Turnaround time
How the estimated delivery time is calculated, where you see it, what makes it longer, and why the estimate you see when you pay is locked in.
Every order carries an estimated delivery time. It is an estimate, not a guarantee, but editors plan their work around it. This page explains where the number comes from.
Where you see it
| Where | How it reads |
|---|---|
| Workspace, Order summary | Est. delivery 42 h |
| Review, second point of Check these before you pay | About 24 hours after you pay, or for larger orders About 42 hours, not 24 hours |
| Review and Pay, bottom bar and bill | Est. delivery 42 hours / Estimated turnaround 42 hours. From 48 hours on, it is shown in days, for example 3 days. |
| Order list and order page, after you pay | ESTIMATED DELIVERY with a date, for example Nov 3, 2026 |
The rule of thumb
- Up to 6 photos to edit are normally delivered within 24 hours. Some accounts have a different number agreed with us.
- Each photo beyond that adds about 3 hours. In orders of more than 90 photos, that extra time per photo is halved.
- Reference images do not count; we only look at them.
- If you already have other orders in their first round of editing, and together they are more than a small order, part of their remaining time is added to the new estimate. The Pay step then says Calculated in combination with 1 other order we are editing for you., and Review explains it too, for example “12 photos take longer than a small order, and we’re still editing 1 other order for you.”
For example, 12 photos to edit with no other orders in progress: 24 hours + 6 × 3 hours = 42 hours.
There is no rush option. If you have a deadline, write it in your instructions: we try to meet it, at no extra cost.
What changes the estimate
| Change | Effect |
|---|---|
| Adding, removing or moving photos before you pay | Order summary recalculates straight away. If you had already reached Review, select Continue to review again. |
| Adding a note to a photo after you have paid | Notes change the work, so the estimate is updated. The photo viewer warns you first: This order has been placed—editing notes will update the delivery estimate. |
| Asking for a revision | A new delivery estimate starts for the revision round. It is at least 24 hours, or half of the original window if that is longer. |
| The editor pausing the order | The estimate stops while the order is paused. When you reply, a new delivery estimate starts from that moment. See Paused orders. |
| Unclear instructions, or a photo that needs more work than one credit covers | We ask first, and the clock stops until you reply. A quick reply keeps your delivery on time. |
Why the estimate at checkout is locked in
The estimate you see on the Pay step is the one written into your order. When you place the order, the portal recalculates it one more time:
- If the fresh estimate is within 6 hours of what you saw, your order is placed with the estimate you saw.
- If the fresh estimate is 6 hours or more longer — for example because another order of yours was placed meanwhile — the purchase is refused with Delivery estimate has been updated and the note Please review the new turnaround time and try again. The page refreshes with the new number, and you can place the order again.
This protects you from paying for a delivery time that has quietly changed while the page was open.