AliExpress shipping can look confusing at first glance, but choosing the right line and setting clear customer expectations is the difference between repeat sales and refund headaches. This guide breaks down AliExpress Standard Shipping, Cainiao, and ePacket, then shows you how to publish shipping and tracking policies that keep chargebacks low and customer satisfaction high.

The three best AliExpress shipping lines, explained

AliExpress has multiple routes that sellers and dropshippers can use, and the most reliable choices center on Standard, Cainiao, and ePacket.

• AliExpress Standard Shipping: A tracked, mid priced option with a typical window of about 10 to 45 days depending on destination, which aligns with AliExpress’ own guidance that delivery to the US can range from 15 to 45 days while Premium is faster at 7 to 15 days, as noted in the AliExpress Blog overview for 2025.
• Cainiao network: Cainiao powers much of AliExpress logistics. According to Cainiao’s Cross border Express page, Premium delivery targets 5 to 10 days to key countries, Standard averages 10 to 18 days with some UK, France, and Germany routes as fast as 7 days, and Economy runs about 20 to 45 days for the lowest cost.
• ePacket: For lightweight parcels from China or Hong Kong, ePacket remains a reliable tracked option. Shopify’s ePacket guide puts typical US delivery around 7 to 15 business days and explains requirements like the 2 kg weight limit. For tracking number format, the UPU S10 standard defines the 13 character identifier commonly seen on ePacket labels.

If you are unsure which to use, this practical comparison in our resource on the best AliExpress shipping method can help you match speed and cost to your margins.

Delivery times by country in 2025

Exact transit times depend on the product’s processing time, destination, customs, and the line you select. Use these realistic ranges as your default policy copy, then adjust per product if a supplier offers faster lanes.

• United States: ePacket usually arrives in 7 to 15 business days and AliExpress Standard often shows 15 to 45 days, based on Shopify’s ePacket guide and the AliExpress Blog.
• United Kingdom and core EU markets: Cainiao notes Standard delivery to key countries in 10 to 18 calendar days, with some lanes achieving 7 days after pickup, according to Cainiao’s product page.
• Canada and Australia: Expect Cainiao Standard around 10 to 18 days and AliExpress Standard 15 to 45 days, similar to the UK and EU patterns referenced by Cainiao and AliExpress.
• Brazil and other large or remote territories: Economy routes can take 20 to 45 days or longer, which fits Cainiao’s economy guidance in its documentation and the note in Shopify’s guide that larger territories can see extended timelines in practice.

Pro tip: If your supplier offers AliExpress Choice or local warehouse dispatch, you can shorten estimates. Cainiao states that Choice backed operations use upgraded networks and overseas warehouses to compress delivery windows, as described on the same Cross border Express page.

Tracking and transparency that calm buyers

Customers trust you when they can self serve status updates. ePacket and AliExpress Standard both include tracking, and the number typically follows the 13 character format documented in the UPU S10 specification. As Shopify explains, you can guide customers to official carriers like USPS or to third party tools such as 17Track and Aftership for multi leg visibility in its ePacket article.

In your policy pages, add a short “How to track” section with a link to the carrier or a universal tracker and clarify when tracking goes live, since scans often appear a few days after handoff.

Shipping and tracking policies that reduce refunds

Strong policies shrink refund rates, chargebacks, and support load. Here is a framework you can copy into your store and adjust by market.

1. Publish honest windows with buffers. Use the ranges above as a baseline, then add a safety buffer of 3 to 5 business days. If a product has Cainiao Premium eligibility, label it “Priority Shipping” with a 5 to 10 day window. Clarify that holidays and customs can add time, which mirrors reality described in the AliExpress Blog.

2. Automate tracking messages. Send the tracking number within 24 to 48 hours of fulfillment and a mid route update at day 5 to 7. According to Shopify’s guidance on shipping policy and tracking, self service tracking reduces support tickets and uncertainty.

3. Sync tracking to PayPal. The PayPal team states that adding tracking via the Add Tracking API helps with faster access to funds and quicker dispute resolution. If you use WooCommerce, follow our tutorial to sync order tracking information with PayPal so every PayPal transaction is backed by live logistics data.

4. Define your dispute and reship rules. The AliExpress Help Center says buyers can open a dispute on the 11th day after the order is marked shipped and within 15 days after the promised delivery time expires. Mirror this in your store policy with clear thresholds for reshipment or refund. For template language and tips, see our guide on returns and refunds in AliExpress dropshipping.

5. Set expectations about duties and taxes. Link to your duties note and share your thresholds by destination. Our wiki on import duties and taxes explains how to communicate this simply to shoppers.

6. Choose lanes that fit your margin. When AOV is low, Cainiao Economy can keep costs down. For higher margin items, use Cainiao Standard or Premium to cut delivery time and improve reviews. If you are just getting started, this primer on AliExpress dropshipping 101 and our overview of the AliExpress dropshipping plugin will help you set up the workflow.

Launch faster with WooDropship

WooDropship helps beginners and time strapped owners get to market quickly.

• WooCommerce dropshipping plugin: Import AliExpress products in one click, rewrite titles and descriptions with AI, fulfill orders with a Chrome extension, and sync pricing and variations. It is a lifetime membership for a one time $89 with a free trial and no recurring charges. Explore the WooDropship plugin and learn how to automate your AliExpress business.
• Prebuilt Shopify stores: Get a niche store with 30 vetted products, a premium theme, SEO setup, legal pages, and conversion boosters in 7 days for a one time $49. See our dropshipping stores, and if you are going the Shopify route, you can start a trial with Shopify.

When your shipping and tracking policies are transparent, refunds fall and reviews climb. Combine the right line for each product, automated tracking sync, and clear dispute timelines, and your customer experience will feel Amazon like even with cross border logistics.

Happy WooDropshipping!