> ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.lettr.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Order Confirmation Emails > Structure, required information, delivery timing, and template design for e-commerce order confirmation emails Order confirmation emails have the highest open rates of any email type — often above 60%. They're the first touchpoint after a customer commits money, so they set expectations for the entire post-purchase experience. A missing or delayed confirmation creates immediate anxiety and support tickets. This guide covers what to include, how to structure the content, and how to deliver confirmations reliably. *** ## Why Order Confirmations Matter | Factor | Impact | | ---------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Highest open rates** | 60–80% open rates — far above marketing email benchmarks | | **Legal requirement** | Many jurisdictions require a purchase confirmation or receipt | | **Support deflection** | A clear confirmation reduces "did my order go through?" tickets | | **Trust building** | Immediate confirmation reinforces trust in your platform | | **Reference document** | Customers save and search for these emails later | *** ## Required Information An order confirmation should include everything a customer needs to understand what they bought, what they paid, and what happens next. ### Essential Fields A unique, human-readable identifier the customer can reference in support inquiries. Display it prominently at the top. Product names, quantities, individual prices, and any selected variants (size, color, plan tier). Include product images where practical. Subtotal, discounts or promo codes applied, tax, shipping cost, and total charged. Match exactly what the payment processor charged. Show the payment type and last four digits of the card (e.g., "Visa ending in 4242"). Never include the full card number. Delivery address, estimated delivery date or timeframe, and shipping method selected. What happens next — when they'll receive a shipping notification, how to track the order, or when to expect access (for digital products). ### Optional but Recommended * **Customer name** — personalize the greeting * **Order date and time** — useful for record-keeping * **Return/refund policy summary** — or a link to it * **Support contact** — how to get help with the order * **Account link** — where to view order status online *** ## Email Structure and Template ### HTML Template Example ```html theme={null}

Order Confirmed

Thank you for your order, {{customerName}}.

Order Number

#{{orderNumber}}

{{itemName}}
Qty: {{quantity}} × {{unitPrice}} 		{{lineTotal}}
Subtotal {{subtotal}}
Shipping {{shippingCost}}
Tax {{tax}}
Total {{total}}

Shipping To

{{shippingName}}
{{shippingAddress}}
{{shippingCity}}, {{shippingState}} {{shippingZip}}

Estimated delivery: {{estimatedDelivery}}

View Order Status

Questions about your order? Contact us at support@yourstore.com

``` Always include a plain-text version of the order confirmation. Some corporate email environments strip HTML, and plain text ensures the customer can always read their receipt. *** ## Sending with Lettr ```javascript theme={null} const response = await fetch('https://app.lettr.com/api/emails', { method: 'POST', headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.LETTR_API_KEY}`, 'Content-Type': 'application/json', }, body: JSON.stringify({ from: 'orders@mail.yourstore.com', to: customer.email, subject: `Order confirmed — #${order.number}`, html: orderConfirmationHtml, text: orderConfirmationText, tags: ['order-confirmation'], metadata: { orderId: order.id, customerId: customer.id, orderTotal: order.total, }, }), }); ``` Include the order number in the subject line. Customers often search their inbox for order numbers, and including it in the subject makes the email easy to find. *** ## Delivery Timing Order confirmations should arrive within seconds of the purchase. A delay — even a few minutes — triggers anxiety and support contacts. ### Best Practices for Fast Delivery * **Send synchronously with the checkout flow** — trigger the email as part of the order completion process, not in a delayed background job * **Don't batch order confirmations** — send each one individually as orders come in * **Use a dedicated sending domain** with established reputation for transactional email * **Monitor delivery latency** — track the time between your API call and the `email.delivered` webhook event If your order confirmation is delayed because it's queued behind a marketing campaign or bulk send, customers will contact support. Keep transactional email on a separate sending path from bulk email. See [Transactional vs Marketing](/knowledge-base/best-practices/transactional-vs-marketing). ### Handle Send Failures If the email API call fails, don't fail the order — the customer has already been charged: ```javascript theme={null} async function completeOrder(order, customer) { // 1. Finalize the order in your database first await db.orders.markCompleted(order.id); // 2. Attempt to send confirmation try { await sendOrderConfirmation(order, customer); } catch (error) { // Log the failure but don't fail the order logger.error('Order confirmation email failed', { orderId: order.id, error: error.message, }); // Queue a retry await queue.add('retryOrderConfirmation', { orderId: order.id, attempt: 1, }); } } ``` *** ## Digital Products and SaaS For digital products, subscriptions, or SaaS purchases, the confirmation email doubles as a delivery mechanism: * **Include access instructions** — login URL, download link, or license key * **Set access expectations** — "Your account is ready now" vs "Access will be provisioned within 5 minutes" * **Provide getting-started guidance** — link to documentation or onboarding resources ```html theme={null}

Your account is ready

Log in to your dashboard to get started:

Go to Dashboard
``` *** ## Common Mistakes The total in the email must match what the customer was charged. Discrepancies — even from rounding — erode trust and can create legal issues. Calculate the email values from the same source as the payment. Never show the full credit card number, CVV, or billing address. Show only the card type and last four digits. Customers reply to order confirmation emails with questions, changes, or cancellation requests. Use a monitored address like `orders@` or `support@` so replies reach your team. Order confirmations are transactional. Adding promotional content degrades deliverability and may violate regulations. If you want to cross-sell, send a separate marketing email after a delay. Some email clients and corporate filters strip HTML. A plain-text version ensures every customer can read their receipt. Order confirmations must arrive immediately. If they're queued behind bulk sends, customers assume the order failed. Use separate queues or priority levels. *** ## Related Topics Recurring billing emails with compliance considerations Build and manage email templates with the Topol editor Why separation matters and how to classify your emails Maximize inbox placement for your emails Send order and payment emails from Stripe