A delivery promise is the estimated arrival date PDQ shows for a shipping method (e.g. "Arrives by Fri, May 12"). Set one per method in Shipping Rate Groups → open the method → Delivery Promise. You choose one of three promise types.
The three promise types
Fixed Promise- you set processing + transit day ranges and PDQ turns them into a date. Full control; best when times are predictable or the method ships from a non-US location.
MAXX Promise - a percentile-based promise computed from your real US carrier data, with an optional AI layer that shows faster dates when it's confident (never slower). Requires a US Ship From. (Replaces the older "Smart Promise / PDQ IQ.")
Linked Calendar - ties the method to a pre-built delivery calendar; shoppers see only the dates it allows (scheduled local delivery, meal kits, etc.).
Settings shared by all types
Delivery Display Format: Delivery Time ("2–5 business days"), Date Range ("May 9–12"), or Don't Show.
Display text with
{arrival_date}, Non-business days (e.g. US holidays), and "Don't Show Delivery Promise If…" conditions + fallback text.Processing days apply - set on the method or via the
pdq.processing_timemetafield (see Processing time in Delivery Promise).
Fixed Promise
Set Min/Max Processing Days + Min/Max Transit Days; PDQ adds them (business days) into the date.
MAXX Promise
Select MAXX Promise.
Set the Delivery Display Format.
Base MAXX Promise on this shipping data - pick the carrier/method matching your real fulfillment - and set a Percentile (e.g. 80th = 80% of orders arrive by the date). PDQ computes per-zone promises automatically.
(Optional) Enable AI: "Allow MAXX to show faster delivery promises when our AI model predicts quicker delivery." Faster only - the percentile is the floor. Note: ~24-hour warm-up before AI dates start surfacing (it shows the standard percentile promise until then).
(Optional, AI only) Minimum Promise - a floor on the fastest date shown.
Review the zone grid. For very long zones (e.g. Zone 8/9), use "Don't Show Delivery Promise If…" rather than showing an 18-day estimate.
Availability: MAXX is on Domestic and International Fixed methods with a US Ship From. Enable AI when you have ~3–6 months of shipment history. If you previously used Smart Promise (PDQ IQ), you were auto-migrated to MAXX with AI off -behavior is unchanged until you turn AI on.
Linked Calendar
Select a pre-built delivery calendar; shoppers pick from its available dates. No processing/transit fields the calendar dictates the dates.
⚠️ MAXX needs a US Ship From
MAXX relies on US carrier data, so it only appears for methods whose Ship From is in the US. If you expected MAXX and see only Fixed Promise, check the method's Ship From location first.
How the date is calculated
Promises count in business days - weekends and your selected non-business days are excluded, and the first ship day is day 0 (so a 3-day promise placed Monday lands Thursday).
Where it appears: next to the method at checkout; the same dates can power your product-page promise.