Overview

Transit time is a core component of how Amazon calculates and displays delivery estimates to buyers. It represents the window between when a seller hands an order to their carrier and when it arrives at the buyer's address. Understanding and correctly configuring transit time is essential for meeting customer expectations and maintaining strong seller metrics.

Key Points / What Sellers Need to Know

• Transit time defined – Transit time measures the period from carrier pickup to delivery at the buyer's doorstep, calculated in business days rather than calendar days.
• Delivery time formula – Amazon calculates total delivery time as handling time plus transit time, with holidays factored in on top. This combined estimate is what buyers see on the product listing and at checkout.
• Automated vs. manual options – Sellers using Amazon's automated shipping settings will have transit times managed automatically based on ship-from address and carrier preferences. Sellers who prefer manual control can define their own transit times through shipping templates.
• Shipping template access – Transit time modifications are made within Seller Central's shipping settings by editing individual shipping templates.
• Standard shipping coverage – Standard shipping options require sellers to be able to ship to all addresses within the continental United States.

How Delivery Time Is Calculated

Amazon determines the delivery estimate shown to buyers by adding together two key components: handling time and transit time, plus any applicable holidays. Handling time is the period between when an order is placed and when the seller ships it. Transit time picks up from there, covering carrier transit through to final delivery. Both values are measured in business days, meaning weekends and recognized holidays are excluded from the count. This combined delivery window directly influences the estimated delivery date displayed on your product listing page and during the checkout process, making accuracy essential for customer satisfaction.

How to Modify Transit Time Manually

Sellers who have opted out of automated transit time management can adjust their settings through shipping templates in Seller Central. To make changes, navigate to your shipping settings and locate the shipping templates tab. Select the template you want to edit and look for the edit option on the right side of the screen. From there, choose the appropriate shipping option, region, and configuration you want to update. You can modify the transit time by using the dropdown menu found under the transit time column, which shows the transit window excluding handling time. Repeat this process for each shipping option and region combination that requires adjustment.