Use minimum handling time [min_handling_time] and maximum handling time [max_handling_time] to help us give users accurate information on your ads and free listings 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 is dispatched.
In this article
When to use
Optional
The minimum handling time [min_handling_time] and maximum handling time [max_handling_time] attributes allow you to provide handling time for your offers. Use them alongside the delivery [shipping] attribute to provide delivery information for your offers. These attributes can be used instead of the minimum handling time [min_handling_time] and maximum handling time [max_handling_time] sub-attributes of the delivery [shipping] attribute.
If both the handling time attributes and handling time sub-attributes of the delivery [shipping] attribute are present, the sub-attributes will be used. Learn more about the delivery [shipping] attribute.
Format
Follow these formatting guidelines to make sure that Google understands the data that you're submitting. Learn how to submit attributes and attribute values.
| 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> |
| 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 resource.
Minimum requirements
These are the requirements that 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 your Merchant Center account.
- Use working days. For example, if a customer orders on Tuesday and the delivery leaves the warehouse on Friday at the latest, the maximum handling time is three days.
Note: By default, your working days will be set as Monday to Friday, but you can specify different working days, including weekends, in your Merchant Center account.
Best practices
These best practices can help you to go beyond the basic requirements to optimise your product data for performance.
- If your products are always ready to be dispatched on the same day that the order is placed, submit 1. The value of maximum order handling time needs to be at least 1.
- If your products may or may not be ready to be dispatched on the same day, use 1 or a larger number. For example, you should enter a number 1 or a larger number 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 delivery speed for ads and free listings, use the delivery sub-attributes for handling time and transit time instead of these standalone attributes. Learn more about the delivery
[shipping]attribute.