AliExpress Standard Shipping is the platform’s recommended shipping option that balances speed, cost, and tracking reliability. It typically delivers in 10 to 25 days, costs free to $8 depending on item and destination, and provides reliable tracking throughout the journey. It’s faster than free economy shipping but cheaper than express options like DHL or FedEx. This is the best choice for most orders where you want reasonable speed without paying premium prices.
What Is AliExpress Standard Shipping?
AliExpress Standard Shipping is the platform’s branded middle-tier shipping service. It’s not a single carrier but rather a logistics solution that uses various carriers depending on your location and the seller’s warehouse location.
The shipping method combines:
- Air freight for the China-to-destination leg
- Partnerships with reliable carriers (4PX, Yanwen, China Post, local postal services)
- Streamlined customs processing
- Hand-off to your local postal service or courier for final delivery
When you select AliExpress Standard Shipping, the platform optimizes the route and carriers to balance speed and cost. You’re not locked into one specific carrier, which gives AliExpress flexibility to use whoever is most efficient for your particular route.
Who handles the actual delivery:
From China: Usually 4PX, Yanwen, or China Post To your country: Handed off to local postal services (USPS in US, Royal Mail in UK, Australia Post in Australia, etc.) or local couriers
The handoff typically happens at customs, where the package clears and enters your domestic delivery network.
Delivery Times: What to Actually Expect
Official estimate: 10 to 25 days
Real-world experience by region:
United States: 12 to 20 days typically to major cities. Add 3 to 5 days for rural areas.
United Kingdom: 10 to 18 days to most locations. London and major cities often faster.
Europe (EU countries): 12 to 22 days. Western Europe faster than Eastern Europe. Germany, France, Spain usually 12 to 18 days.
Australia: 12 to 20 days to major cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane). Add 5 to 7 days for remote areas.
Canada: 15 to 25 days. Customs in Canada can add extra time.
Middle East (Saudi Arabia, UAE): 12 to 22 days to major cities.
South America (Brazil): 20 to 35 days. Brazilian customs is notoriously slow.
Southeast Asia: 10 to 18 days. Regional proximity to China helps.
What affects your delivery time:
Seller processing: Some sellers ship within 24 hours, others take 3 to 7 days to process orders. Check the “ships within” note on product listings.
Customs clearance: Usually 1 to 5 days in most countries. Can stretch to 10+ days during peak seasons or if the package gets selected for inspection.
Final mile delivery: Once it enters your local postal system, delivery speed depends on your postal service efficiency. USPS, Royal Mail, and Australia Post are generally reliable. Some countries have slower postal services.
Seasonal factors: Chinese New Year (late January/February), Singles Day (November 11), Black Friday, and Christmas season all slow things down. Add 7 to 14 days to estimates during these periods.
Security situations: Geopolitical events, pandemics, or regional issues can delay international shipping unpredictably.
Tracking: How It Works
AliExpress Standard Shipping provides reliable tracking throughout the journey, which is one of its main advantages over free economy shipping.
What you can track:
- Order confirmed and processing – Seller preparing your order
- Shipped – Package handed to carrier in China
- In transit – Package moving through logistics network
- Arrived at destination country – Cleared international transit, entering your country
- Customs clearance – Going through customs (can take 1-5 days)
- Out for delivery – With your local postal carrier, arriving today or tomorrow
- Delivered – Successfully delivered to your address
Where to track:
AliExpress app or website: Go to your orders, click the order, view tracking details. This shows aggregated tracking from all carriers in the chain.
17track.net: Paste your tracking number for more detailed updates from all carriers involved.
Your local postal service: Once the package enters your country, track it on USPS.com (US), Royal Mail (UK), or your local postal website for more granular updates.
Tracking number format:
Usually starts with letters followed by numbers, like:
- LY123456789CN (China Post format)
- SYBAQ123456789 (4PX format)
- Various other formats depending on carrier
The tracking number works across all tracking platforms. Use it wherever you prefer to check status.
Tracking update frequency:
Updates happen at major checkpoints: shipped, departed China, arrived in destination country, customs cleared, out for delivery, delivered. You won’t get updates every single day, but you’ll know when significant movement occurs.
If tracking shows no updates for 7 to 10 days after “shipped,” this is normal. The package is likely in transit or sitting in a queue. Only worry if there are no updates for 2+ weeks or if the buyer protection deadline is approaching.
Cost: What You’ll Pay
Typical costs:
- Free on many items (seller absorbs cost)
- $2 to $8 on items where shipping isn’t included
- Occasionally higher ($10 to $15) for larger or heavier items
Why costs vary:
Item weight: Heavier items cost more to ship. A phone case might ship free, but a 2kg item might cost $8.
Item dimensions: Bulky packages cost more even if they’re light.
Destination: Some countries cost more to ship to due to longer routes or less efficient logistics networks.
Seller’s strategy: Some sellers include shipping in the product price and offer “free shipping.” Others price the product lower and charge separately for shipping. Total cost is what matters, not just whether shipping is free.
How to see the cost:
Add item to cart, proceed to checkout, enter your address. AliExpress shows all available shipping methods with their costs and estimated delivery times. AliExpress Standard Shipping is usually one of the options listed.
Compare the total cost (item + shipping) across different shipping methods to see what makes sense for your order.
AliExpress Standard Shipping vs Other Methods
vs Free Standard Shipping (Economy):
AliExpress Standard is faster (10-25 days vs 20-45 days) and has more reliable tracking. Worth paying $2 to $5 extra for most orders to save 2 to 3 weeks.
vs ePacket:
ePacket (when available) is comparable in speed and cost. AliExpress Standard often uses ePacket routes for countries ePacket serves. They’re functionally similar for US, UK, Australia, Canada buyers.
vs Cainiao Standard:
Very similar to AliExpress Standard Shipping. Cainiao is Alibaba’s logistics arm, and these two methods often overlap. Performance is comparable.
vs Express Shipping (DHL, FedEx):
Express is much faster (5-12 days) but costs $20 to $60. Only worth it if you need the item urgently or it’s very valuable. For most orders, AliExpress Standard’s speed is adequate at a fraction of the cost.
vs Seller’s Shipping Method:
Quality varies wildly depending on what the seller actually uses. Some sellers’ methods are great, others are terrible. AliExpress Standard is more predictable and reliable.
When to Choose AliExpress Standard Shipping
Choose it when:
- You want decent speed without paying premium prices (most common scenario)
- You want reliable tracking so you know where your package is
- You’re buying items worth $10 to $100 where the shipping cost makes sense
- You can wait 2 to 3 weeks but don’t want to wait 6 weeks
- The seller offers it as an option (not all sellers do)
Skip it when:
- You need the item in under 10 days (choose Express)
- You’re buying very cheap items (under $5) where even $3 shipping feels expensive (choose free shipping)
- You’re buying in bulk and want to minimize total costs (free shipping might be better)
- You don’t care about tracking and just want the cheapest option possible
- The seller doesn’t offer it (some only offer free or express shipping)
The sweet spot:
Orders between $15 and $75 where you value your time enough to pay a few dollars to save 2 to 3 weeks of waiting. This is where AliExpress Standard Shipping makes the most sense.
Common Issues and How to Handle Them
Package stuck in transit with no tracking updates:
Normal if it’s been less than 10 days since last update. Packages often go silent during the China-to-destination flight or while sitting in customs queue. Wait another week before worrying.
If no updates for 2+ weeks, contact the seller. They can check with their carrier. If seller doesn’t respond or can’t help, open a dispute if buyer protection deadline is approaching.
Tracking says delivered but you didn’t receive it:
Check with neighbors, housemates, or building management. Sometimes couriers mark delivered but actually deliver the next day. Wait 24-48 hours.
If still missing, contact your local postal service with the tracking number. They can investigate. Also contact the seller and AliExpress customer service. If the package is truly lost, you can dispute for a refund.
Package stuck in customs:
Customs clearance takes 1 to 5 days normally, up to 10 days during busy periods. If stuck longer than 2 weeks, your customs authority may need additional information.
Check your local customs website with the tracking number. Sometimes they send notifications you need to respond to. Contact the carrier handling your domestic delivery (USPS, Royal Mail, etc.) for customs status updates.
Estimated delivery date passed, no package:
Estimates are guidelines, not guarantees. Wait 1 to 2 weeks past the estimate. During peak seasons, delays are common.
If significantly overdue (3+ weeks past estimate) and tracking shows no movement, contact the seller. You can open a dispute for “item not received” before buyer protection expires. Don’t wait until the last day to take action.
Wrong address or need to redirect package:
Once shipped via AliExpress Standard, you can’t change the destination address through AliExpress. You must contact your local postal service once the package enters your country to request a redirect. This sometimes works, often doesn’t. Best to provide the correct address at checkout.
Tips for Better Experience with AliExpress Standard Shipping
Order well in advance:
Never order something you need by a specific date unless you have substantial buffer time. Plan for 3 to 4 weeks minimum, even though it might arrive in 2 weeks.
Track proactively:
Check tracking once a week, not every day. Daily checking doesn’t make packages move faster and increases anxiety. Weekly checks let you catch actual problems without obsessing.
Use multiple tracking tools:
The AliExpress app is convenient, but 17track.net often provides more detailed information. Your local postal website gives the most accurate updates once the package enters your country.
Combine orders from the same seller:
If buying multiple items from one seller, add them all to your cart and check out together. Shipping often combines and you save money versus ordering separately.
Read shipping reviews on products:
Some product listings show reviews mentioning shipping times. Comments like “arrived in 14 days with AliExpress Standard” give you real-world data from buyers in your region.
Enable notifications:
Turn on AliExpress app notifications so you get alerts when packages update status. You’ll know when it’s out for delivery without constantly checking.
Keep an eye on buyer protection deadline:
This is visible in your order details. It’s usually 60 to 90 days from order date. If the package hasn’t arrived and the deadline is approaching, open a dispute for “item not received.” Don’t wait until after the deadline expires.
Is AliExpress Standard Shipping Reliable?
Overall reliability: Good
The method successfully delivers the vast majority of packages. Lost packages happen but are uncommon (under 2-3% of shipments). Delayed packages are more common than lost ones.
What makes it reliable:
- Uses established carriers with proven track records
- Tracking provides visibility throughout journey
- Partnerships with local postal services ensure final delivery
- AliExpress buyer protection covers you if packages don’t arrive
What can go wrong:
- Delays during peak seasons (common)
- Packages stuck in customs longer than expected (occasional)
- Lost packages (rare)
- Damaged packages (occasional, usually obvious at delivery)
- Seller ships late or provides fake tracking (rare, but happens with sketchy sellers)
Risk mitigation:
Choose sellers with high ratings (95%+) and many orders. They’re more likely to ship properly and use reliable logistics.
Track your packages regularly so you catch problems early.
Know your buyer protection deadline and act before it expires if there are issues.
Use credit cards for additional chargeback protection beyond AliExpress buyer protection.
Country-Specific Notes
United States:
Final delivery via USPS. Generally reliable. Rural areas take longer than cities. USPS tracking works well once package enters US. Customs in major ports (LA, New York, Chicago) usually efficient.
United Kingdom:
Final delivery via Royal Mail. Very reliable. London and major cities fast. Brexit added some customs complexity but AliExpress handles it. VAT collected at checkout, so no surprise fees.
Australia:
Final delivery via Australia Post. Reliable in cities. Remote areas and rural addresses add significant time. Australian customs generally quick but thorough.
Canada:
Final delivery via Canada Post. Generally reliable but customs in Canada can be slow. Sometimes packages sit in customs for 1 to 2 weeks. Rural areas take much longer than Toronto/Vancouver/Montreal.
European Union:
Varies by country. Germany, France, Netherlands usually fast. Southern and Eastern Europe slightly slower. VAT collected at checkout. No customs issues since it’s handled upfront.
Brazil:
Notoriously slow customs. Packages can sit in Brazilian customs for weeks. Overall delivery often at the high end of estimates (25-35 days). Not AliExpress’s fault, it’s the Brazilian customs system.
Takeaway
AliExpress Standard Shipping is the best all-around option for most orders. It’s not the fastest (that’s express) or the cheapest (that’s free economy), but it’s the sweet spot between speed, cost, and reliability.
Expect 2 to 3 weeks for delivery in most countries. Pay attention to tracking but don’t obsess over it. Understand that international shipping has inherent unpredictability, so build in buffer time for anything time-sensitive.
For the majority of AliExpress purchases where you want reasonable speed, reliable tracking, and affordable cost, choose AliExpress Standard Shipping. You’ll get your items in a reasonable timeframe without paying express shipping premiums.