- How shipping on Facebook Marketplace works
- Buying with shipping: what to check first
- Shipping versus local pickup
- How sellers turn on shipping
- The 7-day rule sellers must meet
- How sellers get paid, and tax
- Going away? Use vacation mode
- If you're outside the US
- Mistakes that cost sellers the sale
- My verdict
- Frequently asked questions
Yes, some Facebook Marketplace listings ship. With shipping and checkout, you can buy from sellers across the continental United States, pay inside Facebook, and the seller posts the item to you. Many listings are still local pickup only, and Facebook says some shipping features aren't available to all eligible sellers.
So the honest answer is: it depends on the listing and where you are. If a listing doesn't show a shipping option, that seller either hasn't turned it on or isn't eligible, and you'll need to collect in person.
Here's how shipping works for buyers and sellers, the deadline sellers have to meet, and how getting paid works. It all comes from Facebook's Help Center pages on Marketplace shipping, read in October 2026.
How shipping on Facebook Marketplace works
Facebook sums up shipping and checkout like this:
- You can buy and sell with people all over the continental United States, not just near you.
- The seller ships the item straight to the buyer.
- You pay, and get paid, through checkout on Marketplace.
- Eligible purchases are covered by Purchase Protection.
Facebook's shipping help is written for items sold by individual sellers with shipping and checkout. Local pickup works differently: you arrange to meet and pay the seller directly.
Buying with shipping: what to check first
- Look for the shipping option on the listing itself. If it isn't there, the item is local pickup only.
- Pay through checkout on Marketplace. That's the route Facebook's shipping help and Purchase Protection are built around.
- Keep your messages with the seller on Facebook, so the order history and your chat sit in one place.
- If an item doesn't arrive or isn't what you ordered, Facebook's shipping help has a section for exactly that, so start there before contacting the seller anywhere else.
Shipping versus local pickup
| Shipping and checkout | Local pickup | |
|---|---|---|
| Who you can buy from | Sellers across the continental US | Sellers near you |
| How you pay | Checkout on Marketplace | Arranged with the seller |
| Purchase Protection | Eligible purchases covered | Applies to checkout purchases |
| Tax | Collected at checkout in some states | Facebook doesn't handle it |
How sellers turn on shipping
- Go to Marketplace and choose Create new listing, then Item for sale.
- Enter the item's details.
- Click Next, then Set up shipping.
- Select Shipping, add the shipping details and follow the on-screen steps to publish.
If you don't see Set up shipping, Facebook says you may not be eligible right now. The first time you sell with shipping, you also have to set up your account so you can get paid. All sellers who use shipping and checkout agree to Facebook's Seller Performance and Accountability Policies.
The 7-day rule sellers must meet
This is the one that catches new sellers. To get paid, you have to mark the item as shipped, and add a tracking number if you're using your own label, within 7 calendar days. If you don't, Facebook automatically cancels the order, whatever you've agreed with the buyer in messages.
If you use a prepaid label, you don't need to mark the item as shipped yourself.
How sellers get paid, and tax
- Payouts go to the bank account or PayPal account you've set up for selling with shipping.
- Facebook collects tax at checkout, but only in marketplace facilitator states, and not for local pickup.
- If your sales reach a certain limit and you haven't given your tax identification number, transfers to your bank are held until you do.
- There's a selling fee on orders with shipping. Facebook explains it on a separate help page, so check it before you price an item.
Going away? Use vacation mode
If you sell with shipping and you'll be unavailable, turn on vacation mode in your Marketplace settings. While it's on, your listings don't appear in searches and buyers can't place orders or message you. Facebook says it also stops orders being cancelled while you're unable to act on them, which protects you from that 7-day rule.
If you're outside the US
Facebook's shipping help describes buying and selling across the continental United States. If you're in the UK, Canada or Australia and can't find shipping on a listing, plan on local pickup and agree the handover with the seller. My guide to what ISO, OBO and Pending mean on Facebook Marketplace helps with the messages you'll swap along the way.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Mistakes that cost sellers the sale
- Agreeing a later posting date in chat. Facebook cancels at 7 days regardless of what you've agreed.
- Forgetting the tracking number when using your own label.
- Leaving listings live while away instead of switching on vacation mode.
- Skipping the tax ID request, which can hold your transfers once your sales reach Facebook's limit.
My verdict
As a buyer, shipping is worth using when it's offered, because checkout and Purchase Protection give you more cover than paying a stranger directly. As a seller, only switch it on if you can post within 7 days every time, and use vacation mode whenever you can't. When an item's sold elsewhere, remember to delete the Marketplace listing so nobody orders it.
Frequently asked questions
Does Facebook Marketplace ship items?
Yes, when the seller offers shipping and checkout. Facebook says you can buy and sell with people across the continental United States, and the seller ships directly to the buyer.
Why can't I see shipping on Facebook Marketplace?
Facebook says some shipping features aren't available to all eligible sellers. If a seller doesn't see Set up shipping when listing, they may not be eligible right now.
How long do sellers have to ship on Facebook Marketplace?
Sellers have 7 calendar days to ship and mark the order as shipped. Otherwise Facebook automatically cancels it.
Is Facebook Marketplace shipping protected?
Eligible purchases made with shipping and checkout are covered by Purchase Protection, according to Facebook's help pages.
Can I use vacation mode on Facebook Marketplace?
Yes, if you sell with shipping. While it's on, your listings don't show in search, buyers can't order or message you, and orders aren't cancelled while you're away.
Do I need to mark a Marketplace item as shipped with a prepaid label?
No. Facebook says that if you use a prepaid label you don't need to mark the item as shipped. With your own label, you must mark it shipped and add tracking.
Does Facebook collect tax on Marketplace shipping orders?
Facebook collects tax at checkout only in marketplace facilitator states, and doesn't handle tax for local pickup.
