The two routes
You can ship with PTT, or with courier and shipping services. Services such as Ship Entegra and ShipToMore work with several carriers and let you compare them in one place.
| PTT | Courier and shipping services | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical delivery | Europe usually 7 to 9 days, US 10 to 19 days | Depends on the parcel and the carrier. Anything from 3 to 5 days to 4 to 9 days |
| Good for | Safe, steady shipping when there is no rush | Time-sensitive orders and parcels where speed matters |
| How it works | Generally through agreements with the state postal services of the destination countries | Through the carrier’s own network and tracking |
How to compare prices
Prices change often, so I don’t list any here. Each carrier has its own panel where you enter size, weight and the destination country, and it shows the price. Take one real parcel and price it with three options. Remember that the shipping you charge counts towards Etsy’s fees too, so it affects the whole order. See the fees guide.
DDP or DDU
In my experience DDP works better. With DDP you pay duties and taxes in advance, so the buyer pays nothing extra at the door. If you also offer free shipping, it has a positive effect on sales. Just build the shipping cost into the item price so your margin holds.
There is a policy reason too. Etsy’s Off-Platform Transactions Policy doesn’t allow charging extra after checkout for shipping, duties, taxes or customs, and it doesn’t allow passing fees to buyers through a third party, including a carrier. If you choose DDU, check how that applies to your shipments before you do. For the destination rules see the EU customs guide and the US postal customs guide.
Insurance
Talk to the carrier about it. A standard insurance option exists, and the cover is based on the value you declare. Ask what it covers (loss, damage or both) and what proof they need.
My rule of thumb
- Light, low-value parcel and no deadline, PTT.
- Gift orders, holiday season and anything with a date, a courier.
- Higher-value items, a courier with tracking and insurance.
What to do next
- Price one typical parcel with PTT and two other options, for the US and for Europe.
- Decide on DDP and free shipping, then recalculate the item price.
- Write the delivery time in your listing, using the real range.
A shipping cost calculation system is part of the Etsy Consulting: Essential package, if you would like help setting it up.
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Rules, numbers and dates change often. This page reflects the sources below as checked on Nov 10, 2026. Confirm current figures with the official source before you act.