So, how long does a suncatcher order take? Every SunCatchery piece is made to order, so it is not sitting on a shelf waiting for you. In total, plan on about 7 to 13 business days from the day you order to the day it arrives: 2 to 3 business days to make it, then 5 to 10 business days for delivery within the US. Here is what happens at each stage, so you know what to expect.
A quick note on the numbers: business days are Monday to Friday. Weekends do not count, and a week with a holiday in it can stretch things a little.
How long does a suncatcher order take to make? 2 to 3 business days
Once you place your order, it goes to our print partner, Merchize, who makes each piece. This is the part that takes 2 to 3 business days.
Here is what making one involves. Your design is printed on the frosted back of a sheet of 3mm clear acrylic. Then the piece is cut to the outline of the design, so there is no frame or square edge around it. If you chose the optional cut crystal drop, it hangs below the acrylic piece.
Because each suncatcher is printed after you order, there is a short wait up front. The upside is that nothing sits in a warehouse for months before it reaches you.
Delivery: 5 to 10 business days within the US
When your suncatcher is made, it ships and travels to you. Delivery takes 5 to 10 business days. We ship within the US only, and shipping is free within the US, so there is no shipping charge to add at checkout.
The range is wide because distance and carrier routes vary. A shorter trip will usually land nearer to 5 days, and a longer one closer to 10.
Here is the whole timeline at a glance:
- Making: 2 to 3 business days
- Delivery: 5 to 10 business days
- Total: about 7 to 13 business days
Acrylic is lighter than glass and does not shatter, so a suncatcher travels well. For the full policy on shipping and returns, see our shipping and returns page.
Tracking and what the email tells you
You will get an order confirmation right after checkout. Keep it, because it has your order number if you ever need to write to us.
The second email is the one to watch for. It is the shipping email, and it tells you that your piece has been made and is now on its way. It normally includes tracking information, so you can follow the parcel to your door.
Two things are worth knowing:
- Tracking does not start on day one. The piece has to be made first, so a quiet 2 to 3 business days after you order is normal. It does not mean something has gone wrong.
- Tracking can be slow to move at first. A new tracking link sometimes takes a day or so to show its first update after the shipping email arrives.
If both the making time and the delivery window have passed and nothing has arrived, write to us with your order number and we will look into it.
Ordering ahead of a date that matters
If your suncatcher is for a birthday, a holiday or a housewarming, work backwards from the date. Use the slow end of the range: 3 business days to make and 10 business days to deliver is 13 business days, or about two and a half weeks.
A simple plan looks like this:
- Count back 13 business days from the day you need it in hand.
- Add a few spare days on top, so the gift is not racing the calendar.
- Place your order on or before that day.
We cannot promise a delivery on one particular day, so ordering early is the safest plan. If you are still choosing a design, you can browse all of our suncatchers while you decide.
When it arrives, it takes only a few minutes to put up. A suncatcher hangs from a chain, from one point, high in a window that gets direct sun for part of the day. A small suction hook is enough because acrylic is light. The acrylic gives the glow of colour, and if you added the crystal drop, it throws rainbows, but only in direct sun. Our hanging and care guide walks through the details.
So the short answer is this: about 2 to 3 business days to make, then 5 to 10 business days to arrive within the US. Order a little earlier than you think you need to, and your suncatcher will be ready to catch the light when you are.