Etsy Reviews: How They Work, How to Get More, and How to Handle Bad Ones (2026)
Free Etsy Course, Lesson 26 of 34 · Module 5: Marketing and First Sales (bonus) · See all lessons
Reviews can make or break a new Etsy shop. Shoppers look at your star rating before they buy, and Etsy’s Star Seller badge needs an average rating of 4.8 or higher.
Here is what most sellers do not know: your Etsy review score is not a simple average. Etsy gives the most weight to reviews from the last 12 months, and older reviews count less each year. That means one bad review from two years ago matters much less than you think, and your recent buyers matter most.
This lesson explains how Etsy reviews work, how your score is calculated, how to earn more good reviews the right way, and exactly what to do when you get a negative one. Everything comes from Etsy’s Help Center, checked in October 2026.
How Do Etsy Reviews Work?
Buyers rate their purchase from 1 to 5 stars and can add a written review, photos, or video. They have 100 days to leave a review, starting from the delivery date or estimated delivery date (or, for digital items, when they download the files). Your shop’s review score is a recency-weighted average: reviews from the past 12 months count the most, and each rating’s weight halves every year.
When Can Buyers Leave a Review?
| Situation | When the 100-day review window starts |
|---|---|
| Order with delivery tracking | When the carrier marks it Delivered |
| Order without tracking | Estimated delivery date (purchase date + processing time + shipping days) |
| Digital download | When the buyer downloads the file(s) |
| Sold in person through Square | Cannot be reviewed on Etsy |
How Your Etsy Review Score Is Calculated
Etsy says your score is a recency-weighted average of all your star ratings:
- Reviews from the past 12 months get the most weight.
- Each rating keeps its original star value.
- The weight halves each year.
So a rating from last month counts fully, a rating from 1 to 2 years ago counts about half as much, and one from 2 to 3 years ago about a quarter.
See your weighted score: our free Etsy review score calculator estimates your recency-weighted score and how many 5-star reviews you need to reach 4.8.
Why Reviews Matter: Star Seller
To earn Etsy’s Star Seller badge, Etsy says you need, over the past 3 months:
| Star Seller requirement | Target |
|---|---|
| Average review rating | 4.8 or higher |
| Message response rate | Reply to 95% of first messages within 24 hours |
| On-time shipping and tracking | 95% of orders |
| Orders and sales | At least 5 orders and $300 in sales |
| Time since first sale | At least 90 days |
Etsy checks eligibility on the 1st of every month. Etsy says the badge does not directly change your search ranking, but it makes it easier for buyers to find Star Sellers.
How to Get More Etsy Reviews (the Right Way)
There is no trick. Great reviews come from great experiences:
- Describe items accurately. Clear photos and honest descriptions prevent disappointment.
- Ship on time with tracking. It is part of Etsy’s customer service standards and Star Seller.
- Reply to messages fast. It also helps toward Star Seller.
- Package items with care. First impressions count.
- Make digital files easy to use. Add a quick-start guide and a buyer note. See Etsy digital download files.
- Send a short thank-you message after the order arrives.
What not to do: Etsy says reviews that include shilling or falsely inflate a shop’s review score violate its policies. Never offer discounts or freebies in exchange for reviews, and never review your own shop.
What to Do If You Get a Negative Review
Follow Etsy’s guidance step by step:
- Stay calm and read it carefully. Is there a real problem you can fix?
- Message the buyer privately first. In Shop Manager, go to Orders, find the order, and select the mail icon. Offer a solution or ask open questions to understand what went wrong.
- Give them time. Buyers can edit their review within 100 days of the estimated delivery date, but only if you have not responded publicly. Etsy says responding quickly and showing you want to help may lead a buyer to edit their review.
- Report it only if it breaks Etsy’s rules. Select Report this review under the review.
- Respond publicly only as a last resort. You can respond once, and once you do, the buyer can no longer edit their review or rating, even if you delete your response.
Etsy removes a review only if it breaks its policies, for example if it:
- Contains private information
- Contains obscene, racist, or harassing language
- Is only spam or advertising
- Is only about things outside your control, like a named shipping carrier, Etsy, or a third party
- Contains threats or extortion
- Includes shilling or falsely inflates a review score
Etsy says it will not remove a negative review just because you disagree with it, and Etsy Support cannot remove a review at a seller’s request.
How to Write a Public Response
If you do respond publicly, Etsy’s tips:
- Write for future shoppers, not just this buyer.
- Keep it short, positive, and professional.
- Address the specific concern and any changes you made.
- Focus on your product and service, not the reviewer.
- Do not include tracking numbers, external links, or private information.
You have 100 days from the buyer’s last edit to respond, and you cannot edit your response once posted.
Common Mistakes With Etsy Reviews
Responding publicly too fast. The buyer can no longer edit the review after you respond.
Arguing in public. Future shoppers read your reply.
Asking for 5 stars in exchange for something. That can violate Etsy’s policies.
Panicking over one bad review. Recent reviews matter most, and older ones count less each year.
Key Takeaways
- Buyers have 100 days to review, starting from delivery, estimated delivery, or download.
- Your score is recency-weighted: the past 12 months count most, and weight halves each year.
- Star Seller needs a 4.8+ average rating, plus fast replies and on-time shipping.
- Handle negative reviews privately first. A public response locks the review.
- Etsy only removes reviews that break its policies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a buyer have to leave a review on Etsy?
Buyers have 100 days, starting on the delivery date or estimated delivery date. For digital items, the 100 days begin when the buyer downloads the file.
How is my Etsy review score calculated?
Etsy uses a recency-weighted average of all your star ratings. Reviews from the past 12 months carry the most weight, and the weight of each rating halves each year.
Can I get a bad review removed on Etsy?
Only if it violates Etsy’s policies, such as harassment, private information, spam, or being solely about a shipping carrier or third party. Select Report this review under the review. Etsy will not remove a policy-compliant negative review.
Can a buyer change their Etsy review?
Yes. Buyers can edit their review within 100 days of the estimated delivery date, as long as you have not responded to the review.
What rating do I need to be an Etsy Star Seller?
An average review rating of 4.8 or higher, along with a 95% message response rate within 24 hours, 95% on-time shipping with tracking, and at least 5 orders and $300 in sales over the past 3 months.
Final Thoughts
Etsy reviews reward recent, consistent great service. Describe items honestly, ship on time, reply quickly, and handle problems privately before you ever respond in public.
Next, learn Etsy stats, or explore the free Etsy course.
You finished: Free Etsy Course, Lesson 26 of 34
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