Shipping policy examples, in short: a good policy states processing time in business days, each shipping option with cost and delivery estimate, any free shipping threshold, where you ship, who pays customs duties, and what happens to lost or damaged parcels. Below are 8 sample policies by business type, from made-to-order Etsy shops to perishable food.
More on this topic: Selling online, every guide in one place.
Copy the one closest to your shop, change the numbers to what you can actually deliver, or answer a few questions in our free shipping policy generator and get a draft with a rates table. If you're starting from scratch, our guide to how to write a shipping policy walks through each section; this page is the example library. It's general information, not legal advice.
- Every example has the same core: processing time, options and costs, delivery estimates, coverage, and lost or damaged parcels.
- What changes by business type: made-to-order time, print partner time, long transit, pickup windows, duties, ship dates and spoilage rules.
- US rule of thumb: the FTC expects you to ship within the time you state, or within 30 days if you state none, and to offer a delay-or-cancel choice when you can't.
- Say business days and name the days you don't ship.
- Keep marketplace settings in sync with the written policy, since checkout dates come from those settings.
What should every shipping policy example include?
Every example below answers six questions: how long until it ships, how it ships and what it costs, how long delivery takes, where you ship, who pays any duties, and what you do if the parcel is lost or damaged.
The business type decides what you stress. A made-to-order shop leads with production time; a perishable food seller leads with ship days; an international seller leads with duties. Here's how the 8 examples compare before you read them.
| Business type | Must state clearly | Common pitfall |
|---|---|---|
| Handmade / made to order | Production time separate from shipping | Quoting in-stock times for made-to-order items |
| Print-on-demand | Partner production time plus a buffer | Promising your own 1–2 day dispatch |
| Long transit (overseas supplier) | Honest delivery range in business days | Hiding a 2–3 week transit behind “fast shipping” |
| Small store with free-shipping threshold | Threshold, which option qualifies, where | Threshold that applies abroad by accident |
| Local delivery and pickup | Area, days, time windows, pickup ID | No rule for missed pickups |
| International seller | Countries, duties and taxes, transit range | Surprise fees on delivery |
| Preorders | Expected ship date range, separate shipping | Combining preorder and in-stock items in one parcel |
| Perishable food | Ship days, packaging, address accuracy | Parcels sitting in a depot over the weekend |
Shipping policy example for a handmade, made-to-order Etsy shop
Lead with production time, because that's the part buyers underestimate.
“Every piece is made to order. Please allow 5–7 business days for us to make your item, then 2–5 business days for delivery by USPS Ground Advantage. Personalized items need 2 extra business days. We work Monday to Friday and don't ship on US federal holidays. You'll get a tracking number by email when your order ships. If your parcel arrives damaged, send us a photo within 7 days of delivery and we'll remake or refund it.”
On Etsy, put the same production time in the listing's shipping profile, since that drives the estimated delivery date buyers see. For fragile work such as ceramics or glass, our guide to shipping fragile items covers box-in-box packing so the damaged-parcel promise doesn't cost you.
Shipping policy example for print-on-demand
Use your print partner's production time plus a buffer, and say that items may arrive separately.
“Each item is printed when you order it. Production takes 2–7 business days, then delivery takes 3–8 business days in the US. If you order several items, they may be printed in different facilities and arrive in separate packages. Tracking is emailed for each package. Misprints or items damaged in transit are replaced free if you contact us within 30 days of delivery with a photo.”
Shipping policy example for long transit times
If products ship from an overseas supplier, give the full range honestly; vague promises create support emails and chargebacks.
“Orders are processed in 1–3 business days and ship from our partner warehouse overseas. Delivery to the US usually takes 10–20 business days. Every order is tracked, but tracking may not update while the parcel is in transit between countries. If your order hasn't arrived 30 business days after shipping, contact us and we'll reship it or refund you.”
Shipping policy example with a free shipping threshold
State the threshold, which option it covers, and where it applies.
“Orders ship within 1–2 business days. Free standard shipping on US orders of $50 or more (before tax, after discounts). Under $50, standard shipping is $5.95 (3–5 business days); express is $14.95 (1–2 business days). Free shipping doesn't apply to express, Alaska, Hawaii, PO boxes or international orders.”
Set the threshold from your real costs, not a round number you like. Light but bulky products are often billed on size, so run your box sizes through the dimensional weight calculator first.
Shipping policy example for local delivery and pickup
Define the delivery area and the time windows, and say what happens if nobody is home or a pickup is missed.
“Local delivery is available within 10 miles of our studio for $8 (free over $60), on Tuesdays and Fridays between 12 pm and 6 pm. Order by 8 pm the day before. If nobody is home, we leave your order in a safe place and send a photo. Free pickup is available Monday to Saturday, 10 am–4 pm; we'll email you when it's ready. Bring your order number. Orders not collected within 14 days are refunded minus a 10% restocking fee.”
Listing photos set expectations before the parcel does. Turn your own product shots into clean white-background and lifestyle images, with the product left exactly as shot.
Make listing photos7 days free · 50 credits · No credit cardShipping policy example for an international seller
List countries or regions, delivery ranges, and say plainly who pays duties and import taxes.
“We ship to the US, Canada, the UK, the EU and Australia. Orders ship within 2 business days. Delivery takes 5–8 business days to Canada and 7–14 business days elsewhere. Prices don't include customs duties, import taxes or brokerage fees; these are charged by your country and paid by you on delivery. Refused parcels are refunded minus the original and return shipping. We can't ship candles, perfume or batteries outside the US.”
If your checkout collects duties up front, say “duties and taxes are included at checkout” instead. Either way, check carrier restrictions for your product type before you list a country.
Shipping policy example for preorders
Give a ship-date range, say how mixed orders are handled, and promise to email if the date moves.
“Preorder items are expected to ship between November 15 and 22, 2026, and are marked ‘Preorder’ on the product page. If your order includes in-stock items, we ship everything together when the preorder arrives unless you place separate orders. If the date changes, we'll email you with the new date and you can wait or cancel for a full refund.”
That last sentence isn't just good manners in the US. The FTC's Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule says you must ship within the time you state, or within 30 days if you state none. If you can't, you must tell the buyer before the deadline and offer the choice to accept the delay or cancel for a full refund. If they cancel, the refund is due within seven working days for most payment methods, or within one billing cycle for store credit accounts.
The FTC Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule details were checked in October 2026. Marketplaces change their rules, so confirm the current requirements in your seller dashboard before you upload a large batch.
Shipping policy example for perishable food
Name your ship days, the packaging, and the buyer's part: a correct address and someone to receive it.
“Perishable orders ship Monday to Wednesday by 2-day service only, so they never sit in a depot over the weekend. Orders placed Thursday to Sunday ship the following Monday. Each box is packed with insulation and ice packs. Please check your address carefully and bring the box inside on the day it arrives. We can't replace orders delayed by an incorrect address or left outside for more than a day, but if your order arrives spoiled, send a photo within 24 hours and we'll replace it.”
Food rules vary by state and country, and some items can't be mailed at all, so check your carrier's and your local food authority's rules before you publish this one.
How do I turn an example into my own policy?
- Change every number to what you can do on a bad week, not a good one.
- Combine examples if you run two models, such as in-stock items plus made-to-order, with a heading for each.
- Match your settings in Etsy shipping profiles or Shopify shipping rates, since checkout delivery dates come from there.
- Print a short version on your packing slip; what is a packing slip explains what else goes on it.
- Pair it with your returns page. See our return policy examples for matching wording.
- Date it and review it each November before holiday cutoffs.
Frequently asked questions
What is a good example of a shipping policy?
One that states processing time in business days, each shipping option with its cost and delivery estimate, any free shipping threshold, where you ship, who pays duties, and what you do about lost or damaged parcels. The examples above show this for 8 business types.
How do I write a simple shipping policy?
Start with “Orders ship within X business days,” list your options and costs in a short table, then add coverage, duties and a lost-or-damaged line. A free shipping policy generator builds this from your answers.
What should a shipping policy say for handmade items?
Separate production time from shipping time, add extra days for personalized items, and say which days you work. Put the same production time in your marketplace shipping profile.
Do I need a shipping policy for my small business?
Marketplaces and most store platforms expect one, and in the US the FTC rule means any shipping time you state has to be one you can meet. A short written policy protects you and answers buyer questions.
What happens if I can't ship within my stated time?
In the US, tell the buyer before the deadline, give a new date and offer the choice to accept the delay or cancel for a full refund, under the FTC Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule.
Should a shipping policy mention customs duties?
Yes, if you ship abroad. Say whether duties and import taxes are paid by the buyer on delivery or included at checkout; surprise fees are a common reason parcels are refused.
Is there a free shipping policy template?
Yes. AiArter's shipping policy generator writes a plain-English draft with a rates table in your browser, with no sign-up, and you can copy it as text, Markdown or HTML.
AiArter turns your product photos into accurate white-background, lifestyle and channel-sized images, so what arrives looks like what buyers saw.
Start free trialShipping policy generator7 days free · 50 credits · No credit card. Trial images carry a small “Made with aiarter” mark; paid plans export clean files you can use commercially.
