How to Display Estimated Delivery Date on Shopify?

A Shopify estimated delivery date can be displayed on your store using a third-party app or custom code. With this simple detail, you can avoid one common reason for abandoned carts: unclear shipping information.

We have helped Shopify ecommerce brands to provide accurate delivery dates to their clients for years, and we’ve seen how effective it is in improving their conversion rate.

Today, we want to share with you how to set up EDD on your store, calculate delivery timeframes accurately, and show some best practices that you can apply to improve your sales. 

Why Showing the Estimated Delivery Date Increases Customer Satisfaction

Estimated delivery dates (EDD) can increase customer satisfaction because they help you build trust on the pre-purchase stage. Your customers will be more confident to check out if they have a clear idea of when their order will arrive. And that removes the "hesitation" that most online shoppers feel during the final moments... before they proceed with the purchase.

EDD also lowers cart abandonment rates, cuts down on support tickets, plus improves your repeat purchase rate. Let me discuss these benefits better.

Building Immediate Customer Trust with Estimated Delivery Dates

MeteorSpace mentioned that 83% of customers want to get an accurate estimated delivery date for their orders. If you can provide that, you could remove the anxiety from not knowing when to expect their package and allow them to trust your business enough to complete the purchase.

Imagine your customer sees "arrives 5-7 business days." They'll need to calculate the exact date (and not everyone has the time to do so). They might also think that your shipping times are inconsistent or that you're hiding something about your delivery speed.

But showing "Delivers Jan 10-12" gives them a specific window. Being upfront about the timeline works better than making your customers guess.

Lowering Cart Abandonment Rates and Boosting Conversions

Another great reason to show EDD is that it removes friction during checkout. When your customers can see when they're getting their order, there's no back-and-forth clicking to your shipping policy page or hunting through FAQs to figure out delivery times.

Most shoppers would rather buy from a store that shows "Delivers Jan 10-12" than gamble on a competitor offering free shipping with no delivery date (even if it saves them a few dollars). That certainty matters more than you'd think. Putting the delivery date right next to your "Add to Cart" button answers their question before they start looking elsewhere.

Reducing Customer Support Load and Ticket Volume

Do you know how much of your support team's tickets is just WISMO ("where is my order?") questions? About 30-40%. And one common cause is unclear delivery estimates.

With visible EDD on your product page, they know what to expect from the start. You can also pair it with automated shipping notifications to update your customers at each stage... and reduce the ticket volume more.

Improving Customer Lifetime Value and Repeat Purchases

Time for our favorite benefit of EDD: repeat sales. If you provide a reliable estimated delivery time (and your customers actually receive their order within that window), you'll probably earn future purchases from the same people.

You can get more sales from loyal customers and word-of-mouth recommendations. No need to spend so much $$$ for ads.

Some post-purchase platforms like ParcelPanel offer two types of EDD displays: pre-purchase EDD and post-purchase EDD.

• Pre-purchase EDD appears right on your product page (below the "Add to Cart" button and price), so your online buyers know the delivery window even before buying the item.
• Post-purchase EDD shows up on your branded tracking page and in shipping notification emails. That gives customers a delivery date range after they place their order.

They are both powerful features: Pre-purchase EDD encourages more visitors to buy, while post-purchase EDD lowers your support tickets brought by WISMO questions.

Okay. We're now done with the "why," and it's time to learn the "how." That's what we'll discuss next.

The Core Logic: How Estimated Delivery Dates Are Calculated

You can calculate estimated delivery dates more accurately if you consider these three "timeframes:" processing time, shipping time, and cut-off time.

Setting Up Processing Time Logic 

Processing time is the number of days it takes for your team to prepare the order and give it to the carrier. You have to track your actual fulfillment speed over two weeks to get an accurate average. Check when orders come in, then note when they actually leave your warehouse. It's usually around 1 to 3 business days... but it still depends.

Once you have that number, you'll need to define it in your EDD code as a fixed value (we'll show how this works later). Always remember to count business days only and exclude weekends and holidays, because your warehouse isn't operating on those days anyway.

Combining Shipping Times and Processing Time 

Next, you have to add your processing days to today's date to get the shipping date. If it's January 5 today and you usually process orders in two days, your shipping date is January 7. You then add the carrier's transit time to get your estimated delivery date.

Unlike the processing time (which you or the warehouse can control), shipping time gets affected by two things: your shipping carrier and the location.

For domestic deliveries within the US, it usually takes 3-7 business days for most carriers. But it will take longer if we're talking about international shipping. USPS mentioned that its International Priority Mail Express usually takes 6-10 business days.

PRO-TIP: Show an estimated range instead of a single date. It's safer because it gives your partner carrier some "leeway" for delivery exceptions like custom checks... or delays due to the weather.

Defining the Cut-Off Time for the Same-Day Shipping Date 

Many customers would love to choose same-day shipping for their orders, and that can benefit you by getting products out faster and making them happy. But you have to be clear and create a fixed cut-off time. If you don't, you might deal with customers placing an order at 10:00 PM... and expect delivery before midnight. Well, that works if you're personally delivering packages in those hours (which we hope you're not).

We suggest that you set a reasonable "deadline" for same-day shipping (like 1 or 2 PM). If an order comes in before that time, then it ships today. After 2 PM, orders will be delivered the next day.

It's super important to communicate this to your customers. So, besides putting it on the checkout page, mention it on the confirmation page and in your shipping policy.

How to Show Estimated Delivery Dates on Shopify: Apps vs. Custom Code 

There are two ways to add EDD (estimated delivery date) to your Shopify store, and that's through a third-party app or custom code.

#1 Using a Shopify Estimated Delivery Date App

Using a Shopify app is a better way to add EDD to your store because it's easier to set up, and you don't have to write any code. Here's what you can do:

Finding and Installing an App

• Go to the Shopify App Store.
• Type "estimated delivery dates" or "order tracking" to find the relevant apps more easily. We suggest you go for the highly rated apps on the list.
• If you opt for "order tracking apps," make sure to double-check the description to see if they offer EDD, but most of the top ones (like ParcelPanel) do.

Setting Up the EDD Feature

Next, it's time to set it up. We'll use ParcelPanel for this example just to show you clearly how to get started:

• Click "Install" and sign in to your Shopify admin (or store).
• Under the "Apps," select "ParcelPanel." From here, you can either do both or choose one:
  • Click "Settings" to activate the Pre-purchase EDD. In this dashboard, you can add and customize the EDD widget, set a cut-off time, add processing time, exclude non-business days, and so much more.
  • Select "Tracking page" and modify Post-purchase EDD. ParcelPanel gives you more ways to make it accurate, like choosing between two calculation methods: order-created time or order-fulfilled time.

That's it! If you want to make some adjustments, you can simply go back to the settings and edit whenever you want.

#2 Adding Estimated Delivery Manually with Custom Code

Another way you can add EDD to your Shopify store is through custom code. We recommend this if you’re still new, have a few orders, and want to avoid monthly app fees for now.

So, how can you add EDD manually? Here's a step-by-step guide you can follow.

• Go to "Online Store" and click "Themes" in your Shopify admin.
• Click "Customize" on your current theme.

• From the theme editor dropdown at the top, select "Products" and then "Create template" (or use your custom product template if you have one).

• Under "Related products" (on the left sidebar), click "Add section" and select "Custom liquid."

• You can then copy and paste the code below into the Custom liquid input box:

<div style="background:#f8f9fa;padding:12px;border-radius:6px;margin:16px 0;">
  <strong>Estimated Delivery: <span id="delivery-date">Loading...</span></strong>
</div>
<script>
(function() {
  const today = new Date();
  const from = new Date(today); from.setDate(today.getDate() + 5);
  const to = new Date(today); to.setDate(today.getDate() + 10);
  // Skip weekends - move to next business day
  [from, to].forEach(date => {
    if (date.getDay() === 0) date.setDate(date.getDate() + 1); // Sunday
    if (date.getDay() === 6) date.setDate(date.getDate() + 2); // Saturday
  });
  document.getElementById('delivery-date').innerHTML = 
    from.toLocaleDateString('en-US', {weekday: 'long', month: 'long', day: 'numeric'}) + 
    ' - ' + 
    to.toLocaleDateString('en-US', {weekday: 'long', month: 'long', day: 'numeric'});
})();
</script>

• Please remember to change the numbers "5" and "10" in the code to match your actual delivery timeframe. For example, if your items arrive in 7-12 days, change "5" to "7" (for minimum days) and "10" to "12" (for maximum days).
• NOTE: The code automatically skips weekends and shows dates like "Monday, November 24 - Friday, November 28."
• Click "Save", then "Preview" to check how it looks on your store.

PRO-TIP: Open the preview on your phone too (or use your browser's device toolbar) to make sure the text displays properly on smaller screens.

Choosing the Best Estimated Delivery Date App

If you type the words that I mentioned earlier on the Shopify store ("estimated delivery dates" or "order tracking"), you'll be surprised by so many options. It might be hard to pick one, so we made a simple checklist for you:

• Does the app have a good amount of positive ratings? Look for apps with 4-5 star ratings and read through recent reviews.
• Can you edit the delivery time based on location? The app should let you set different shipping times for domestic vs. international orders.
• Does it give you control over timeframes? You need to be able to adjust processing times, business hours, etc., so you can provide a reliable and clear delivery time.

Of course, we won't end this without providing some good apps to check. Here are our recommended ones:

#1 ParcelPanel Order Tracking

ParcelPanel Order Tracking is a great option because it's comprehensive, affordable, and easy to use. It allows you to show accurate delivery dates on both your product pages (pre-purchase) plus tracking page and shipping notifications (post-purchase). ParcelPanel also supports 1,500+ carriers, so it covers most shipping providers worldwide.

Your customers will also get real-time tracking updates so you can guarantee a transparent delivery journey.

Key Features

• Branded tracking page with detailed and accurate order status updates
• Automated shipping notifications through emails
• Multi-language support for international stores (21+ languages)

Pricing: You can use the free plan for up to 20 orders per month. The paid plans start at $11/month for 200 orders, and you also get a 7-day free trial as a new user.

#2 S: Estimated Delivery Date ETA

S: Estimated Delivery Date ETA is a solid choice if you need more control over where your EDD shows up. With this ETA app, you can place delivery estimates on your product pages, cart, checkout, and order confirmation emails. Plus, set up different delivery dates based on zip codes or countries.

Key Features

• Specific EDDs for individual products, collections, or vendors
• Cut-off times and countdown timers for same-day processing deadlines
• EDD displays on the cart and checkout pages

Pricing: Like ParcelPanel, this app also has a free plan available. Its paid plans start at $6.99/month.

#3 C-EDD: Estimated Delivery Date

The last app we recommend is C-EDD. Like the first two apps, C-EDD lets you set delivery dates for specific products and configure cut-off times. But this one allows you to customize the font, colors, and icon sizes to match your store's design.

Key Features:

• Customizable date formats, languages, and visual appearance
• Delivery rules by product, collection, country, or vendor
• Holiday exclusions and countdown timers

Pricing: C-EDD offers a free plan, and you can subscribe to its lowest paid plan for $4.98/month.

Key Best Practices for EDD Trust and Performance

#1 Optimize Display Placement for Conversions

You have to put your EDD right next to the "Add to Cart" button if you want more people to complete their purchase. Plus, you can also display it in your cart page so customers see the delivery window again before heading to checkout.

Just one thing to know: Shopify doesn't give you much control over the checkout page unless you're on Shopify Plus. Most standard stores can only show EDD on product pages and in the cart. So make sure your delivery dates are visible in those two spots.

#2 Show the Estimated Delivery on Product and Order Tracking Pages

Besides the placement, you also need to think about how your EDD actually looks and functions. Put it right below your product price and stock availability, as most customers check that first.

If you offer different shipping speeds (standard, express, overnight), your EDD needs to update when someone switches between them. If the original delivery date is "January 15" but one of your customers chose the express shipping, then that should change to "January 12"... or whatever your faster timeline is.

Like any other important message, you have to keep it simple. "Will be delivered by January 10-13" is way better than writing a whole paragraph about your warehouse hours and carrier partnerships. Plus, make sure that it's readable on desktop and phones even without zooming in.

#3 Ensure Real-Time Accuracy (Inventory & Carrier Data)

Your customers would like to see reliable and accurate delivery times, and not something that's a guess. You can achieve this by reviewing your career performance regularly and updating your estimates. If your shipping partner takes five days (and not three like you first mentioned), change your EDD to reflect that.

You should also pay attention to the inventory levels. Your low stock items might need extra time to restock before they ship out. And if there's any delay or issues with a specific order, communicate them with your customer as soon as possible. 

Final Thoughts

You now have two clear paths to add EDD to your Shopify store: use an app like ParcelPanel Order Tracking or add custom code. Either way, showing accurate delivery dates is a must as it removes hesitation at checkout and lessens support tickets.

Now, it’s time for you to choose based on what works. Apps are easier if you hate dealing with code. But custom code isn't a bad choice, especially if you can handle some basic HTML.

FAQs

How long does Shopify usually take to ship products?

Shopify does not ship products directly. Shipping times depend on the individual store and chosen shipping method. Most Shopify stores process orders within 1–3 business days and use carriers like USPS, UPS, or DHL, which typically deliver in 3–7 business days for standard shipping in the U.S.

What is ETA in Shopify?

ETA in Shopify stands for "Estimated Time of Arrival." It refers to the expected delivery date shown to customers during checkout.

What does it mean if it says estimated delivery date?

An estimated delivery date is your best "realistic" guess of when a customer's order will arrive. It combines how long you need to process the order with how long the carrier takes to ship it. It's not 100% guaranteed, but it gives customers a clear delivery window.

Do estimated delivery dates include weekends?

Estimated delivery dates may or may not include weekends. It will depend on your shipping partner and the service your customers select. Some carriers, like USPS or Amazon, deliver on Saturdays or Sundays, but most carriers don't.