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A shipping policy describes how and when a business ships orders to its customers. A standard shipping policy covers shipping options and rates, shipping times, and processing times. We’ve included a shipping policy example below.
Having a policy on your website is especially important for ecommerce businesses. Letting online shoppers want to know when to expect their orders creates a positive customer experience.
Note: Our policy example is just a starting point, and not meant to be used as a shipping policy template or taken as legal advice.
What to include in a shipping policy
Depending on where your business operates, you may not be required to have a shipping policy. But having a clear policy helps to set customer expectations. Communicating and sticking to your shipping policy is part of building trust in your online store.
A shipping policy should include the following.
Order processing times: Tell customers how long it takes you to fulfill an order and how often you ship. It’s common to take 3-5 business days to process an order. List any cutoff times, like “Orders placed after 5 PM ET on Friday will be processed on Monday.”
Shipping methods: List the different shipping options or carriers you use and delivery times for each. Let customers know if you’ll share a tracking number for their order.
Shipping rates: List the rates for each shipping option. Mention if you offer free shipping only for certain shipping methods or if you have a minimum spend for free shipping.
Shipping restrictions: Call out any restrictions to your shipping process. Do you support international shipping? If so, are customers responsible for import duties on international orders? Can you ship to P.O. boxes?
Local pick-up options: If you have a brick-and-mortar location, mention whether you offer in-store pickup. Customers may prefer to pick up to avoid shipping charges.
Return policy summary: Give a summary of your return and refund policy and link to the full policy on your website.
For some of this shipping information, it can be easier to organize the details into a chart for customers. Make rows for each shipping method, then list shipping speed and fees for each.
Small business shipping policy example
Because it’s helpful to see how other businesses operate, we’re offering an example of a shipping policy for educational purposes. This example is not meant to be used as a shipping policy template or taken as legal advice.
“Please allow 3-5 business days for our team to process your order. Orders received after 5 PM ET will be processed on the next business day. We typically ship via USPS and do not ship on U.S. holidays.
Once processed, orders shipped within the U.S. typically arrive within 7 business days. International orders typically arrive within 14 business days.
If there’s a delay in your order, please check the tracking information provided in your order confirmation email. [BUSINESS] cannot be responsible for carrier or customs delays.
See below for our shipping methods and rates.
| Method | Delivery timeframe | Rates | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free shipping | 2-5 business days | Free on purchases over $75 | |
| Standard shipping | 2-5 business days | $8.95 | |
| Expedited shipping | 1-2 business days | $28.75 | |
| International | 6-10 business days | $30.35 + import fees |
Have a problem with your order? Check out our FAQ and full return policy. We offer refunds and exchanges within 60 days of your original order date.
Still have questions? Reach out on our contact page.”
Where to share your shipping policy
It’s important to make your shipping policy easy to find on the website for your ecommerce store. It’s best to have a standalone shipping policy page or a combined shipping and return policy page.
Link that policy page across your website, including in your website footer, FAQ page, and checkout page. Include a link to your shipping and return policies in order confirmation emails and any other email communication with customers.
Finally, adding a link to the page in your link-in-bio website can make it easy for your customers to find the page even from your social media profiles.
Benefits of having a shipping policy
A clear, easy-to-find shipping policy instills confidence in your potential customers. When customers feel like you’re being transparent about your shipping policies, they feel more comfortable buying from your store.
A detailed policy page also protects your time. A good policy that anticipates customer questions saves you time on customer support. With the time saved on answering order queries, you can focus on growing your sales.
Learn more about setting up shipping for your business
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