---
title: "Set up the delivery date picker"
description: "Enable OrderRules delivery dates, add the theme app block, set your first availability rule, and show a date & time-slot picker on your product and cart pages. No code."
contentType: "docs"
locale: "en"
localized: true
source: "https://orderrules.com/docs/delivery/getting-started-delivery-dates"
slug: "delivery/getting-started-delivery-dates"
---
This guide gets a working delivery date & time-slot picker onto your product and cart pages in about ten minutes. No code required — you'll add one theme app block and create one availability rule.

## Before you start

- You're on the **Advanced** plan (delivery features are Advanced-only). If you're on Starter or Pro, upgrade from **Settings → Plan** — a **14-day free trial** applies.
- You have at least one product to test with.

## 1. Turn on delivery dates

1. Open OrderRules from your Shopify admin (**Apps → OrderRules**).
2. Go to **Delivery → Availability rules**.
3. Click **Enable delivery dates**. OrderRules requests the extra permissions it needs (locations, orders, fulfillment) **only now** — never at install.

## 2. Add the theme app block

The storefront picker renders through a **theme app block**, so it stays inside your theme and survives theme updates.

1. In Shopify admin go to **Online Store → Themes → Customize**.
2. Open a **product** template. In the left panel, choose **Add block** (or **Add section**) in the main product area and pick **OrderRules — Delivery date** (it appears under *App blocks*).
3. Repeat on the **Cart** template (and cart drawer, if your theme uses one). On most themes OrderRules auto-detects the cart; add the block only if the picker doesn't appear.
4. **Save.** *(Setup detail: the block is a `mainSection`-targeted app block — see [Theme app block setup](/docs/delivery/theme-app-block-setup) if your theme hides app blocks.)*

## 3. Create your first availability rule

1. Back in OrderRules, **Delivery → Availability rules → Add rule**.
2. Set:
   - **Lead time** — the earliest a customer can request (e.g. 2 days).
   - **Cutoff time** — orders placed after this ship the next eligible day (e.g. 14:00).
   - **Delivery weekdays** — which days you deliver.
   - **Horizon** — how far ahead customers can book (e.g. 30 days).
3. **Scope** the rule: *All products*, or narrow to a product / collection / tag, and optionally a country. Choose the **fulfillment method**: delivery, pickup, or both.
4. (Optional) **Require a date/slot at checkout** to force a selection.
5. **Save.**

## 4. Add time slots (optional)

In the rule, add **time slots** (e.g. 10:00–12:00, 14:00–16:00). Set a **per-slot capacity** if you want windows to sell out. Full slots grey out for shoppers automatically.

## 5. Test it

Open your test product in the storefront. You should see a date picker (and slots, if configured). Add to cart and start checkout — the OrderRules Shopify Function blocks any missing, sold-out, or blacked-out selection. Placed test orders are auto-tagged `delivery:YYYY-MM-DD` and `slot:HHMM-HHMM` — check the order in admin.

## Next steps

- [Availability rules](/docs/delivery/availability-rules) · [Time slots](/docs/delivery/time-slots) · [Capacity limits](/docs/delivery/capacity-limits)
- [Blackout dates & holidays](/docs/delivery/blackout-dates-and-holidays) · [Estimated delivery date](/docs/delivery/estimated-delivery-date)
- [Carrier CSV export](/docs/delivery/carrier-csv-export) · [In-store pickup](/docs/delivery/in-store-pickup)
- See the [Delivery dates feature overview](/features/delivery-dates).