How Long Apple Takes to Ship Your Order
If your item is in stock, Apple usually ships it the same or next business day, and it arrives about one to three business days after that.
Made to order items, engraved items, and brand new releases take longer, from a few days to a few weeks. Your real dates always show on your order status page, so that is the number to trust.
How long does Apple take to ship an order?
Apple gives you an estimated ship date and a delivery date when you check out. Those dates are the honest answer for your specific order.
Lead times are counted in business days, Monday through Friday. Weekends and Federal Reserve holidays do not count toward the estimate.
You often get your order on or a little before the estimated date, so treat the estimate as the far edge, not a promise of the slowest case.
In stock vs made to order
| Order type | Typical timing |
|---|---|
| In stock, standard item | Ships same or next business day, arrives about one to three business days later |
| Engraved item | Add a few extra business days for the engraving |
| Custom or made to order Mac | Often one to several weeks, depending on the build |
| Brand new release in high demand | Can run several weeks while stock catches up |
If your order mixes an in stock item with a slow one, Apple may hold the whole order until everything is ready, or split it. The order status page tells you which.
How to check your Apple order status
This is the fastest way to see your real ship and delivery dates.
- Go to apple.com and click the bag icon in the top corner.
- Click Order Status, or go straight to the Apple Store app on your iPhone.
- Sign in with the Apple ID you used to order, or use the order number and email from your confirmation.
- Open the order to see the estimated ship date, the delivery date, and a tracking link once it ships.
You will also get an Order Acknowledgement email with these details right after you buy.
Does Apple ship on weekends and holidays?
Apple counts lead time in business days only, so the estimate skips weekends and Federal Reserve holidays.
The delivery carrier is a separate matter. Once your package is moving, a carrier like UPS or FedEx may still drop it on a Saturday.
Why is my order still processing?
Processing simply means Apple is getting your order ready and has not handed it to the carrier yet.
A payment check can also hold things up. If your card was flagged, clear it up first, since a declined payment method on Apple can freeze an order in place.
Made to order builds sit in processing longer because Apple assembles them after you buy.
FAQ
Can I change my order after placing it?
You can often edit or cancel an order while it still says processing. Once it ships, you cannot change it, but you can start a return after it arrives.
Is buying in a store faster than ordering online?
For an in stock item, store pickup is the fastest option, sometimes same day. Weigh it against your options in our look at getting an iPad at Best Buy vs the Apple Store.
Does a longer ship date mean my item is out of stock?
Usually yes, or it is made to order. A date a few weeks out means Apple is building or restocking it, not that your order is stuck.
Where should I buy for the best deal?
Apple, Best Buy, and warehouse clubs each have tradeoffs. See whether Costco sells iPhones without a contract before you decide.