Shipping & Delivery

Last updated: 6 November 2026

Ordering for Christmas?

In-stock books leave our London office within 3–5 working days. To arrive before Christmas by Royal Mail, order in-stock titles by:

🇬🇧 United KingdomFri 11 December
🇪🇺 Europe & IrelandTue 8 December
🇺🇸 US & CanadaFri 4 December
🌍 Australia & rest of worldWed 2 December

Printed-to-order books need 20–30 working days before carrier transit, so a printed-to-order book ordered after Fri 6 November is unlikely to arrive before Christmas, even in the UK. For gifts, choose an in-stock title or an eBook or audiobook, which are delivered by email straight after payment.

Order-by dates are Royal Mail’s last recommended posting dates less our dispatch window. They are a guide, not a guaranteed Christmas arrival date; customs and carrier delays can still intervene. Check the estimate for your country below.

Check dispatch and delivery

Delivery countryEdition

This edition is a pre-order or awaiting production scheduling

Choose your delivery country to see an estimated arrival window.

Includes preparation and typical carrier transit. Counts weekdays; public holidays, customs and carrier delays may extend this estimate. Pre-orders begin after release.

At a glance

Printed to order for you

Most printed-to-order books currently leave within 20–30 working days while we clear the present production queue; occasionally it may take up to 35.

In stock and dispatched within the week

Most orders for books held in stock currently leave within 3–5 working days.

Carrier delivery begins after dispatch. Tracking is emailed when available.

Delivery charges are calculated at checkout for your items, delivery address and chosen service, in your selected currency.

Typical carrier time after dispatch

🇬🇧 United Kingdom3–6 working days
🇪🇺 Europe7–14 working days
🇺🇸 US & Canada7–14 working days
🌍 Rest of world10–21 working days

Special editions and pre-orders

Each Thumbprint Collector’s Edition is prepared individually, so dispatch can take 2–3 weeks. Carrier delivery begins after dispatch.

Pre-order timing begins after release. Where production is awaiting scheduling, dispatch timing will be confirmed for that edition.

Customs, VAT & Import Fees

For physical books shipped outside the United Kingdom, local import VAT, customs duty, postal clearance, or carrier handling fees may be charged by the destination country. These charges are not currently prepaid at checkout unless the checkout specifically says so.

Read the customs guide

Digital Products

Released eBooks, audiobooks, and digital downloads are delivered by email after payment. Digital pre-order links are sent on release. No physical item is shipped unless the edition includes a physical bundle.

How physical books are dispatched

Irving Books has offices in Austin and London. Most physical books are either dispatched from stock or printed to order by our print partners. This means your copy is freshly printed or dispatched from held stock according to the product and order. Most printed-to-order books currently leave within 20–30 working days while we clear the present production queue; occasionally it may take up to 35. Most orders for books held in stock currently leave within 3–5 working days.

Tracking

All tracked shipments include a tracking number sent via email once your order is dispatched. You can track your parcel via Royal Mail or your local postal service.