Setting up shipping rates on Shopify after WooCommerce (2026)
How to configure shipping rates on Shopify after migrating from WooCommerce — flat rates, carrier-calculated shipping, free shipping thresholds, zones, and replacing WooCommerce shipping plugins.
Shipping configuration is one of the most operationally important setups when moving to Shopify. WooCommerce shipping is handled through a combination of core shipping zones/methods and plugins (Table Rate Shipping, WooCommerce Shipping, ShipStation). Shopify has a native shipping system plus integrations — understanding the mapping helps avoid checkout drop-off from misconfigured rates.
Shopify shipping architecture
Shopify shipping is configured at Settings → Shipping and delivery. Key concepts:
- Shipping profiles: Groups of products with their own shipping rates. Use when different product types ship at different costs (e.g. standard items vs heavy furniture vs digital downloads).
- Zones: Geographic areas (countries or regions) within a profile. Each zone has its own rate structure.
- Rates within zones: Flat rate, price-based, weight-based, or carrier-calculated.
- Conditions: Rates can be conditional on order price (e.g. free shipping over £50) or order weight.
Replacing WooCommerce flat rate shipping
WooCommerce flat rate shipping maps directly to Shopify flat rate:
- Shopify: Settings → Shipping → your profile → Add rate → Flat rate
- Name the rate exactly as shown to customers at checkout (e.g. "Standard delivery — 3-5 working days")
- Multiple flat rates: create separate rates for different speeds (Standard, Express, Next Day)
- Rate conditions by price: tick "Add conditions" → order price → "Free shipping on orders over £X"
Free shipping threshold
Free shipping over a threshold is one of the most conversion-critical checkout configurations:
- In Shopify, add a rate called "Free standard delivery" with condition: minimum order price = £X
- Keep paid rate alongside free rate — Shopify shows all applicable rates; free rate appears when threshold met
- Consider showing free shipping progress in cart: "Add £X more for free delivery" — achievable with theme customisation or apps like Free Shipping Bar
- Multiple thresholds: not natively supported without conditions per-rate (e.g. free standard over £30, free express over £75)
Carrier-calculated shipping
Shopify can calculate live carrier rates at checkout (requires Shopify plan or above, or Annual Basic plan):
- Royal Mail, DPD, DHL, UPS, FedEx integrations available via carrier services
- Requires accurate weight and dimensions on all products
- Shopify Shipping (integrated carrier accounts): discounted rates with Royal Mail, Evri, DPD (available in UK)
- Third-party rate calculators: Shippo, EasyPost — more carriers and options
Weight-based rates
// Example weight-based rate structure:
// 0 – 0.5 kg: £3.95 (letter/small parcel)
// 0.5 – 2 kg: £5.95 (medium parcel)
// 2 – 10 kg: £8.95 (large parcel)
// 10 kg+: £14.95 (heavy parcel)Important: ensure all products have accurate weights set in Shopify (Products → edit → Shipping section → Weight). Without product weights, weight-based rates default to the lowest tier.
Replacing WooCommerce Table Rate Shipping
WooCommerce Table Rate Shipping by Barn2 or WooCommerce allows complex tiered rates. Shopify native supports price and weight conditions on rates. For more complex rules:
| WooCommerce plugin | Shopify equivalent |
|---|---|
| Table Rate Shipping (Barn2) | Shopify conditional rates + shipping profiles, or Advanced Shipping Rules app |
| WooCommerce Shipping (Royal Mail integration) | Shopify Shipping (UK carrier integrations) |
| ShipStation for WooCommerce | ShipStation Shopify app (same platform, reconnect) |
| WooCommerce Local Pickup | Shopify native Local Pickup (Settings → Shipping → Local pickup) |
| Flexible Shipping | Advanced Shipping Rules (Shopify app) |
Local pickup / click and collect
Shopify has native local pickup — no plugin required:
- Settings → Shipping and delivery → Local pickup → Enable for each location
- Customers see "Pick up in store" option at checkout, shown with your location name and address
- Pick-up ready notification: automated email sent when order is marked ready for pickup
- Multiple locations: show all pickup locations with estimated pickup time
Shipping for heavy, large, or hazardous items
Some products require special shipping handling:
- Furniture and large items: Create a separate shipping profile for oversized items; add pallet/courier surcharge rate
- Heavy items: Use weight-based rates or separate profiles with surcharges
- Hazardous goods (aerosols, flammables, lithium batteries): some carriers refuse or surcharge — note restrictions on product page; offer only appropriate carrier rates
- Temperature-sensitive: Refrigerated/frozen goods — restrict shipping to standard parcels carriers; add insulated packaging charge
Post-migration shipping checklist
- All products have accurate weights and dimensions set
- Shipping zones: domestic (UK), EU (if applicable), and worldwide configured
- Free shipping threshold configured with correct value
- Carrier-calculated rates: requires Shopify plan — upgrade or use flat rates on Basic
- Local pickup: enabled if you have a physical location
- Oversized/heavy products: separate shipping profile created
- International shipping: duty and VAT information in policy pages
- Test checkout: place test orders from each zone to verify rates display correctly
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