AliExpress Economy Shipping is the slowest, cheapest shipping option available on the platform, typically offered as free shipping. It delivers in 20 to 60 days depending on destination, uses basic air or sea freight, and provides minimal tracking updates. It’s essentially the standard free shipping option most sellers offer. Best for non-urgent orders where saving money matters more than speed, and you’re comfortable waiting 4-8 weeks for delivery.
What Is AliExpress Economy Shipping?
AliExpress Economy Shipping is the baseline free or ultra-cheap shipping method that most sellers offer. It’s the slowest option available but costs nothing or nearly nothing.
Key characteristics:
- Price: Free (most common) or $0.50 to $2
- Speed: 20 to 60 days, sometimes longer
- Tracking: Minimal, sporadic updates
- Reliability: Gets there eventually, but unpredictable timing
- Priority: Lowest in carrier networks
This is what you get when you select “Free Shipping” or “Standard Shipping – Free” on most AliExpress listings. It’s called “Economy” because it uses the most economical routes and methods, prioritizing cost savings over speed.
How it works:
Packages typically travel via:
- China Post ordinary small packet
- China Post registered air mail
- Yanwen Economic Air Mail
- Various budget carriers
The package either flies on economy air freight (lower priority cargo space) or occasionally ships by sea (extremely slow). It clears customs when it arrives in your country, then hands off to your local postal service for final delivery.
What “economy” means in practice:
Your package waits for available cargo space rather than taking the next flight. It gets lower priority in sorting facilities. It uses the cheapest routes, which often means multiple transfers. It’s handled with less urgency at every stage.
Think of it like flying standby versus a confirmed ticket. You’ll get there, but you wait until space becomes available.
Delivery Times: The Reality
Official estimates: 20 to 45 days
Delivery by region:
- United States: 25 to 45 days to most locations. Major cities occasionally faster (20-30 days). Rural areas can push 50-60 days.
- United Kingdom: 20 to 40 days typically. London and major cities at the faster end (20-30 days). Remote areas can hit 45-50 days.
- Europe (EU countries): 25 to 50 days. Western Europe (Germany, France, Spain) slightly faster than Eastern Europe. Remote areas add significant time.
- Australia: 30 to 50 days. Major cities (Sydney, Melbourne) around 30-40 days. Remote outback areas can take 60+ days.
- Canada: 30 to 60 days. Canadian customs adds unpredictable delays. Remote provinces can stretch to 70+ days.
- Middle East: 25 to 45 days to major cities (Riyadh, Dubai, Jeddah). Smaller cities add time.
- Southeast Asia: 20 to 40 days. Regional proximity to China helps, but budget shipping negates some advantages.
- South America (Brazil): 40 to 90 days. Brazilian customs is notoriously slow. Economy shipping to Brazil tests patience.
- Africa: 30 to 70 days depending on country and city. Infrastructure challenges add significant time.
What affects your delivery time:
Shipping method (air vs sea): Air takes 3-6 weeks. Sea takes 6-12 weeks. You usually don’t know which method the seller uses for free shipping.
Seller processing time: Some sellers ship within 3 days, others take 7-10 days before dispatching. This adds to total time.
Cargo space availability: During peak seasons, your package might wait days or weeks for available cargo space on flights.
Customs backlog: Economy packages often get lower priority in customs processing. Can sit in customs for 1-3 weeks.
Local postal efficiency: Once it reaches your postal service, delivery depends on their efficiency. Some countries’ postal services are excellent, others are slow.
Seasonal delays: Chinese New Year, Singles Day (11/11), Christmas season all add 2-4 weeks to economy shipping times.
The honest truth: Budget 6-8 weeks minimum for economy shipping. During peak seasons or to slower countries, 10-12 weeks isn’t uncommon. If you need something within 2 months, don’t use economy shipping.
Tracking: What to Expect
Economy shipping provides tracking, but it’s minimal and updates are infrequent.
Typical tracking updates you’ll see:
- Order placed – You ordered, seller hasn’t shipped yet
- Shipped – Seller handed package to carrier (might sit 3-7 days before next scan)
- Acceptance – Carrier accepted the package (sometimes skipped)
- Departed from origin country – Left China (many packages skip this update)
- Arrived at destination country – Entered your country (might be 2-4 weeks after “shipped”)
- Customs processing – Going through customs (can show this for days or weeks)
- Released from customs – Cleared customs, entering local postal system
- Out for delivery – With your local postal carrier
- Delivered – Successfully delivered
What actually happens:
You’ll see “shipped” then complete radio silence for 2-4 weeks. Then suddenly “arrived in destination country.” Then maybe nothing for another week, then “delivered.”
The tracking exists, but it doesn’t tell you much during the journey. Your package is moving, the system just doesn’t update frequently.
Where to track:
AliExpress app/website: Shows basic updates aggregated from carriers.
17track.net: Often shows more detailed updates by checking multiple carrier databases.
Local postal service: Once package enters your country, tracking on your postal website (USPS, Royal Mail, etc.) gives better final-mile updates.
Tracking limitations:
Some economy shipments provide tracking numbers that never update after “shipped.” This happens when sellers use untracked or minimally tracked methods. The package usually still arrives, you just don’t know where it is.
If tracking shows no updates for 3+ weeks and you’re approaching the buyer protection deadline, contact the seller. But understand that sparse tracking is normal with economy shipping.
Cost: What You Pay
Typical cost: Free (95% of cases)
Occasionally: $0.50 to $2 for slightly faster economy options
Economy shipping’s main selling point is that it costs nothing. Sellers absorb the cost and build it into product pricing. That’s why you’ll see the same item priced at $5 with free shipping from one seller and $4 + $1 shipping from another.
Why sellers offer free economy shipping:
It attracts price-sensitive buyers. “Free shipping” sounds appealing even if delivery takes 6 weeks. Sellers build minimal shipping costs into product prices and eat the expense as customer acquisition cost.
When economy shipping costs money:
Occasionally sellers charge $1-2 for “economy shipping” that’s slightly faster than completely free options. This is rare. Usually if you’re paying for shipping, you’re getting something better than basic economy.
Hidden costs to consider:
While the shipping is free, your cost is time. Waiting 6-8 weeks has opportunity cost. If you need the item sooner, you might buy locally at higher price or pay for faster AliExpress shipping. The “free” shipping trades money for time.
AliExpress Economy vs Other Shipping Methods
vs Free Standard Shipping:
These are usually the same thing. “Economy Shipping” and “Free Standard Shipping” both describe the baseline free option. Different sellers use different terminology for identical services.
vs AliExpress Standard Shipping:
- Speed: Standard is 10-15 days faster (15-25 days vs 30-45 days)
- Tracking: Standard has much better, more frequent tracking updates
- Cost: Standard costs $3-8 while Economy is free
- Reliability: Standard is more predictable and consistent
- Worth upgrading? Yes, for orders over $15-20, paying a few dollars to save 2-3 weeks makes sense
vs AliExpress Saver Shipping:
- Speed: Saver is 5-10 days faster than Economy (20-35 days vs 30-50 days)
- Tracking: Saver has slightly better tracking
- Cost: Saver costs $1-5 while Economy is free
- Worth upgrading? Maybe. If you can spare $2-3, Saver is a modest improvement.
vs ePacket (when available):
- Speed: ePacket is significantly faster (10-20 days vs 30-45 days)
- Tracking: ePacket has proper tracking with regular updates
- Cost: ePacket costs $2-5
- Worth upgrading? Yes, if available for your country, ePacket is worth the small cost
vs Express Shipping (DHL, FedEx):
- Speed: Express is dramatically faster (5-12 days vs 30-60 days)
- Tracking: Express has premium real-time tracking
- Cost: Express costs $20-60
- Worth upgrading? Only if you need speed urgently. Massive cost difference.
When to Choose Economy Shipping
Choose Economy when:
You’re buying very cheap items (under $10) where any shipping cost feels excessive.
You can comfortably wait 6-8 weeks without stress or need.
You’re ordering multiple small items and want to minimize total cost.
The item is non-urgent (hobby supplies, decorations, things you’ll use eventually).
You’re not the type to check tracking constantly.
You’re experimenting with products and don’t mind waiting to see if they’re worthwhile.
Budget is extremely tight and every dollar matters.
Don’t choose Economy when:
You need the item within 2 months.
You’re buying something moderately valuable ($20+) where faster shipping makes sense.
You’re the type who needs to know where packages are.
You’re buying a gift with any deadline.
You’re ordering something you’re excited to use soon.
The cost difference to faster shipping is only $2-5 (usually worth upgrading).
You’re in a country with notoriously slow customs (Brazil, some African countries) where economy could take 3+ months.
Value Analysis
Scenario 1: Buying 5 phone cases for $8 total
Economy (free): $8 total, arrives in 30-50 days Standard ($5 shipping): $13 total, arrives in 15-25 days
Analysis: Economy makes sense. Paying $5 shipping on an $8 order is a 62% increase. If you can wait, free shipping works.
Scenario 2: Buying a $30 gadget
Economy (free): $30 total, arrives in 30-50 days Standard ($5 shipping): $35 total, arrives in 15-25 days
Analysis: Standard makes sense. Paying $5 (17% increase) to get your $30 item 3 weeks sooner is worthwhile for most people.
Scenario 3: Buying craft supplies for $12
Economy (free): $12 total, arrives in 30-50 days Saver ($2 shipping): $14 total, arrives in 20-35 days Standard ($5 shipping): $17 total, arrives in 15-25 days
Analysis: Depends on patience. Economy if you’re extremely patient. Saver for modest upgrade. Standard if you want it reasonably soon.
Scenario 4: Buying 20 items totaling $40
Economy (free each): $40 total, arrives in 30-50 days Standard ($4 each): $40 + $80 = $120 total, arrives in 15-25 days
Analysis: Economy makes sense. Shipping costs multiply across multiple items. Unless you need everything urgently, free shipping is the only sensible choice.
Common Problems with Economy Shipping
Extreme delivery variability
One order arrives in 25 days, the next takes 55 days, both using economy shipping to the same address. This is normal. Economy uses whatever routing and cargo space is available, leading to huge variability.
Tracking going completely dark
Normal to see “shipped” then absolutely nothing for 3-5 weeks. The package is (probably) moving, tracking just doesn’t update. Only worry if there are zero updates for 6+ weeks or you’re approaching buyer protection deadline.
Packages sitting in customs for weeks
Economy packages often get lowest priority in customs processing. Your package might clear in 3 days or sit for 21 days. Completely unpredictable.
Delivery during the protection deadline
Because economy is so slow, packages sometimes arrive right before or after buyer protection expires. This creates stress about whether to open disputes. Track your protection deadline carefully.
Complete package loss (rare but happens)
Most economy packages arrive eventually. Occasionally (1-3% of shipments), packages genuinely get lost. AliExpress buyer protection covers this, but you’ve waited 2 months to find out.
Seasonal nightmare scenarios
Ordering economy shipping during Chinese New Year or Christmas season can result in 3-4 month delivery times. Seriously. Avoid economy during peak seasons unless you have infinite patience.
Tips for Surviving Economy Shipping
Order way in advance
Never order economy shipping for anything you need within 3 months. Plan for worst-case scenarios (60+ days) and you won’t be disappointed.
Don’t check tracking obsessively
Check once every 2 weeks, not daily. Economy tracking doesn’t update frequently enough to justify daily checking. You’ll just frustrate yourself.
Order multiple items to justify the wait
If you’re going to wait 6-8 weeks anyway, might as well order several things you want. Batch your economy shipping orders so the long wait feels more worthwhile.
Set calendar reminders for buyer protection deadlines
Know when your protection expires (visible in order details). Set a reminder for 2 weeks before the deadline. If the package hasn’t arrived by then, open a dispute for “item not received.”
Treat it like a surprise
Some people order economy shipping then genuinely forget about it. When the package arrives 6-8 weeks later, it feels like an unexpected gift. This mindset makes the wait less frustrating.
Combine with faster shipping strategically
Order urgent items with Standard or Express shipping. Order non-urgent items with economy. Don’t lock yourself into one method across all purchases.
Avoid economy during peak seasons
Never use economy shipping in November-December (Christmas season) or late January-February (Chinese New Year). Delays multiply during these periods.
Accept the uncertainty
Economy shipping is inherently unpredictable. Some packages arrive in 3 weeks, others take 10 weeks. You must be comfortable with uncertainty to use this method successfully.
Is Economy Shipping Worth It?
It depends entirely on your priorities and situation.
Economy makes sense for:
Extreme budget shoppers where every dollar matters Very cheap orders (under $10) where shipping costs feel disproportionate Bulk orders where shipping costs would multiply badly Patient shoppers who don’t mind 2-3 month waits Non-urgent purchases (hobby supplies, experiments, eventual use items)
Economy doesn’t make sense for:
Anyone with moderate time sensitivity (anything under 3 months) Orders over $20 where a few dollars for faster shipping is reasonable Shoppers who get anxious about delayed packages Gifts or time-sensitive purchases Anyone in countries with notoriously slow postal systems
The brutal truth:
For most orders over $15-20, paying $3-5 for Standard Shipping instead of using free economy is absolutely worth it. You save 2-3 weeks of waiting and get actual tracking. The time savings alone justify the minimal cost for anything but the cheapest orders.
Economy shipping makes sense primarily for very cheap items or bulk orders where shipping costs multiply. Outside these specific scenarios, the time cost of waiting 2+ months usually outweighs the monetary savings.
Country-Specific Realities
United States:
Final delivery via USPS. Generally reliable once package enters US. Customs in LA, New York, Chicago reasonably efficient. Expect 25-40 days to most locations. Economy to rural Alaska or Hawaii can push 50-60 days.
United Kingdom:
Final delivery via Royal Mail. Usually reliable. Post-Brexit, VAT collected at checkout reduces customs delays. Expect 22-38 days. Remote Scotland or rural areas add time.
Australia:
Australia Post handles final delivery. Reliable in cities. Remote areas (outback, Tasmania) can add 2-3 weeks. Expect 30-45 days to cities, 45-60 days to remote areas.
Canada:
Canada Post handles final delivery. Canadian customs can be painfully slow. Economy to Canada often hits the high end of estimates. Expect 35-55 days, sometimes longer.
Brazil:
Legendary for slow customs. Economy shipping to Brazil is brutal. Packages can sit in Brazilian customs for 4-8 weeks alone. Total delivery often 50-90 days. Seriously consider faster methods if you’re in Brazil.
European Union:
Varies significantly. Germany and Netherlands relatively efficient (25-40 days). Southern Europe (Spain, Italy, Greece) slightly slower. Eastern Europe can be very slow (40-60 days).
Decision Framework: Should You Use Economy?
Ask yourself these questions:
Can I wait 2-3 months without stress?
- No → Don’t use economy
- Yes → Economy is viable
Is the item worth under $15?
- Yes → Economy makes sense
- No → Consider faster shipping
Am I ordering multiple items?
- Yes → Economy saves money across multiple shipments
- No → Maybe upgrade to faster shipping
Do I need tracking visibility?
- Yes → Don’t use economy, tracking is terrible
- No → Economy works
Is this time-sensitive in any way?
- Yes → Don’t use economy
- No → Economy is fine
Will the cost difference to Standard Shipping ($3-5) materially impact my budget?
- Yes → Economy makes sense
- No → Upgrade to Standard for better experience
Most people who honestly answer these questions realize Standard Shipping is worth the small premium for the majority of orders. Economy works best for very specific scenarios: very cheap items, bulk orders, extreme budget constraints, or complete lack of urgency.
Takeaway
AliExpress Economy Shipping is the slowest, cheapest option available. It’s free (or nearly free), takes 6-8 weeks minimum, and provides minimal tracking. It works through a combination of patience and acceptance of uncertainty.
Best use cases: Very cheap items (under $10), bulk orders where shipping costs multiply, situations where you genuinely don’t care when it arrives.
Reality check: For orders over $15-20, paying $3-5 for AliExpress Standard Shipping instead of using free economy is almost always worth it. You save 2-3 weeks and get reliable tracking for a minimal cost. The time savings alone justify the expense.
Economy shipping isn’t “bad” – it does what it’s designed to do (deliver packages as cheaply as possible). But it’s only the right choice for specific situations where extreme cost sensitivity outweighs time value.
If you decide to use economy shipping, go in with realistic expectations: 6-8 weeks delivery, minimal tracking, complete unpredictability. Set calendar reminders for buyer protection deadlines. Don’t obsess over tracking. Treat arrivals as pleasant surprises rather than expected events.
And remember: time has value. If waiting 2 extra months stresses you out or prevents you from using the item when you want it, the “free” shipping isn’t actually free. It costs you time and peace of mind.