Free Shopify Return / Refund Policy Generator

[ Step 1 ]

Your Policy Settings

Brand Name

Niche

Return Window

Restocking Fee

Return Shipping Paid By

Exclusions

Final-sale / discounted items Opened / hygiene-sealed items Custom or personalized items Gift cards

Contact Email

[ Step 2 ]

Your Generated Policy

Paste into Shopify → Settings → Policies → Refund policy. Edit anything that doesn't fit your store.

[ The Next Step ]

A return policy is one of 15 trust signals.

Run our Trust Signal Scanner to see the other 14 — or the full audit to see every leak.

Run Trust Scanner → Run Full Audit →

Why your return policy is a CRO lever

Most operators write the return policy once, dump it in the footer, and forget about it. That's a mistake. The return policy is one of the top three things first-time buyers check before pulling out their card — if they can't find it, or the language is hostile, they bounce. A clear, generous-feeling policy lifts conversion measurably; a vague or punitive one tanks it.

Generous beats strict (almost always)

Counterintuitive but consistent across studies: a 60-day, free-returns policy outperforms a 14-day, customer-pays policy on net margin, even after factoring in higher return rates. The conversion lift more than offsets the extra returns. The only categories where this reverses are heavy / oversized items where return shipping is genuinely expensive (furniture, equipment) and ultra-premium goods where strict policies signal exclusivity.

Niche-specific gotchas

Apparel — exclude worn or laundered items, but accept "tried on" returns. Sizing is the #1 reason for returns; making this clear up-front reduces the "is it weird to return for fit?" hesitation.
Beauty / skincare — exclude opened or used products for hygiene reasons. Spell it out — buyers want this to feel safe.
Supplements / food — exclude opened items, accept unopened with reseal intact. Some states have legal restrictions on consumable returns; if you're in a regulated category, add a clause.
Electronics — accept unopened in original packaging; defective items always covered. Restocking fees are common (10–15%) and accepted in this category.
Custom / personalized — final sale unless defective. Make the exclusion crystal clear at the product page, not buried in the policy.
Jewelry — split between fashion (generous) and fine (stricter). Fine jewelry typically excludes resized, engraved, or special-order pieces.

Where to put your policy

Footer link — required, table stakes.
Product page — the highest-leverage placement. A small "Free 30-day returns" badge near the ATC button lifts conversion measurably.
Cart drawer — reinforces the policy at the moment of decision.
Checkout (where Shopify allows) — last-chance trust reinforcement.
Order confirmation email — sets expectations early, reduces support tickets.

Once you've shipped your policy, run the Trust Signal Scanner to find what else is missing — or the full LeakAudit for every leak.

Generator FAQ

Five honest answers about the policy.

Is this legal copy I can use as-is?

It's a strong starting point that covers what most ecommerce return policies need to cover, but it's not a substitute for legal review if your category has specific regulatory requirements (supplements, electronics, regulated goods). Read it, edit anything that doesn't match your actual operation, and if you're in a regulated category run it past a lawyer for 30 minutes before publishing.

Should I copy this word-for-word?

No — adjust the language to match your brand voice. The structure (window, conditions, restocking, exclusions, contact) is correct; the tone should be yours. A return policy that reads like a legal document signals 'we want to make this hard.' One that reads like a real human wrote it signals 'we'll take care of you.' The second one converts.

What's the right return window for my niche?

30 days is the modern default — generous enough to feel safe, short enough to bound your liability. 14 days is acceptable for time-sensitive categories (food, perishables). 60–90 days converts better for high-AOV categories (furniture, jewelry, electronics) where buyers want time to evaluate. 365 days is a marketing lever; only use it if your return rate stays manageable.

Should I charge a restocking fee?

Usually no for apparel, beauty, supplements, food. Common (10–15%) for electronics, furniture, large items where you eat real handling cost on returns. The conversion impact of a restocking fee is real — if you can avoid it, do. If you can't, disclose it clearly at the product page, not buried in policy.

Where do I paste this in Shopify?

Settings → Policies → Refund policy. Shopify will auto-link it from your footer and your checkout. Then add a small visual reinforcement on your product page (a 'Free 30-day returns' badge near the ATC button) — the link is required, the badge is what actually lifts conversion. Run our Trust Scanner after to confirm.

Shopify Return / Refund Policy Generator