"When will it arrive?" and "How much is shipping?" are among the first questions a shopper has, and unclear answers lead to abandoned carts, support tickets and chargebacks. A shipping policy also supports your Google Shopping presence. Merchant Center uses the shipping costs and delivery times you configure, and Google's guidance says the handling and transit times on your website should match those settings. Google's misrepresentation policy also flags hidden costs and concealed processing times, so a transparent policy reduces risk.
Free tool · Store policies
Shipping Policy Generator
Turn your shipping setup into a clear, ready-to-publish shipping policy that answers customers' questions before they ask.
- 100% free
- No sign-up
- Runs in your browser
One option per line.
Your shipping policy
Fill in: Store name, Support email, Ships from
Shipping Policy
Order processing
Orders are processed within 1–2 business days (excluding weekends and holidays) and ship from [ship-from location]. You'll receive a confirmation email when your order ships.
Shipping options and delivery times
We ship with USPS, UPS and FedEx. Estimated delivery times after your order ships: Standard: 3–7 business days Expedited: 2–3 business days Delivery times are estimates and can be affected by carrier delays, weather or peak seasons.
Shipping costs
Calculated at checkout based on weight and destination. Orders over $75 ship free within the domestic area. You'll always see the final shipping cost before you pay.
International shipping
We ship to: Canada, United Kingdom, Australia. International delivery times vary by destination and customs processing. Duties, taxes and import fees are set by the destination country, aren't included in our prices, and are the customer's responsibility unless stated otherwise at checkout.
Order tracking
Once your order ships, we'll email you a tracking number so you can follow your package.
Lost, late or damaged packages
If your tracking hasn't updated in several days or your package arrives damaged, contact us at [support email] and we'll work with the carrier to resolve it. Please double-check your shipping address at checkout; [Store name] isn't responsible for orders shipped to an incorrect address provided by the customer.
Contact us
Questions about shipping? Email [support email].
This is a template, not legal advice. Make sure it matches how your store actually works and the laws where you sell.
How do I write a shipping policy for my online store?
When to use the shipping policy generator
Best for
- New stores applying to Merchant Center
- Clarifying delivery times and costs
- Updating terms for holiday delays
Not the right pick for
- Legal advice — check the laws where you sell
- Returns and refunds — use the return policy generator
How it works
- 1
Enter processing time
Add business days and any order cut-off time.
- 2
Add carriers and regions
List services and where you do and do not ship.
- 3
Set costs and estimates
Add rates, free shipping threshold and transit times.
- 4
Publish it
Copy the policy to its own page and match Merchant Center.
How to use the generator
- Processing time: how many business days you need to prepare an order before it ships, and your order cut-off time if you have one.
- Carriers: the carriers and services you use.
- Regions: where you ship, and anywhere you do not.
- Costs: flat rates, rates by weight or order value, and your free shipping threshold.
- Delivery estimates: transit times for each shipping option.
- International: whether you ship abroad and who pays duties and taxes.
- Tracking: how and when customers receive tracking details.
- Contact: where customers can reach you about an order.
- Copy or download the finished policy and publish it on its own page.
What the generated policy covers
The output is organized into sections: processing time, shipping methods and costs, free shipping, delivery estimates, international shipping, duties and taxes, order tracking, lost or damaged packages, address changes, and contact details. It uses your answers throughout, so it reads like your store's policy rather than a generic template.
Processing time vs transit time
These are the two parts of every delivery estimate, and Merchant Center treats them separately:
- Handling (processing) time is the number of business days from order placement until the carrier picks up the package.
- Transit time is the number of business days from pickup until delivery.
Google calculates delivery estimates using the maximum handling time plus the maximum transit time. If your policy says one to two business days of processing and three to five days in transit, enter those same ranges in Merchant Center. If you have an order cut-off time, state it in both places, because orders after the cut-off start processing the next business day.
Choices worth thinking through
Free shipping threshold
A threshold just above your average order value encourages customers to add another item. Test the effect on margin before committing; the profit margin calculator helps.
International orders
Spell out whether prices include duties and import taxes, or whether the customer pays them on delivery. Surprise charges at the door are a major source of refused packages and complaints.
Lost, stolen or damaged packages
Say who to contact, how quickly, and what you need, such as photos of damage. Clear steps resolve issues faster.
Common mistakes
- Promising speeds you cannot meet, especially during holiday peaks. Update your policy and Merchant Center when processing times change.
- Business days vs calendar days confusion. Say which you mean.
- Mismatched information between the policy page, product pages, checkout and Merchant Center.
- Hiding costs until the last checkout step. Google lists hidden fees and surcharges as misrepresentation.
- Forgetting regions you do not serve, such as PO boxes or remote territories.
Tips
- Show estimated delivery dates on product pages and at checkout, using the same numbers as your policy.
- Link the policy in your footer and from your FAQ.
- Pair it with a matching return policy from the return policy generator.
- Check your overall readiness for Merchant Center with the misrepresentation checklist.
Important: The generated policy is a template, not legal advice. Review it so it matches how you actually ship, and check it against the laws and consumer protection rules that apply in the places you sell to.
Free tool vs having us fix your feed
| Free tool (do it yourself) | Mercantads does it for you | |
|---|---|---|
| Find problems | Run free checks on each feed export | Ongoing feed monitoring and fixes |
| Fix disapprovals | Edit products one by one | Feed rules and supplemental feeds fix them in bulk |
| Suspensions | Research policies and request reviews yourself | We audit your store and handle the review |
| Results | Approved products | Approved products in campaigns built to sell |
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
At minimum: processing time, shipping methods and costs, delivery estimates, where you ship, international terms including duties, tracking information and how to contact you about an order.
Yes. Google advises keeping handling and transit times on your site consistent with your Merchant Center shipping settings, and shipping costs shown to shoppers should match what they pay at checkout.
Business days are standard for processing and transit times and match how Merchant Center counts them. Whichever you use, state it clearly.
Update your policy with temporary processing times and carrier cut-off dates, show a notice on your site, and adjust your Merchant Center handling time for the same period.
More free tools
All tools →Return policy generatorA return and refund policy that covers Merchant Center's requirements.Merchant Center feed checkerUpload your product feed and find errors before Google does.GTIN / UPC checkerValidate UPC, EAN and GTIN check digits in bulk.Product title builderBuild Google Shopping titles in the recommended order.Product image checkerCheck image size and format against Shopping requirements.Misrepresentation checklistScore your store on the trust signals Google checks.
Shipping Policy Generator
Turn your shipping setup into a clear, ready-to-publish shipping policy that answers customers' questions before they ask.