Black Friday 2026: Shipping Prep Checklist for Sellers

Last year, a Shopify seller I know managed to process an overwhelming 4,200 orders between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Typically, they handle around 400 orders per week. Their makeshift packing area—a simple folding table in the garage—became insufficient. By Sunday morning, they found themselves shipping orders from the kitchen floor while their spouse prepared breakfast.

Black Friday 2026 lands on November 27th, with Cyber Monday following on November 30th. But in reality, "Black Friday" sales now extend from the week before through the first week of December. This creates a critical 10-day shipping sprint for most sellers.

This checklist is your action plan—complete with practical steps and deadlines—to prepare for the holiday rush.

Phase 1: Infrastructure (October 1 - November 1)

Shipping Supplies Audit

Conduct a thorough inventory check by October 15th. Supplies often sell out or face long lead times in November due to increased demand.

Start by assessing how many boxes you typically use in a month and plan to have three times that amount on hand. You'll be shipping at a rapid pace, and running out of boxes is not an option. For lightweight items, which tend to sell more during the holiday season, stock up on poly mailers—about four times your usual monthly usage should suffice.

Packing tape is another crucial item. Ensure you have enough tape guns for each packer, plus backups. Bubble wrap is essential for fragile items, and you should double your normal supply. Don't overlook shipping labels; having at least 5,000 4x6 thermal labels will help prevent any unexpected pauses in your shipping process. Given the holiday season, consider stocking up on at least 500 sheets of tissue paper or gift packaging for a nicer presentation.

Thank-you cards or inserts should match your label count to maintain a consistent brand touchpoint during this peak impression season. Order your supplies from vendors like Uline, EcoEnclose, or Amazon by October 15th. While Uline ships quickly, even their delivery times can slow down in November.

Carrier Account Setup

If you aren’t already utilizing discounted shipping rates, now is the time to start. Open business accounts with major carriers like UPS and FedEx by October 15th, as approval can take a few days. Apply for USPS Commercial Plus pricing through shipping platforms to secure better rates.

Set up multi-carrier shipping software by November 1st. Options like Atoship, ShipStation, or Pirate Ship can help streamline your process. Confirm your daily pickup schedule by November 15th, ensuring that all carriers, including those offering Saturday pickups, are accounted for. Print test labels from each carrier by November 20th to verify that all accounts are functioning correctly before the rush begins.

Space and Equipment

Evaluate your packing space needs. You may need to clear out a room, rent temporary space, or set up additional tables in the garage. The cost can range from $0 to $500 per month, depending on your solution.

Consider investing in a second shipping scale, costing between $25 and $50, to improve efficiency. A thermal label printer, such as a ROLLO or DYMO 4XL, will facilitate faster label printing at a cost of $150 to $200. Ensure each person packing has a tape dispenser, priced at $15 to $25 each, to streamline the packing process. Set up packing stations with folding tables, keeping supplies within arm's reach for maximum efficiency. These tables typically cost between $40 and $60 each.

Phase 2: Systems & Software (November 1-15)

Shipping Rules Configuration

Automate as much as possible before the holiday madness starts. Establish default carriers based on the weight of the items. For items weighing less than one pound, use USPS Ground Advantage. For items between one and five pounds, compare USPS Priority and UPS Ground to choose the cheapest option. Items over five pounds should default to UPS Ground or FedEx Ground.

For expedited shipping, offer USPS Priority Mail with a 2-3 day delivery estimate. For rush shipping, consider FedEx 2Day or UPS 2nd Day Air. Determine your free shipping threshold now—$50 or $75—and incorporate this cost into your pricing margin.

Inventory Sync

Overselling during Black Friday and Cyber Monday (BFCM) can lead to cancelled orders, upset customers, and chargebacks. Ensure your inventory counts are accurate by performing a physical count of your top 50 SKUs. Test your multi-channel sync by changing the quantity on one channel and verifying that others update accordingly. Set low-stock alerts for fast-moving items at a threshold of five units.

Have a backup supplier ready for your top 10 SKUs to avoid restocking issues. If you anticipate selling out, configure pre-orders with a clear ship date to manage customer expectations.

Website Shipping Page Updates

Update your website's shipping page with BFCM-specific information. Include order-by dates for Christmas delivery, categorized by carrier and shipping speed. Be transparent about your current processing time; if it’s three days, state that clearly. Outline your holiday return policy and specify whether gift wrapping is available. Address frequently asked questions, such as "Will my order arrive by Christmas?" to reduce customer inquiries.

Phase 3: Pre-Black Friday Week (November 20-26)

The Week-Before Checklist

Prepare a day-by-day checklist to ensure you're ready:

• Monday, November 23: Conduct a final inventory count and update all channels.
• Tuesday, November 24: Pack all pending orders to clear the queue.
• Wednesday, November 25: Test all systems, including payment, shipping, and email. Ensure you have extra supplies packed and pre-print labels for anticipated orders if you have pre-orders.
• Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving): Take a well-deserved rest. Enjoy the holiday and recharge for the busy days ahead.

Staffing Plan

If you're a solo operator, hiring temporary help during BFCM is crucial.

• For under 100 orders per day, you’ll need assistance from at least one helper.
• At 100-300 orders per day, employ 2-3 helpers.
• For 300-1000 orders, a team of 5-8 helpers and a supervisor is advisable.
• Over 1000 orders per day may require outsourcing to a fulfillment center or having a dedicated warehouse team.

Compensate your helpers fairly, given the physical demands and time sensitivity of the work. A rate of $18-22 per hour is reasonable for temporary packing help.

Phase 4: Black Friday Through Cyber Monday (November 27-30)

Hourly Operations Schedule

Implement a structured schedule to manage high order volumes effectively:

• 6:00 AM: Review overnight orders and start batch printing labels.
• 7:00 AM: Begin packing, prioritizing expedited and overnight orders.
• 10:00 AM: Conduct the first carrier pickup or drop-off run.
• 10:30 AM: Check inventory levels and update listings if stocks are low.
• 12:00 PM: Take a lunch break, staggering times if you have a team.
• 12:30 PM: Continue packing and print the next batch of labels.
• 3:00 PM: Conduct a second carrier pickup, usually the last for next-day shipments.
• 4:00 PM: Process remaining orders and respond to customer emails.
• 6:00 PM: Reconcile orders received versus orders shipped, noting any backlog.
• 7:00 PM: Prepare for the next day by restocking packing stations and printing pending labels.

Order Priority System

Not all orders carry the same priority during BFCM. Implement a priority system to manage shipments:

• P1 - Urgent: For orders with overnight or express shipping, ship by the same day before the 3 PM pickup.
• P2 - High: Orders with gift notes or expedited shipping should also be shipped on the same day.
• P3 - Normal: Standard shipping orders placed today should be shipped within 24 hours.
• P4 - Batch: Handle standard shipping orders in large volumes within 48 hours.

Dealing with Issues in Real-Time

Be prepared to address common issues that arise during BFCM:

• If you run out of a box size, use the next size up with additional padding to avoid shipping delays.
• Keep backup labels and a regular printer on hand in case of a label printer jam.
• If a carrier misses a pickup, be ready to drive to the nearest drop-off location.
• For oversold items, promptly email customers with options to wait for a restock, substitute the product, or receive a full refund.
• Have emergency contact details for your hosting provider in case of a website crash and consider upgrading to handle increased traffic.
• Monitor payment processors like Stripe and PayPal for issues and have a backup processor available.

Phase 5: Post-BFCM Recovery (December 1-7)

The First Week of December Checklist

• December 2: Ship all remaining BFCM orders and send shipping confirmations with tracking information to all customers.
• December 3: Restock top-selling items.
• December 5: Review BFCM performance, focusing on orders, revenue, and shipping costs. Address any customer complaints related to shipping delays.
• December 7: Plan December promotions, such as "12 Days of Christmas."

BFCM Performance Metrics to Track

Evaluate your BFCM performance by tracking these key metrics:

• Total orders: Compare them to last year or your last major sale.
• Average shipping cost per order: Determine whether your carrier choices saved you money.
• Ship time: Measure from order placement to carrier scan, aiming for under 24 hours for standard and under 4 hours for express orders.
• Customer complaints about shipping: Track the percentage of orders with issues.
• Return rate: Compare this to non-sale periods.
• Revenue per shipping dollar: Calculate by dividing total revenue by total shipping spend.

Shipping Cost Control During BFCM

Shipping costs can quickly erode your BFCM margins. Implement these cost-saving tactics:

• Use poly mailers for soft goods instead of boxes to save 30-50% per shipment.
• Regional carriers may offer 15-25% savings compared to national carriers for local deliveries.
• Batch printing and shipping can save time and reduce labor costs.
• Negotiate BFCM rates with carriers in October for potential savings of 5-15%.
• Utilize cubic pricing with USPS for small, heavy items to save up to 40%.
• Combine orders from the same customer to eliminate one shipment entirely.

The Free Shipping Math

Offering free shipping during BFCM can increase conversion rates by 20-30%, but it's essential to know your numbers:

• If your average order value is $25 and the average shipping cost is $6, shipping accounts for 24% of revenue, which is unsustainable.
• For an order value of $50 with an $8 shipping cost, shipping represents 16% of revenue, which is more manageable.
• At $75 with a $10 shipping cost, shipping is 13% of revenue, which is healthy.
• For $100 orders with a $12 shipping cost, shipping is 12% of revenue, which is good.

Set your free shipping threshold to ensure shipping costs remain under 15% of the order value. For most sellers, a $50-75 minimum order will work.

The Master Checklist (Print This Out)

Here's everything you need in one place:

Audit and order shipping supplies by Oct 15.

Set up/verify carrier accounts by Oct 15.

Configure shipping rules and automation by Nov 1.

Conduct a physical inventory count by Nov 1.

Update your website's shipping page by Nov 10.

Hire and train temporary help by Nov 15.

Set up packing stations by Nov 20.

Confirm your carrier pickup schedule by Nov 22.

Conduct a final systems test by Nov 25.

Rest on Thanksgiving, Nov 26.

Execute BFCM shipping from Nov 27-30.

Clear any backlog by Dec 2.

Conduct a post-mortem review by Dec 5.

Print this checklist, tape it to your wall, and check off tasks as you complete them. Those who successfully navigate BFCM are the ones who prepare well in advance, not those who scramble at the last minute.