Shipping policy
Where we ship
We ship to addresses in the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii) and Canada. We are not able to deliver to PO boxes, APO/FPO addresses, or freight forwarders.
Australia and Europe are coming soon. We are not accepting orders for those regions yet.
Shipping rates
- Orders of $125 or more ship free.
- Essential members ship free on orders of $75 or more. You must be signed in to your account at checkout for the member minimum to apply.
- Orders below the applicable minimum are charged a $15 flat rate for the entire order, shown at checkout before payment. There are no per-item, oversize, or freight surcharges.
- All furniture ships free, as every furniture item we sell is priced above the member minimum.
- Canadian orders are charged in Canadian dollars. The free shipping minimum and the flat rate are converted from US dollars at the exchange rate in effect, and the converted amounts are shown at checkout before payment.
Processing and delivery times
Made-to-order and factory-direct items take 20 to 30 business days (approximately 4 to 6 weeks) from the date of order. That window breaks down as roughly one to two weeks in production while your item is built, the majority of the remaining time in ocean transit, and the final few days with a domestic carrier.
Ready-to-ship items held in our US warehouse typically arrive within 5 business days.
The estimated delivery window for a specific item is listed on its product page and shown at checkout. Orders placed on weekends and holidays begin processing on the next business day. Supply chain conditions and peak periods may change these timelines; we will notify you if your order is affected.
Tracking
You will receive tracking information as soon as your order begins moving. Factory-direct items are issued two tracking numbers: one for ocean freight and one for the domestic carrier.
Please note: the domestic tracking number (FedEx, UPS, or similar) is issued early but remains inactive and shows no movement until your item completes ocean transit and is handed to the last-mile carrier. A domestic tracking number that appears static for several weeks is expected and does not indicate a lost order. Use the ocean tracking number during that period. Once the handoff occurs, the domestic number becomes active and updates daily until delivery.
Damaged, delayed or missing orders
If your order arrives damaged, arrives incorrect, or is running materially later than the window shown at checkout, contact us at care@theessential.com with your order number. We will replace the item, or resolve it another way if replacement is not possible.
Returns
Eligible items may be returned within 30 days of delivery for store credit, using a prepaid label we provide. Memberships, furniture and bulky items, made-to-order and factory-direct items, food and beverages, and Deals items are final sale. Full details are in our Return and Refund Policy.
Questions
Email care@theessential.com with your order number and we will help.
These shipping minimums and rates apply to orders placed on theessential.com and take effect 22 August 2026.