# Return policy markup

Category: [E-Commerce SEO](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/category/e-commerce-seo/) › [Product data, feeds & Shopping](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/category/e-commerce-seo/product-data-feeds-shopping/) · Also known as: MerchantReturnPolicy, return policy structured data

**Return policy markup** (`MerchantReturnPolicy`) is structured data that describes a store's return conditions in a machine-readable way. Google can show these details alongside products and in knowledge panels.

## How does return policy markup work?

The markup works on two levels. At the organization level it is attached through `hasMerchantReturnPolicy` and describes the default policy for most products. At the offer level it can override that default for a single product, with a more limited set of properties.

Google requires one of two combinations. The first is `applicableCountry` (up to 50 countries, ISO 3166-1) together with `returnPolicyCategory`. The second is `merchantReturnLink`, a URL to the policy page. The category takes one of three values: `MerchantReturnFiniteReturnWindow`, which requires `merchantReturnDays`, `MerchantReturnNotPermitted` and `MerchantReturnUnlimitedWindow`. Further properties include `returnMethod` and `returnFees`.

Several sources can define a policy, and Google applies them in a fixed order of precedence: the Content API for Shopping first, then settings in Merchant Center or Search Console, then product-level markup, then organization-level markup. Google added return and shipping settings to Search Console in November 2025 (reported by ProductRise; secondary), so a store can configure a policy without Merchant Center.

The markup must state the policy the store actually honors.

## Example

```json
{
  "@type": "MerchantReturnPolicy",
  "applicableCountry": "DE",
  "returnPolicyCategory": "https://schema.org/MerchantReturnFiniteReturnWindow",
  "merchantReturnDays": 30,
  "returnMethod": "https://schema.org/ReturnByMail",
  "returnFees": "https://schema.org/FreeReturn"
}
```

## Common mistakes

- **Missing `merchantReturnDays`.** With the category `MerchantReturnFiniteReturnWindow`, the number of days is required.
- **`returnShippingFeesAmount` with free returns.** Google says the property applies only when `returnFees` is `ReturnShippingFees`. With `FreeReturn` it should be left out.
- **Spreading the policy across pages.** Google recommends placing return information on a single page that describes the business policy.

## FAQ

**Do I have to state the return policy on my website too?**
Google's Merchant Center help advises adding return policy information to your website so it can show next to your products. The markup complements the visible policy page, and the two must match.

## Related terms

- [Offer markup](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/offer-markup/index.md)
- [Shipping details markup](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/shipping-details-markup/index.md)
- [Merchant listings](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/merchant-listings/index.md)
- [Product schema](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/product-schema/index.md)
- [Structured data](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/structured-data/index.md)
- [Google Merchant Center](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/google-merchant-center/index.md)
- [Schema.org](https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/schema-org/index.md)

## Sources

- [Merchant return policy structured data – Google Search Central](https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/structured-data/return-policy)
- [Free listings for products – Merchant Center Help](https://support.google.com/merchants/answer/9199328?hl=en)
- [Google Adds Shipping and Return Policy to GSC – ProductRise (secondary)](https://productrise.app/blog/google-adds-shipping-and-return-policy-to-gsc-heres-what-it-means)
- [Shopify schema markup – Naughton and Bird (secondary)](https://naughtonandbird.com/signals/shopify-schema-markup-what-brands-actually-need)

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Last updated: October 8, 2026
URL: https://seo-geo-glossary.com/en/glossary/return-policy-markup/