We know that timeliness is critical to your success with print projects. Understanding the factors around a project’s in-hand date is helpful in setting proper expectations for your customers. Many of these are within your control: meeting the order cutoff time, plus the turnaround time and shipping time you select.
Cutoff Time
The time by which you must submit your artwork and complete your purchase starts the turnaround time clock. If you miss the day’s cutoff, the time you see is for the next business day.
Cutoff time is determined by the turnaround time you choose. It is either 12 pm in the PRODUCTION FACILITY’S time zone — not the time in your own location or where the project is being shipped to. For example, if you are in the Central time zone, you would need to submit by 11:00 am your time to make the 12:00 pm cutoff time for a facility located in the Eastern time zone.
Turnaround Time (TAT)
TAT is the number of business days it takes to produce and prepare your project for shipping or pickup.
Here’s when the clock starts ticking:
Did you meet the cutoff time? Your project’s TAT starts the same day.
Did you miss the cutoff time?
TAT starts the next business day. Projects are shipped on the last day of (or sometimes before) the end of the TAT time.
Shipping Time
This is the amount of time it takes for your project to be shipped from our production facility and arrive at the destination address. Next-day shipping is just that and arrives the next business day.
If you choose ground shipping, consult our ground shipping page for estimated shipping times.
In-Hands Date
This is the anticipated date to receive your project and is influenced by the cutoff time, turnaround time, and shipping time.
See the table below for examples.
Days to In-Hand ExamplesNext Day In-Hand
Meet cutoff time
Same-day turnaround time
Next-day shipping time
7 Days In-Hand
Meet cutoff time
4-day turnaround time
3-day shipping time
8 Days In-Hand
Missed cutoff time
4-day turnaround time
3-day shipping time
NOTE: The in-hand date is a combination of the production time and the shipping time, which means it is the date you will receive your items in person.
If you submit your order by the cutoff time, your in-hand date includes production time and shipping time. Projects submitted after the cutoff time, go into production the following business day.
Turnaround Time (TAT)
Cut-Off Time
Shipped By / Pick-up Ready
Same Day
12:00 pM - Facility Time Zone
5:00 PM - Facility Time Zone
Next Day
12:00 PM - Facility Time Zone
5:00 PM - Facility Time Zone
3 Days
12:00 AM - Facility Time Zone
5:00 PM - Facility Time Zone
4 Days
12:00 PM - Facility Time Zone
5:00 PM - Facility Time Zone
5 Days
12:00 PM - Facility Time Zone
5:00 PM - Facility Time Zone
7 Days
12:00 PM - Facility Time Zone
5:00 PM - Facility Time Zone
9 Days
12:00 PM - Facility Time Zone
5:00 PM - Facility Time Zone
Group shipping and bundling services may add 1-2 days to TAT
Booklets, calendars, and catalogs require review and approval of a digital proof prior to production. It may take up to one business day to receive that proof.
Local delivery orders are delivered on the next scheduled day for your zone (excludes day of production).
