Apple Shipping and Delivery Options, Explained
Apple ships online orders free, offers free next-day delivery on in-stock devices such as Macs, iPads and iPhones, and two-hour delivery in most metros.
By Olivia HarperContributing writer. Policy checked .
On this page
Store policies change. This is a summary in our own words of Apple's US Shipping and Pickup help page and its Delivery and Pickup page, read on October 27, 2026. Checkout on apple.com shows the options and dates that apply to your items and your address.
Delivery options and cost
Apple says standard delivery is free for every online order. Faster methods cost extra, and checkout shows which ones are available for your items and location, with the price of each option. The same costs appear in the order confirmation email and on the Order Status page.
| Option | What Apple says |
|---|---|
| Standard delivery | Free on all online orders |
| Next-day delivery | Free for any in-stock Mac, iPad, iPhone, AirPods or Apple Watch |
| Two-day delivery | Free on almost everything else |
| Two-hour courier delivery | $9 for eligible in-stock Apple products in most metros |
| In-store pickup | At an Apple Store, with a notification when ready |
The two-hour offer does not apply to customized Macs, engraved products, or some order types, including orders paid with financing or by bank transfer. Delivery times also vary with the address, item availability and the time of day you order.
Engraved and customized products
Engraving and custom Mac configurations add preparation time. Apple updates the delivery date while you configure the product, and the final date shows in the order confirmation email and in Order Status.
Where Apple ships
Apple ships online orders within the continental US, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. It does not ship to P.O. boxes, to US territories, or to addresses outside the United States. For Puerto Rico, Apple gives an average transit time of 2 to 5 days, says carriers reach Culebra and Vieques twice a week, and offers overnight shipping to some zip codes at extra cost.
Customers with a billing address in a US territory or an Armed Forces region can still order and ship to an address in the 50 states or Puerto Rico. Apple does not ship directly to APO or FPO addresses; it points military buyers to third-party forwarding services, which charge their own fees, and says such deliveries can take up to 6 to 8 weeks.
Tracking, signatures and address changes
Apple emails a shipment notification when an item leaves its warehouse, with the carrier, a tracking number and a delivery date. You can also add a mobile number at checkout for text updates; Apple says to expect 1 to 4 texts per item. Items ship as they become available, so one order can arrive in parts. The payment method can also move the ship date to allow for processing.
Apple chooses the carrier. Most shipments need a signature, and the shipment email says whether yours does. If you miss the delivery, you can call the number on the carrier's notice and pick the package up at the carrier's local facility, with the notice and matching ID. Once an order is being prepared for shipment or has shipped, Apple cannot change the address.
Returns
Apple says returns are free to ship or drop off and must be made within 14 days. You can generate a return label from Order Status and arrange a free carrier pickup, or bring the product to an Apple Store.
Sources
Shipping and Pickup and Delivery and Pickup, Apple. Policy checked October 27, 2026.