Shipping Time and Cost
Shipping Schedules vary by item type. We ship from multiple locations and some items are seasonal only.
- The cost of shipping is included in the price of the tags for supporters in the US.
- Monarch Watch tags are only shipped EAST of the continental divide.
- Please only order enough tags for your tagging activities this year. Tags are only good for the year they are issued. NOTE: Tagging kits are non-refundable.
Peak fall migration season is from September - November. This is the only time of year we ship tagging kits.
- Tagging kits ship via USPS First Class Mail without tracking numbers. USPS First Class Mail can take 5-7 days to be delivered within the US.
- We ship to time the arrival of your tags with peak migration in your area. For example, if peak migration in your area is in October, we will ship your tags in late September.
To find your estimated delivery time, do an internet search for your town or zip code + latitude. E.g. "66074 latitude". Match your latitude to the chart below and expect to receive your tags just before peak migration in your area.
- Shipping costs $33 per box and we are able to fit up to 4 kits per box. All Rearing Kits are shipped overnight to minimize the amount of time the caterpillars are in transit.
- Please provide an appropriate delivery address and make arrangements for someone to accept your package (no PO Boxes, etc.)
- We are not responsible for packages that are delivered to receiving departments, delayed in delivery to the intended recipient, or are left unattended at a residence.
- Kits are shipped Monday through Thursday via overnight service for delivery Tuesday through Friday.
- We cannot guarantee a specific delivery date. However, we do our best to fill all of the orders each week.
- If for any reason there is a chance your kit(s) will not be delivered the week you requested you will be notified via email (if provided) by Friday of the requested week. Your kit(s) will roll over to the next available ship week unless you contact us to select a new ship week.
- We cannot guarantee a specific delivery date. However, we do our best to fill all of the orders each week.
- We only ship larvae to areas within the United States, east of the continental divide due to federal USDA regulations.
- Montana prohibits live monarchs to be shipped anywhere in the state.
- Connecticut no longer allows the release of butterflies with the exception of Educational institutions, Zoos, Nature Centers, and similar organizations.
Monarch Waystation Certificates and Signs
- Waystation certificates are printed on demand once a week and then all waystation orders are shipped on Fridays. Our waystation week runs from Tuesday - Monday. Here are time-frames to help you determine when your order will ship:
Shipments that include any certificates:
Day you placed your Order Number of Business Days until it will ship Sunday 5 Monday 4 Tuesday 8 Wednesday 7 Thursday 6 Friday 5 Saturday 5 Sign only shipments (without a certificate):
Day you placed your Order Number of Business Days until it will ship Sunday 5 Monday 4 Tuesday 3 Wednesday 7 Thursday 6 Friday 5 Saturday 5 Shipping Methods
- Certificate(s) only: USPS First Class Mail
- At least one sign: USPS Priority Mail which generally takes 2-3 days
- Outside the US: USPS First Class Mail International Package
- Shipping rates, as well as available shipping methods, will vary depending upon the size of your order and delivery location. Certain items incur a separate shipping charge. This will be indicated on the checkout page in the Shipping section.
- Items not mentioned above ship from our warehouse in Michigan and are generally processed in 3-5 business days.
International Customers
- Shipping is available worldwide. If you selected standard postal mail for your shipping method, it can take up to 8-10 weeks for delivery. While most customers receive their order within 3-4 weeks, this delivery time frame often depends heavily on the customs clearing process for your particular country.
- Additionally, the tracking number provided will not produce any results. Unfortunately, once your order leaves our country we have no further shipping information to provide.
- Please allow a full 10 weeks from the ship date to receive your order before initiating an inquiry.
- All packages are shipped from the United States. Please be advised that your local government may assess international trade taxes or customs duties upon package arrival, which are not the responsibility of Monarch Watch. Contact your local customs office for more information.
