upfront, stopping by your local HoneyBaked Ham to pre-order works great as well.

Either way, make sure to get your order placed 1-4 weeks in advance to avoid the holiday rush.

Pickup and Delivery Options

Once you pre-order your HoneyBaked Ham, there are a couple options for actually getting it in time for the holidays:

In-Store Pickup

• Preferred by most customers
• Grab ham from designated pre-order pickup area
• Skip regular checkout lines
• Most locations offer pickup

Local Delivery

• Limited delivery zones and dates
• Fees apply based on location
• Tip recommended for drivers
• Requires being home to accept order

Nationwide Shipping

• Order online for delivery across U.S.
• Arrives fresh or freezer-packed
• Shipping fees apply
• Takes 5-10+ days for delivery

For ultimate convenience and best flavor, in-store pickup tends to be the preferred route for most pre-order customers. But local delivery or nationwide shipping lets you secure your ham from anywhere.

Be sure to choose your delivery method during checkout or when pre-ordering in-store. Also confirm date and location details to ensure someone is home if needed.

Ham Sizes and Pricing

HoneyBaked Ham offers a variety of bone-in and boneless ham sizes to accommodate gatherings of all sizes. Their full ham line-up includes:

Bone-In Hams

• Petite (serves 8-10)
• Classic (serves 12-16)
• Grand Classic (serves 20-24)

Boneless Hams

• Quarter (serves 8-10)
• Half (serves 16-20)
• Whole (serves 30-40)

Pricing varies by size, typically ranging from around $50-$150 before taxes. Order early to secure your desired size before holiday supplies run low.

When pre-ordering, think about how many guests you plan to serve and order accordingly. Err on the larger size if unsure to ensure plenty of leftovers!

Do You Need to Pre-Order?

At the end of the day, while highly recommended, pre-ordering your HoneyBaked Ham is not required. If you forget or need an extra ham at the last minute, you can walk into any local HoneyBaked Ham and attempt to purchase one.

Just keep in mind that availability, selection, lines, and parking will likely be challenging in the final days before Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years based on customer demand.

So for the optimal experience, your best bet is to pre-order your holiday ham 1-4 weeks in advance. This ensures you get the ideal ham for your gathering without the hassle. But walk-ins are still welcomed if needed!

The holidays go by in a flash. Avoid last minute ham headaches by pre-ordering from your local HoneyBaked Ham or online today. Then relax knowing your spiral-sliced centerpiece is handled!