What a Made to Order Print Actually Takes to Arrive

Production and shipping run on separate clocks, and both can slip. Here is a realistic timeline for a made to order print, plus the delays worth planning around.

Auvrique Editorial · Fine Art Editions

The short answer

A made to order print is not pulled from a shelf. Production typically takes 2 to 5 business days, then shipping adds roughly 3 to 7 business days domestically. Plan on one to two weeks door to door, and closer to three for international addresses or during busy periods.

The Timeline in Plain Numbers

Made to order means the print does not exist until someone orders it. The paper or canvas is printed, checked, then framed or stretched, and only after that is it packed and handed to a carrier. Production usually runs 2 to 5 business days. Framed pieces sit at the slower end of that range because the frame is cut and assembled after printing, not before.

Shipping is the second clock. Domestic delivery generally adds 3 to 7 business days once the parcel leaves the workshop. Add those together and a realistic door to door expectation is one to two weeks. International orders can run closer to three weeks once customs is involved, and that part is outside anyone's control. The published figures in the shipping policy reflect these same ranges (S1).

What Can Slow an Order Down

Most delays are boring and predictable. Large formats take longer to print and dry. Framed orders take longer than unframed ones. Peak seasons, particularly the weeks before major holidays, stretch both production and carrier transit. A wrong apartment number or an address missing a postcode will hold a parcel at a depot for days before anyone notices.

The honest answer to how quickly can I get a custom print shipped is therefore a range, not a date. Anyone working to a deadline should order at least three weeks ahead and treat anything faster as a bonus. If the piece is destined for a specific wall, it helps to decide the format early, since the choice between framed and canvas affects both cost and production time (A3).

Common causes of delay

Framed orders, because the frame is assembled after the print is produced
Oversized formats, which need longer printing and more careful packing
Holiday periods, when both workshops and carriers run behind schedule
Incomplete addresses, which can hold a parcel at a sorting depot for days

Ordering With a Date in Mind

If the print needs to be on a wall by a specific date, work backwards. Count two weeks from the intended hanging date, then order before that. This leaves room for a slipped production day and a slow carrier without any need to chase anything. Orders placed early in the week also tend to clear production before the weekend, which quietly saves two or three days.

One caveat applies here. Auvrique does not currently carry editions by Eugene Leroy, so the timelines above describe made to order printing generally rather than a specific Leroy catalogue. For guidance on where Leroy reproductions are actually sold, the buying guide covers the options (A1). The same production logic applies wherever the print is made, because the process barely varies between sellers.

A delivery date is a promise made by two different businesses, and only one of them is the printer.

Stage	Typical duration	Notes
Production	2 to 5 business days	Framed orders sit at the slower end
Domestic shipping	3 to 7 business days	Starts after production completes
International shipping	7 to 14 business days	Customs can add further delay
Total, door to door	1 to 3 weeks	Order three weeks ahead for deadlines

Typical made to order print timeline

Key takeaways

Production takes 2 to 5 business days before anything ships.
Domestic delivery adds roughly 3 to 7 business days on top of production.
A realistic door to door window is one to two weeks, or closer to three internationally.
Framed and oversized orders are the ones most likely to need the full estimate.

Related questions

Do framed prints take longer than canvas prints to arrive?

Usually, slightly. The print itself is produced at the same speed either way, but a frame is cut and assembled after printing, which can add a day or two to production. Canvas stretching is quicker. The difference is small, though it matters if a deadline is tight.

Can I track a made to order print once it ships?

In most cases yes. Once the parcel is handed to the carrier, a tracking number is issued and the remaining transit becomes visible. Tracking says nothing about production time, so a quiet tracking page during the first few days usually means the print is still being made.

What happens if my print arrives damaged?

Made to order does not mean no recourse. Damage in transit is normally covered by a replacement or refund under the seller's refund policy (S2), provided it is reported promptly with photographs. This is a different process from a generic marketplace return, so check the terms before ordering.

From the Auvrique collection

Made to order · Every size