The pre-launch phase of a Shopify store involves several policies you absolutely need to explain to your customers: refund, return, privacy, and, of course, shipping policies.
Your store’s shipping policy will be one of the first things customers check before they trust you with their money. Below you’ll find a ready-to-use Shopify shipping policy template you can copy, paste, and customize in a few minutes, along with a quick guide on what to include and where to publish it.
Copy-Paste Shopify Shipping Policy Template
Shipping Policy
This policy explains how [Store Name] processes and ships your orders.
Order Processing Time
All orders are processed within [X]–[X] business days (excluding weekends and holidays). You’ll receive a confirmation email once your order has been processed.
Shipping Methods and Costs
Delete any rows that don’t apply to your store.
Estimated Delivery Times
Delivery times below are in addition to processing time and begin once your order has shipped. Domestic orders typically arrive within [X]–[X] business days after processing.
International Shipping
We currently ship to [list countries/regions]. International orders may be subject to customs fees, import duties, or taxes, which are the customer’s responsibility and are not included in the order total. (Delete this section if you only ship domestically.)
Order Tracking
You’ll receive a tracking number by email once your order ships, so you can follow its progress to your door.
Shipping Restrictions
We’re currently unable to ship to [excluded regions/PO boxes/APO addresses, if applicable]. (Delete this section if it doesn’t apply to you.)
Lost, Delayed, or Damaged Packages
If your order arrives damaged, is significantly delayed, or does not arrive, contact us at [support email] within [X] days of the estimated delivery date. For more on refunds and replacements, see our Refund Policy.
Contact Us
Questions about your shipment? Reach out to us at [support email] or through [contact page link].
What to Include in a Shopify Shipping Policy
You’ll already get the idea from the points we included in the template above, but let’s go through each one and what it refers to:
- Order processing time: how long before an order ships, If you’re dropshipping, give yourself a slightly wider range than a store holding its own inventory, since supplier processing adds an extra step.
- Shipping methods and costs: list every method you actually offer, including the cost and estimated delivery time; drop any row (such as expedited shipping) you don’t provide. It goes without saying that you shouldn’t promise timelines you can’t actually meet.
- Estimated delivery times: keep this separate from processing time. Customers frequently confuse the two, so make it clear that the delivery time starts after the order has shipped.
- International shipping: state clearly whether you ship internationally and who covers customs fees and import duties. Skip this section entirely if you only sell domestically.
- Order tracking: a short line on when and how customers get their tracking number.
- Shipping restrictions: any regions, PO boxes, or APO addresses you can’t ship to. Delete if it doesn’t apply.
- Lost, delayed, or damaged packages: tell customers what to do and by when. Keep it brief and link to your refund policy instead of repeating refund mechanics here.
- Contact information: a support email or contact form for shipping questions.
How to Add Your Shipping Policy in Shopify
- From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Legal.
- Scroll to the Shipping policy section and paste in your customized template (or click Create from template to start from Shopify’s default and edit it from there).
- Click Save, and this automatically links the policy from your checkout page.
- Add the policy link to your store’s footer and main menu too: go to Content > Menus, open the menu you want to update, and add a menu item linking to your Shipping Policy.
You can also publish it as a standalone page under Online Store > Pages for more control over its layout.
Customizing the Template for Your Store
To get your shipping policy ready for your customers, copy and paste the template above, then keep the following actions in mind (some may sound obvious, but let’s go through them anyway):
- Fill in every bracketed placeholder with your store’s real numbers before publishing. A template only works once the brackets are gone; double-check that no [X] or [Store Name] slipped through, since a half-filled policy looks unfinished and can actually hurt customer trust more than having no policy at all.
- Widen your processing time range to account for supplier fulfillment. Your supplier’s handling time is added on top of your own, so a range that works for a store holding its own inventory (like 1–2 business days) usually needs to stretch further (3–5 business days, or more, depending on your supplier) once you factor it in. This is the same logic you should already be applying to the delivery windows in your refund and return policies, since supplier speed affects all three.
- Delete any section that doesn’t apply to your business. For example, remove the international shipping clause if you’re domestic-only, or the expedited shipping row if standard is your only option. A shorter, accurate policy builds more trust than a longer one padded with irrelevant options.
- Adjust the wording to match multiple shipping methods or carriers, if you use more than one. If you ship via different carriers depending on the destination or product type, mention that explicitly so customers aren’t confused when tracking numbers come from different services.
- Keep the customs/duties clause even if most of your orders are domestic. If there’s any chance an international order slips through, even occasionally, leaving this clause in is low-effort insurance against one of the most common shipping-related support complaints: a customer blindsided by import fees they didn’t expect. Only remove it if you’ve explicitly blocked international checkout altogether.
- Revisit the template periodically, not just at launch. If your processing times, carriers, or international shipping availability change, update the policy right away; an outdated shipping policy is one of the most common sources of customer disputes.
- Once you’re done, review your return and privacy policies as well, since these three are usually published together before launch and customers often check all three in the same session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a shipping policy before launching my store?
Yes, it sets clear expectations with customers and reduces support tickets and disputes over delayed or missing orders.
Is this template legally binding as-is?
It’s a starting point, not legal advice. Have it reviewed before you publish it, especially if you ship internationally.
Where should I link my shipping policy?
Most stores link it in the footer and again at checkout, so customers can check it before they buy.
What should a shipping policy include?
At minimum: order processing time, shipping methods and costs, estimated delivery times, international shipping terms, order tracking, shipping restrictions, and what happens if a package is lost, delayed, or damaged.
How specific do shipping times need to be?
Specific enough that customers know what to expect, but realistic enough that you can actually meet them. Use ranges rather than exact dates (e.g., “3-5 business days” instead of “will arrive Thursday”), and keep processing time separate from delivery time so customers don’t confuse the two.
Conclusion
A clear shipping policy builds trust before a customer ever places an order.
Copy the template above, fill in your store’s specifics, publish it in your Shopify settings, and pair it with your refund, return, and privacy policies to have your policy pages fully covered before launch.
And remember, if you don’t have your Shopify store yet, you can build one quickly and efficiently with BuildYourStore! Just choose your niche and preferences, and get a ready-made virtual storefront with products already set up and ready to sell.
Need help getting your dropshipping business off the ground? These articles cover some useful topics to explore next:
