Use minimum handling time [min_handling_time] and maximum handling time [max_handling_time] to help us give users accurate information about how long it will take for a product to arrive at its destination. Maximum and minimum handling time are the longest and shortest amounts of time between when an order is placed and when the product ships.
When to use
Required for Buy on Google if not configured at the account level.
For Buy on Google, the minimum handling time [min_handling_time] and maximum handling time [max_handling_time] attributes (which are defined at the item-level) will take priority over the handling time set in Merchant Center.
Optional for Shopping ads and free listings
If you’d like to show shipping speed in your ads and free listings, it is recommended you use the minimum handling time [min_handling_time] and maximum handling time [max_handling_time] sub-attributes of the shipping [shipping] attribute instead of standalone attributes. The minimum handling time and maximum handling time sub-attributes of the shipping attribute allow for region-specific handling times and are used in combination with the minimum transit time [min_transit_time] and maximum transit time [max_transit_time] sub-attributes of the shipping attribute to provide estimated delivery times. Learn more about the shipping attribute
Refrain from using the shipping sub-attributes for handling time and the standalone handling time attributes simultaneously. For ads and free listings, the shipping sub-attributes are recommended. If both sets of attributes are provided for a product, the shipping sub-attributes will override standalone handling time attributes.
Format
Follow these formatting guidelines to make sure Google understands the data you're submitting.
| Type | Number (whole number) |
|---|---|
| Repeated field | No |
| File format | Example entry |
|---|---|
| Text (TVS) | 1 |
| XML (Feeds) | <g:min_handling_time>1</g:min_handling_time> |
To format your data for Content API, see the Content API for Shopping.
| File format | Example entry |
|---|---|
| Text (TVS) | 3 |
| XML (Feeds) | <g:max_handling_time>3</g:max_handling_time> |
To format your data for Content API, see the Content API for Shopping.
Minimum requirements
These are the requirements you'll need to meet to show your product. If you don't follow these requirements, we'll disapprove your product and let you know in the Diagnostics page in your Merchant Center account.
- Use business days. For example, if a customer orders on Tuesday and the shipment leaves the warehouse latest on Friday, the maximum handling time is 3 days.
- Note: By default, your business days will be set to Monday through Friday, but you can specify different business days, including weekends, in your Merchant Center account.
Best practices
These best practices can help you go beyond the basic requirements to optimize your product data for performance.
- If your products are always ready to ship on the same day the order is placed, submit 0.
- If your products may or may not be ready to ship on the same day, use 1 or a larger number. For example, you should enter a number larger than 0 if you allow orders to be placed after business hours.
- If you are more comfortable giving a range than a specific number, you can use the maximum handling time
[max_handling_time]attribute together with the minimum handling time[min_handling_time]attribute. If you don’t want to express a range, you don't need to use the minimum handling time attribute. - If you want to show shipping speed for ads and free listings, use the shipping sub-attributes for handling time and transit time instead of these standalone attributes. Learn more about shipping