Every belt is made to order in our workshop, so the time you need is production time plus courier time. Most belts are made in about 5 to 6 working days. Delivery then takes up to 5 working days by courier, worldwide. Allow about 6 to 11 working days door to door. These are estimates, not guarantees, so count back from your event date and add a margin of your own.
| Stage | Usual time | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Design approval (custom designs only) | Depends on your artwork and your replies | The production estimate starts on the day you approve the design |
| Production in our workshop | About 5 to 6 working days | Every belt is made to order. There is no ready-made stock to send |
| Courier transit, worldwide | Up to 5 working days | Express courier (UPS, FedEx or DHL), with tracking |
| Customs checks | Can occasionally add time | Customs in each country works at its own pace |
| Door to door | About 6 to 11 working days | An estimate, not a guarantee |
Count back from your date in five steps
- Write down the event date. This is the day the belt is handed over.
- Set an in-hand date. Choose a day before the event when you want the belt in your hands. Slack leaves room for a customs hold or a courier delay. How much slack you want is your decision.
- Count back at least 3 weeks from the in-hand date. That allows time for design approval and customs.
- If the design is custom, treat that day as your deadline for sending your first message. The 3 weeks include time to approve the design.
- Place the order, or send your design brief, on or before that day.
A worked example
Say your event is on 12 December. You decide you want it in hand by 28 November, two weeks early. Three weeks before 28 November is 7 November.
For a belt ordered from the shop as listed, 7 November is your latest sensible order date. For a custom design, 7 November is the latest day to send your first message, because the 3 weeks include time for design approval.
Why a custom design needs more time
A custom design is a belt built around your own logo, wording or idea. It is quoted by email, and you approve the design before production begins. The production estimate of about 5 to 6 working days starts on the day you approve it.
The time before approval depends on how ready your artwork is and how quickly questions get answered. We cannot put a number on it here. You can help keep it short:
- Send your logo, your wording and your event date together in the first message. The guide to preparing your artwork lists what to include.
- Have one person make the decisions. A design that has to be agreed by a group takes longer.
- Check spelling, names and dates carefully the first time.
For the full sequence from first message to delivery, read how ordering a custom belt works.
What can add time
- Customs. Customs is the government office that checks goods entering a country. Many countries, including the United States, charge import duties, and the courier bills them to you. A courier can hold a parcel until those charges are paid, so pay promptly. See shipping, customs and import duties.
- Busy periods. Couriers and customs offices tend to slow down around major public holidays, at both ends of the journey. If your event falls just after a holiday, add more slack.
- Your build. We do not publish separate timings for brass plates, thicker plates, gold plating or orders of several belts. If your order includes any of these and your date is fixed, ask before you order. We confirm the timing for your order in writing.
- Late changes. If you need to change something after ordering, email straight away. Whether the change is still possible, and what it does to the timing, is confirmed in writing.
If your date is close
If your event is less than about 3 weeks away, do not guess. Email support@msbelts.com before you order. Give the event date, the delivery country and the belt you want, and ask whether the date looks realistic.
Any date we give for your order is confirmed in writing. It is still an estimate, because part of the journey belongs to the courier and to customs. If you have just ordered and realise the date cannot work, an order can be cancelled free of charge within 24 hours of placing it.
Planning for a yearly event
Leagues, clubs and companies often need a belt on the same date every year. Put the order date in your calendar, not only the event date. If you are organising a tournament or a club night, the guide to belts for clubs, gyms and events covers the other decisions you will face.
In short
- Most belts are made in about 5 to 6 working days. Delivery takes up to 5 working days by courier, worldwide.
- Allow about 6 to 11 working days door to door. Order at least 3 weeks ahead to allow for design approval and customs.
- For a custom design, the clock starts when you approve the design.
- Every timing here is an estimate. Add your own margin, and ask before you order if the date is tight.
Next step
If you have a date, tell us now. Send your event date and delivery country with your brief on the custom belt quote page. For a belt from the shop, count back at least 3 weeks from your in-hand date and order by then.
