Etsy International Shipping 2026: DDP for US Orders and EU Product IDs

By Syed M. Tahir · Published 2026-11-12 · 9 min read

Two Etsy shipping rules changed in 2026. Orders going to buyers in the United States now need duties and import fees paid up front, and parcels going into the European Union need product identifiers on the customs declaration. This guide explains what each rule says, who it applies to and what to check before you buy a label. Every rule comes from Etsy’s own Help Center, Seller Handbook or policies, linked at the end.

Quick answer. If you ship from outside the US to a buyer in the US, Etsy requires a Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) shipping method from 9 July 2026, and an order only qualifies for Etsy Purchase Protection if duties and import fees were included up front. For the EU, from 1 November 2026 customs declarations for goods sold online in packages worth €150 or less must include product identifiers for each item. Labels bought on Etsy send these for you. Rules and carrier options change, so check Etsy Help before you ship.

DDP vs DDU: who pays the import charges

Etsy describes two ways that tariffs, duties and taxes get paid on an international parcel:

• Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU): the buyer pays any tariffs, duties, taxes and carrier handling fees when the order arrives in their country.
• Delivered Duty Paid (DDP): you prepay tariffs, duties, taxes and other import fees when you buy the shipping label, so you can build those costs into your price up front.

The difference matters at the door. A buyer who was not expecting a bill may refuse the parcel. Etsy says DDP can help reduce delivery delays, refused shipments and unexpected charges at delivery.

DDP for US orders and Purchase Protection

Etsy’s Seller Handbook says that starting 9 July 2026, if you ship from outside the United States to a US buyer, you must use DDP. The Seller Policy says orders shipped to the United States must use a DDP method, not DDU or anything else that leaves buyers paying extra fees after purchase.

The rule is tied to Etsy Purchase Protection. One of the eligibility conditions on Etsy’s Purchase Protection page is that “duties and import fees are included upfront if the order is shipping into the US.” When an order is eligible, Etsy covers up to $250 of a refund (or the local-currency equivalent), even if the order total is higher, and the seller is charged the rest. It does not cover the whole order, so Etsy suggests shipping insurance for orders over $250.

Ship a US order DDU and it does not meet that condition. Etsy’s Handbook says that if it then arrives late or never arrives, you may be responsible for the refund if the buyer opens a case. The Seller Policy adds that a refund outside Purchase Protection can include customs duties or import fees the buyer paid because you did not use DDP when required, and that Etsy may refund the buyer and recoup the money from your account, including your payment account reserve if the buyer paid through Etsy Payments.

Etsy’s Handbook says exceptions apply only in countries where DDP services are not available. In that case you need to state in your listing that duties are not included in your price, message the buyer with the estimated duty and carrier fees, and get their agreement before you ship. Etsy’s Shipping Policy describes these as limited exceptions at Etsy’s discretion, so read the current pages before relying on one.

How to ship DDP

Check that the specific service you choose prepays duties, not just that the carrier offers DDP somewhere. Etsy’s international shipments Help article lists recommended third-party shipping services and carriers that offer DDP, by the country you ship from. A few points from that page, as of 12 November 2026:

• UK to US: you can buy Royal Mail DDP labels directly on Etsy by choosing Royal Mail International Tracked DDP as the shipping service.
• Canada to US: some goods may enter the US tariff-free under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) if they meet its rules of origin. Etsy’s table notes which DDP carriers can account for this.
• Paused labels: since 25 August 2025, Etsy has suspended on-Etsy label purchases for Canada Post and Evri for US-bound packages until those carriers can support DDP. This can change, so re-check the Help article.

Etsy notes that the US ended the de minimis exemption for tariffs from 29 August 2025. Its Handbook also mentions a US tariffs estimator in the listing form, powered by a third party (Zonos). Etsy says it does not guarantee those estimates, so treat them as a guide only.

Customs forms still have to be right

DDP or not, Etsy says you are solely responsible for the accuracy of customs forms. Etsy labels pre-fill some fields from your listing, but check them:

• Weight: package weights cannot be fractional and should be rounded up to the nearest whole number.
• Names: give your full name and your shop name as the sender, and the buyer’s full name even if the address is a business.
• Description: on single-item orders Etsy uses the item title if it is under 50 characters. Edit it if needed.
• Declared value: filled in from the order total including discounts. Etsy does not include shipping or tax, only the items’ price and quantity.
• Tariff code length: Etsy says shipments to the EU worth €150 or less need a 6-digit HTS code, EU shipments worth more than €150 need a 10-digit EU commodity code plus country of origin, and shipments to the US need a 10-digit HTS code.

Parcels without a required tariff code may be delayed or returned. Etsy Support cannot choose a code for you, and neither can DailyToolLab. Etsy links official lookup sites and suggests a tax professional.

EU product identifiers from 1 November 2026

From 1 November 2026, customs declarations for goods sold online and imported into the EU in packages valued at €150 or less must include product identifiers for each item. There are three kinds:

• M-PID (Merchant Product Identifier): your Etsy listing ID.
• NS-PID (Non-standardised Manufacturer Product Identifier): your listing SKU.
• S-PID (Standardised Manufacturer Product Identifier): a code such as an EAN, ISBN or UPC, if your item has one.

Labels bought on Etsy: Etsy submits the M-PID and NS-PID automatically, so you do not enter them at checkout. Make sure each listing SKU is accurate and specific to the item or variation you ship. If a listing has no SKU, Etsy uses the listing ID. To add your own identifier, update the SKU in the listing.

Labels bought elsewhere: your carrier may ask for these fields. Etsy says you can use the listing ID as the M-PID and the listing SKU as the NS-PID. The listing ID is the number in your listing’s URL.

S-PID: give it only if your item has a standardised identifier and the carrier asks for it. If it does not have one, which is common for handmade items, follow your carrier’s instructions for declaring that no standardised identifier exists. Other marketplaces have their own processes for these fields.

Related EU import charges

Etsy’s customs fees and VAT Help article lists other charges on parcels sent into the EU from outside the EU:

• VAT: Etsy charges EU buyers VAT on physical orders dispatched from outside the EU when the package value (including gift wrap, excluding delivery) is €150 or less. Etsy labels transmit Etsy’s IOSS number for you. Elsewhere, make sure your carrier transmits the IOSS number Etsy shows next to VAT-eligible orders.
• €3 customs duty: as of 1 July 2026, €3 per item applies to orders under €150, on top of VAT. How it is collected can vary by carrier.
• €2 Union handling fee: from 1 November 2026, charged once per unique item on the customs declaration, whatever the package value. Some carriers include it in the label price and others collect it later.

For packages over €150, VAT and duty are assessed at entry and the buyer may be charged amounts not shown at checkout. Etsy suggests considering a DDP service so these charges can be paid in advance.

Price the cost in, don’t guess the duty

Prepaid duties are a real cost, so they have to come out of your price. Etsy’s Handbook recommends that sellers outside the US set US-specific prices to cover tariff costs, and suggests noting in listings that prices include duties and fees. You can also build the DDP label cost into your US shipping price. Our guide to pricing Etsy shipping covers shipping profiles and free shipping.

Etsy’s 6.5% transaction fee applies to the shipping you charge as well as the item price. Run your planned US price and shipping through the Etsy Fee & Profit Calculator to see what you keep. Our tools do not calculate duties or VAT; use your DDP carrier’s quote.

Weigh and size the packed parcel

Carriers price the packed parcel, and customs forms need the right weight. Before you buy a label:

1. Pack the item exactly as it will ship and weigh it, then round up as Etsy asks.
2. Measure length, width and height and enter them in the Shipping Package Size Helper to check box size and dimensional weight.
3. Use the result to compare DDP services. The helper is not a postage or duty quote.

For how carriers turn box size into billable weight, see USPS dimensional weight explained.

Checked against Etsy Help, the Etsy Seller Handbook and Etsy’s Seller Policy on 12 November 2026. Re-check the linked pages before you ship, as carrier options and fees can change. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or customs advice.

Related guides

• How to price Etsy shipping — fixed, calculated and free shipping
• How Etsy fees work — what Etsy takes, including fees on shipping
• USPS dimensional weight — billable weight for packed parcels
• Etsy & Seller Tools hub — all our free seller calculators

Sources

• Etsy Help – Information for Managing International Shipments
• Etsy Help – What is Etsy’s Purchase Protection for Sellers?
• Etsy Help – Custom Fees and Physical VAT Collection
• Etsy Help – Etsy Fee Basics
• Etsy Seller Handbook – Navigating Evolving Global Tariff Policies
• Etsy – Seller Policy
• Etsy – Shipping Policy

This guide is general information for Etsy sellers, not legal, tax or customs advice. Etsy’s rules and carrier options change, so always confirm in the Etsy Help Center and with your carrier (last checked 12 November 2026). DailyToolLab is not affiliated with Etsy Inc.