AliExpress Shipping Times: Everything You Need to Know

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Average delivery times for AliExpress Choice, Cainiao, and more
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If you’ve ordered from AliExpress, you know their shipping times can vary widely. While sellers will sometimes provide a shipping time estimate, it’s not always accurate. Factors like the shipping method, the shipping distance, and customs processing can affect delivery time. Below is a breakdown of average AliExpress shipping times, causes of delays, and steps to track an order or report a package that never arrived.

How long does it take for an AliExpress package to arrive?

In general, most AliExpress orders take between seven and 60 days to ship. The exact shipping time depends on which shipping method you chose, where the product is shipping from, and the product’s destination country. You can pay more for an expedited shipping option.

Section 1 of 6:

How long does AliExpress take to ship?

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  1. Most shipping methods offered by AliExpress promise your order will arrive between one week and two months after it ships. The distance the package has to travel from the warehouse to your door also affects delivery time. [1]
    • If you pay extra for an expedited shipping method, AliExpress usually ships for between 1-10 days before arriving.
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Section 2 of 6:

Factors That Influence AliExpress Shipping Times

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  1. The biggest factor affecting your AliExpress order’s shipping time is which carrier and shipping option you choose. Shipping carriers vary in terms of cost, reliability, speed, and whether or not they offer tracking. See a brief breakdown of average shipping times below. Note shipping times begin after the seller ships the order, which could take up to 10 days. [2]
    • AliExpress Standard Shipping: 10 to 45 day shipping time. Usually free.
    • AliExpress Premium Shipping: 5 to 10 day shipping time.
    • Cainiao Super Economy: 30 to 50 day shipping time. No tracking.
    • Cainiao Super Economy for Special Goods and Cainiao Expedited Standard Shipping: 20 to 40 day shipping time.
    • ePacket: 7 to 30 day shipping time.
      • This method is popular with drop-shippers because of its affordability, speed, and reliability. [3]
    • Yanwen Express: 25 to 30 day shipping time.
    • SunYou Economic Air Mail: 40 to 60 day shipping time. No tracking.
    • China Post Air Parcel: 7 to 30 day shipping time.
    • EMS (Express Mail Service): 5 to 10 day shipping time.
    • DHL: 1 to 4 day shipping time.
    • FedEx: 1 to 3 day shipping time.
    • UPS Express Saver: 1 to 3 day shipping time.
  2. Most AliExpress orders ship from sellers in China. Depending on where you are in the world, your package will probably have to travel a long distance to get from the warehouse to you. Keep this in mind when placing an order—especially if you’re used to ordering products from within your country. [4]
  3. Different countries have different shipping times based on their location, customs process, and the volume of mail they must process. How long your AliExpress order takes to arrive will depend on where you are in the world. Below are some average shipping times for common destination countries, based on whether your shipping method is by boat (sea) or plane (air).
    • The United States: around 23-51 days for sea freight and 5-10 days for air freight. [5]
    • The United Kingdom: around 14 days for sea freight and 5-10 days for air freight. [6]
    • South Africa: around 26 days for sea freight and 5-7 days for air freight. [7]
    • Australia: around 16-30 days for sea freight and several days for air freight. [8]
    • Singapore: 7-14 days for sea freight and 1-3 days for air freight. [9]
  4. When you order something from another country, it has to pass inspection by either (or both) its origin country and its destination country. Any order can be chosen for advanced inspection, which delays its arrival at your door. When you track your package on the AliExpress website, it will typically tell you once it has cleared customs in its origin country. [10]
  5. Many AliExpress orders ship by sea instead of by air. Because AliExpress products are often being shipped from China to other countries, they must travel long distances. Shipping by sea will typically take longer than shipping by air—but it will also be cheaper in most cases. [11] Pay extra for an air-shipping method to get your order faster.
  6. Because many AliExpress products ship from China, Chinese holidays that close or limit postal and customs services can increase the shipping time. The most notable holiday is Chinese New Year, which is usually celebrated for one to two weeks in late January and/or early February. [12]
    • Sellers also usually have seven to 10 days to ship your package after ordering. This means your shipping window could be delayed if they wait the maximum time allowed to ship.
    • If you’re concerned about shipping delays, avoid ordering products from AliExpress that ship from China during holiday weeks.
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Section 3 of 6:

How to Get Your AliExpress Package Faster

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  1. If you need a package fast, the easiest way to speed up the process is to pay for expedited shipping. The fastest options are DHL, FedEx, and UPS Express Saver, but these are also typically the most expensive options. Another fast but not quite as expensive option is EMS (Express Mail Service). [13]
  2. When you order during the holidays, high shipping volumes in China and ports around the world slow shipping times. For the best chance at an on-time delivery from AliExpress, order outside of the holiday season. Avoid ordering within a few weeks of Chinese New Year (late January/early February) and Christmastime (late December). [14]
  3. If you’re in the United States, look for sellers that state that they ship from warehouses in the USA. Similarly, if you’re in a European country, check if AliExpress has warehouses in your country. These orders will ship faster than orders coming from another country, such as China. [15]
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Section 4 of 6:

How to Track Your AliExpress Order

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  1. Navigate to the [aliexpress.com official website]. Make sure you’re logged into your account so you’ll be able to view your orders.
  2. Hover over your profile icon in the upper-right corner of the website, next to the shopping cart icon. A dropdown menu will appear. Click “My Orders” to go to your AliExpress order history. [16]
  3. Orders are listed as either “To ship” or “Awaiting delivery.” Orders in the “To ship” section are still being processed by the seller. Find your order under “Awaiting delivery” if it has already shipped, and click “Track Order” on the right side of the order listing. [17]
    • If you check the order details on an order that hasn’t shipped, there is a countdown. Your order will either be shipped by the seller before the countdown ends or be closed by AliExpress and refunded to you. [18]
      • Most sellers will process your order to ship within seven business days, according to AliExpress.
    • If there is no “Track Order” button or no information on the tracking page, your shipping method may not offer tracking. AliExpress shipping options that don’t offer tracking include Cainiao Super Economy and SunYou Economic Air Mail.
  4. Once you click “Track Order,” you should automatically be redirected to a page with more tracking information. At the top of this page, look for the estimated delivery date. You may also be able to see your package’s location or use a tracking number from this page on the shipping service’s website to get more details. [19]
    • After your order ships, AliExpress warns that it may take up to 11 days for tracking information to appear. If there is no tracking information after 12 days, they suggest disputing to request a refund. [20]
    • The estimated delivery time may change to reflect either a delay or an earlier arrival date based on the latest updates from the carrier. [21]
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Section 5 of 6:

How to Report an Order that Never Arrived

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  1. On the AliExpress website, hover over your profile icon in the upper-right corner. Select “My Orders” from the dropdown menu. This will take you to view your orders.
  2. On the order history page, find the late item. Click the order to view its details. If the estimated delivery window has passed, a button should appear saying “Returns/refunds.” Click this button to open a dispute request. [22]
    • If the order hasn’t shipped yet, there should be an option to cancel the order. [23]
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Section 6 of 6:

Frequently Asked Questions

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  1. In select markets, AliExpress Choice products will arrive faster than before the Choice program launched. However, AliExpress does not specify which markets receive faster shipping or how much faster it is. [24] Look at the estimated delivery date before placing an order to see your order’s probable shipping time.
  2. Some shipping methods—notably, Cainiao Super Economy and SunYou Economic Air Mail—don’t offer end-to-end tracking on AliExpress orders. Other times, the seller may not have shipped your order yet. If this is the case, the order will be in the “To ship” section of your “My Orders” page on the AliExpress website.
    • In some cases, the seller may not ship the order within the usual seven to 11-day window. When this happens, you can request to cancel the order. If it’s within seven days of payment, it will automatically be canceled and refunded.
    • If it’s over seven days after payment, the seller has 48 hours to approve the cancellation before it’s automatically canceled. [25]
  3. If you see “Payment Processing” next to your order, it means AliExpress will charge you within the next several hours. Because the website gets high traffic, it may sometimes take more time to process payments. The price will not change from when you made the purchase, whether you’re charged instantly or in three hours. [26]
  4. No, AliExpress does not notify you when your order is delivered. Depending on the shipping carrier and method you choose, you may be able to sign up for text and email alerts when your package arrives. You can also keep an eye on delivery using the tracking number provided by the seller/AliExpress when your order first shipped.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://seller.alibaba.com/businessblogs/aliexpress-shipping-time-14-shipping-methods-overview-px002ajs8
      2. ↑ https://seller.alibaba.com/businessblogs/aliexpress-shipping-time-14-shipping-methods-overview-px002ajs8
      3. ↑ https://debutify.com/blog/dropshipping-with-aliexpress-seven-ways-to-handle-long-shipping-times-when-dropshipping-with-aliexpress
      4. ↑ https://debutify.com/blog/dropshipping-with-aliexpress-seven-ways-to-handle-long-shipping-times-when-dropshipping-with-aliexpress
      5. ↑ https://www.shiphub.co/shipping-from-china-to-the-us-transit-time/
      6. ↑ https://www.shiphub.co/shipping-in-2024/
      7. ↑ https://www.shiphub.co/shipping-from-china-to-south-africa/
      8. ↑ https://www.shiphub.co/shipping-from-china-to-australia/
      9. ↑ https://www.sino-shipping.com/country-guides/shipping-from-to-singapore/
      1. ↑ https://helpcenter.aliexpress.com/s/BuyerHelp/knowledge?categoryId=1000107699&m_station=BuyerHelp&questionId=1061036582
      2. ↑ https://www.freightos.com/freight-resources/air-freight-vs-ocean-freight-making-the-decision/
      3. ↑ https://www.freightos.com/freight-blog/lunar-new-year-shipping-delays/
      4. ↑ https://seller.alibaba.com/businessblogs/aliexpress-shipping-time-14-shipping-methods-overview-px002ajs8
      5. ↑ https://debutify.com/blog/dropshipping-with-aliexpress-seven-ways-to-handle-long-shipping-times-when-dropshipping-with-aliexpress
      6. ↑ https://www.hypersku.com/blog/aliexpress-sellers-with-us-warehouses/
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/Nx3JDneGn-E?t=20
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/Nx3JDneGn-E?t=30
      9. ↑ https://helpcenter.aliexpress.com/s/BuyerHelp/knowledge?categoryId=1000107698&m_station=BuyerHelp&questionId=1061036863
      10. ↑ https://youtu.be/Nx3JDneGn-E?t=45
      11. ↑ https://helpcenter.aliexpress.com/s/BuyerHelp/knowledge?categoryId=1000107698&m_station=BuyerHelp&questionId=1061036113
      12. ↑ https://helpcenter.aliexpress.com/s/BuyerHelp/knowledge?categoryId=1000107698&m_station=BuyerHelp&questionId=1061036695
      13. ↑ https://helpcenter.aliexpress.com/s/BuyerHelp/knowledge?categoryId=1000107699&m_station=BuyerHelp&questionId=1061037403
      14. ↑ https://seller.alibaba.com/businessblogs/aliexpress-shipping-time-14-shipping-methods-overview-px002ajs8
      15. ↑ https://www.alizila.com/what-is-aliexpress-service-choice/
      16. ↑ https://helpcenter.aliexpress.com/s/BuyerHelp/knowledge?categoryId=1000107696&m_station=BuyerHelp&questionId=1061036211
      17. ↑ https://helpcenter.aliexpress.com/s/BuyerHelp/knowledge?categoryId=1000107696&m_station=BuyerHelp&questionId=1061036551

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