How Long Does a Custom Deck Box Take to Arrive?
You have picked the theme, tuned the colours, maybe added an engraving on the lid. One question remains, and it is often the first one players ask us: when will it arrive? The answer comes in two parts, production then shipping, and it mostly depends on where you live.
Quick answer: a DeckSmith deck box is made to order in 5 to 10 business days, a few days more if it is fully hand painted. Tracked shipping then takes 2 to 5 days within France, 5 to 10 days in Europe and 10 to 20 days elsewhere, including the US and UK.
Two Stages: Production, Then Shipping
Production: 5 to 10 Business Days
No deck box sits waiting on a shelf. Each one is 3D printed in premium PLA when you order it, then finished by hand in our workshop in France. That is what makes truly free configuration in the Forge possible, and it is also why there is a lead time: we are not picking a box off a rack, we are making yours.
Business days exclude weekends and public holidays, so an order placed late on a Friday starts its count on Monday.
Hand Painting Can Add a Few Days
The Inksmith finish is painted entirely by hand: acrylic paint, raised details and engravings brought out by drybrushing, then a coat of varnish. Each layer has to dry before the next, and a heavily detailed piece can take a few days longer than the standard range. We would rather ship a box that is dry and done right than one that is merely fast.
Shipping Times by Destination
Every order ships from France, always with tracking. These are the indicative times from our terms of sale:
| Destination | Indicative shipping time |
|---|---|
| Mainland France | 2 to 5 days |
| Europe | 5 to 10 days |
| Rest of the world (US, UK, Canada, Australia included) | 10 to 20 days |
Shipping costs are calculated at checkout, based on the destination.
Working Out Your Total Lead Time
Total lead time is production plus shipping. For a safe estimate, always start from the upper value:
- Mainland France: 10 business days, which is two calendar weeks, plus 5 days in transit. Allow about three weeks at most.
- Europe: two weeks of production plus 10 days in transit. Allow about three and a half weeks.
- United States, UK and the rest of the world: two weeks of production plus 20 days in transit. Allow about five weeks.
Add a few days if your box is fully hand painted. These figures are orders of magnitude, not guarantees: an order can land in the lower range, but the upper value is the one that protects a gift.
Ordering for the Holidays: Build In a Margin
A custom deck box makes a great present, as long as it is under the tree on time. A few simple habits help:
- Order early. The end of the year means busy carriers and public holidays that do not count as business days. The more room you leave beyond the upper estimate, the calmer you will be.
- Check the preview carefully. Personalised products are not covered by the right of withdrawal, so a confirmed order is final. Take the time to check theme, colours and engraved text in the Forge.
- Group your gifts. To equip a whole playgroup, one-click configuration duplication saves time, and a matching paint batch can be requested in the order comment. Our guide to group orders walks you through it.
- Add a personal touch. A lid engraving turns the box into a named gift: choose the text along with the rest of your configuration.
Still looking for ideas? Our gift guide for TCG players covers options by budget.
What Happens Before Your Box Ships
Before it leaves, every piece is photographed. If the box you receive does not match the configurator preview, we repaint or remake it at our expense. If there is a defect, just report it within 14 days with photos. To follow an order from the printer to the parcel, read behind the scenes of an order.
FAQ: Production and Shipping Times
How long does it take to make a custom deck box?
Allow 5 to 10 business days for made-to-order production in our workshop in France. Boxes fully hand painted with the Inksmith finish can take a few extra days.
How long does shipping take?
Once your box ships, allow roughly 2 to 5 days within mainland France, 5 to 10 days to the rest of Europe and 10 to 20 days to the rest of the world, including the US, UK, Canada and Australia. Every parcel is tracked.
When should I order a deck box for Christmas?
As early as you can. Add the production time to the shipping time for your destination, then leave extra room for the busy end-of-year period. We do not guarantee delivery dates: ordering early is the only real protection for a gift.
Can I cancel my order if it might arrive too late?
No. Every deck box is made to your configuration, and personalised products are not covered by the right of withdrawal. That is one more reason to order early and check the preview carefully before you confirm.
Start Your Order in the Forge
The best way to save time is to start now. Build your box in the Forge with a live preview, and follow our step-by-step Forge guide if it is your first time. Our deck boxes start at €27, from an independent studio with over 1,500 sales and a 4.9/5 rating across 319 verified Etsy reviews.
Keep exploring:
- Explore the custom deck box and its hand-painted Inksmith finish.
- Discover the Proteus, the modular deck box.
- Read reviews from players who received theirs.