Etsy processing time and the “ship by” date: how Etsy counts the days
Etsy: Processing times begin the day after your item is purchased by a buyer.
Only the days in your order processing schedule count. The “ship by” date is the end of the longest processing time on the order, and one that lands on a Sunday moves to the next business day. Enter the order date below to get the date; nothing you type leaves your browser.
Holidays are not counted here. Etsy: Select which holidays you’ll process orders on (US and CA only).
The date uses the calendar; Etsy works it out in your shop’s time zone.
The estimated delivery date buyers see
Etsy shows buyers this formula: Processing time + Carrier transit time = Estimated Delivery Date
For example: If the processing time for an item you purchased is 3-5 days, and the transit time for the shipping method you chose is usually 2-4 days, your estimated delivery date is 5-9 days from today.
The range below uses it; Etsy’s own estimate also uses carrier data: Estimated delivery date ranges shown to buyers will be calculated using processing times from processing profiles, as well as shipping carrier times and historical data.
When a buyer can open a case from that date: the free case timeline. On-time shipping is one of the Star Seller targets: Star Seller checker.
What processing time is
Processing times and “ship by” dates help buyers know when you’ll ship items in your shop.
Processing time: How much time you need to get an order ready before handing off to a mail carrier.
If an order is custom, the processing time will include the amount of time it takes to create the custom item.
If an order is already made, it is the amount of time you need to package the item and bring it to the shipping service.
The processing time also affects when the buyer can open a case about an order and when they can leave a review.
Digital listings don’t have processing profiles.
If you edit a processing profile, all of the listings and variations associated with it will update as well.
Setting a processing time and a transit time is required when creating, editing, or duplicating a listing or shipping profile.
How Etsy sets the “ship by” date
The “ship by” date is the date that you commit to ship an order to the buyer.
This is the date at the end of the longest processing time for an order.
Processing times begin the day after your item is purchased by a buyer.
Processing times and “ship by” dates are determined by your order processing schedule, which can be set to include weekends and holidays.
- Etsy’s example:
A listing of yours is purchased by a buyer on Wednesday. It has a 5-day processing time and a processing schedule set to Monday - Friday, so the "ship by" date would be the following Wednesday.
If the same listing included Saturday and Sunday in your processing schedule, then it would have a "ship by" date of Monday instead.
If a “ship by” date falls on a day when post offices are usually closed - such as Sundays or postal holidays - we’ll move it to the next business day for you.
“Ship by” dates are calculated in your shop's time zone which can be set from your Shop options.
You'll need to mark your item as shipped by 11:59pm on the ship date.
If you don’t specify a processing time for an item, the buyer won’t see a "ship by" date during the checkout process.
Running late, shipping early
You can edit the "ship by" date once, before the original “ship by” date has passed, and it can be extended up to 21 days.
Confirm with the buyer that the new "ship by" date works for them before changing it.
On Etsy, a package which has arrived anywhere within the estimated date range, is considered to have arrived on time.
As long as you have shipped the order by the stated ship by date and have valid proof, you will not be held responsible for delays that occur in transit, caused by the carrier.
If the seller completes the order earlier than the expected ship date, the estimated delivery date will be recalculated accordingly.
Your actual processing time is based on your processing times over the past 120 days for orders that shipped, with a minimum of at least 5 orders shipped.
To make sure that the processing times are accurate, the ship date you set when completing your order should match the date you plan to hand off the order to the shipping carrier.
Consider extending your processing time range if you still feel that the estimated delivery date is too early.
Consider narrowing your processing time range if you rarely ship earlier than the date the order is due.
Etsy adjusts the transit times for shipping services shown in shipping profiles through carrier tracking data.
- For the buyer:
Non-delivery: 7+ days must have passed since the maximum estimated delivery date.
Shipping to US buyers from outside the US: Etsy’s DDP rule. Offering free shipping: Etsy free shipping.
Sources: Etsy Help Center articles “How to Set Processing Times, Processing Profiles and “Ship By” Dates” (edited 29 September 2025), “How to Set Up Estimated Delivery Dates” (edited 29 September 2025), “What is an Estimated Delivery Date?” (edited 1 July 2026), read on 22 October 2026. Quotes are copied word for word; the help center can change after that date.
Common questions
When does Etsy processing time start?
The day after the order. Etsy: “Processing times begin the day after your item is purchased by a buyer.” Only the days in your order processing schedule count; weekends count only if you add them.
What is the ship by date on Etsy?
Etsy: “The “ship by” date is the date that you commit to ship an order to the buyer.” “This is the date at the end of the longest processing time for an order.” You mark the order shipped by the end of that day in your shop’s time zone.
What happens if my Etsy ship by date falls on a Sunday?
Etsy moves it. Etsy: “If a “ship by” date falls on a day when post offices are usually closed - such as Sundays or postal holidays - we’ll move it to the next business day for you.”
Can I change the ship by date on an Etsy order?
Once, before the original date passes, by up to 21 days, and Etsy asks you to confirm with the buyer first. Use Shop Manager → Orders, the … menu on the order, then Update ship by date.
How does Etsy calculate the estimated delivery date?
Etsy: “Estimated delivery date ranges shown to buyers will be calculated using processing times from processing profiles, as well as shipping carrier times and historical data.” Etsy shows buyers the formula processing time plus carrier transit time: “For example: If the processing time for an item you purchased is 3-5 days, and the transit time for the shipping method you chose is usually 2-4 days, your estimated delivery date is 5-9 days from today.”
Am I responsible if the carrier is late?
Not if you shipped on time with proof. Etsy: “As long as you have shipped the order by the stated ship by date and have valid proof, you will not be held responsible for delays that occur in transit, caused by the carrier.” “On Etsy, a package which has arrived anywhere within the estimated date range, is considered to have arrived on time.”
Do you store the dates I enter?
No. The dates are worked out in your browser and never leave it. We count anonymously that the page was used and which processing schedule was chosen.
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