Frustrated with complicated shipping calculations for each product?
WooCommerce’s flat rate shipping makes managing shipping costs simple and predictable. It lets you set fixed delivery costs, giving your customers clear rates and making the shipping process easier for store owners.
Whether you want to offer different rates for domestic and international shipping or customize rates based on product types, flat rate shipping provides the flexibility you need.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step process for setting up and optimizing flat rate shipping in your WooCommerce store.
Let’s jump in!
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WooCommerce flat rate shipping is a versatile method that allows store owners to charge a fixed amount for shipping products based on shipping zones, regardless of weight or size.
This method lets you customize rates for different regions, providing flexibility to manage shipping costs efficiently.
Imagine you run an online store selling physical products like books. With WooCommerce flat rate shipping, you can set different shipping costs based on where your customers are located, regardless of the book’s weight or size.
For example, you can charge a flat rate of $5 for customers within the USA and $10 for customers in Canada. If someone from Europe places an order, you can set a different flat rate, like $15.
This flexibility allows you to manage shipping costs efficiently while providing clear, predictable rates for your customers based on their location.
Flat rate is one of the most commonly used shipping options in WooCommerce because it offers simplicity and flexibility when setting up shipping costs.
The following are some key features or benefits of using the flat rate shipping options for WooCommerce.
Now we'll show you how to fully setup and customize flat rate shipping and implement it in your store.
Here, we’ll be going to show how you can set different flat rates for different areas.
For this scenario, we'll be creating different flat rates for the iPhone 15 Pro Max inside and outside of the USA. It means inside the USA, the shipping rate will be $80, and outside of the USA, the rate will be $120.
We'll also offer free shipping for those who meet the threshold of $1200 (in the USA) and $1000 (outside the USA).
Let’s see how to do it.
Here’s a quick guide on how to set up flat rate shipping in WooCommerce step-by-step.
First, navigate to WooCommerce > Settings.
On the top menu, you’ll notice the "Shipping". Click on it and you’ll find the details of shipping here.
Then, you must create shipping classes for your zones. For that, navigate to the WooCommerce> Settings> Shipping> Classes.
And then click on the “Add shipping class” button.
Here, we’re going to determine the charge inside the USA will be $80. So provide a name that you can easily recognize. Here we have set it as “Inside USA $80.”.
And then hit save.
Similarly, add another class for outside of the USA.
Head over to the shipping zone section and add a new zone.
We'll be adding two different zones here. One for the inside USA and another for the outside USA.
Provide a zone name and select the regions. And hit save.
Now, click on the Add Shipping Method. Select the flat rate and hit continue.
Now, provide a title for your method, set the tax to none, and map the field with the relevant cost. Since we set the shipping price for the inside USA at $80, insert the amount there.
Then click Create and Save.
Yes, your shipping method has been added. Now let’s add another method.
But this time, we’ll create a free shipping method. Also, we’ll set a condition. A minimum order amount.
It means if anyone completes a minimum amount of an order, the user will enjoy the free shipping cost.
If the minimum order amount exceeds $1000, the user will receive free shipping.
Once done, hit create and save.
By defining the class, you have successfully created a shipping zone and method.
Following the same process, create a shipping zone for the outside USA region. In this case, we chose Asia.
So outside the USA, the shipping charge will be $120. And if the minimum order is $1000, then the shipping charge will be free.
To configure your shipping settings, tap Shipping Settings.
These settings control the default shipping address that WooCommerce uses, as well as how it handles shipping addresses during checkout.
Calculations
Shipping destination
Debug Mode
It helps troubleshoot by showing which shipping zones and methods are active and bypasses the shipping rate cache for testing.
Now open the product for which you want to assign the shipping class.
Scroll down and assign the shipping class. Also, update the page.
Now you’re done with the setup.
Flat rate shipping provides an opportunity to increase your average order value by pairing it with strategic upsell offers.
Since customers pay a fixed shipping fee regardless of order size, they may be more inclined to add additional items to maximize their shipping costs.
By utilizing FunnelKit Funnel Builder, you can take full advantage of this behavior.
FunnelKit Funnel Builder allows you to fully customize your WooCommerce store, creating high-converting, personalized checkout experiences.
With easy drag-and-drop tools, you can design tailored checkout funnels, upsell pages, and thank you pages, all without coding.
It lets you enhance your store’s look, add custom offers, and optimize the shopping journey to boost conversions and increase order value.
Let’s look at how you can boost your store’s average order value
Now, navigate to the FunnelKit > Store Checkout.
We have already built a store checkout page.
So if you want to create a fully customized checkout page for your store, you can go through this guide.
After you enter the page, you can change the current template, edit, or delete it. Also, you can use different checkout page templates for your store.
Next, you can add steps or leave it as is if you want. Also, from the right side, you can drag-drop any widget that you want to use on the checkout page.
Here, we have separated the workflow into three steps. In the second step, we kept the shipping method, shipping phone.
Once you’re done with it, hit save.
Since you’re providing different shipping costs for different places, you can add more offers to increase the AOV. This way, you’re providing more value to your users without increasing the order amount.
Through an offer you’re giving your customers to add their frequently bought together items within the same shipping cost.
To make your tasks easier, FunnelKit has an amazing feature to let you do that; It’s Order Bump.
What is an Order Bump?
An order bump is a small offer displayed to customers at the checkout page. It encourages them to add an extra item to their order with a single click. By offering these relevant add-ons, you can increase the Average Order Value (AOV) without disrupting the checkout flow.
Learn More About Order BumpsLet’s see how to create an order bump and include it in the workflow.
First, on the store checkout page, click on the “Add Order bump” button.
Provide a name of the order bump.
Choose the template for your order bump.
Next, choose the product that you want to display on the order bump. You can add more products. Once you’re happy, hit save.
Now in the rule tab, add the main product that you want to show the order bump offer on the checkout page. Also, you can choose the shipping country as a rule and define the specific country that you want to display the offer.
Once you’re done, hit the save button.
Useful resources for order bump:
Add the iPhone 15 Pro Max to your cart and see how the WooCommerce flat rate shipping works.
Inside the USA
After adding the iPhone 15 Pro Max to the cart inside the USA region, you can see the shipping cost of $80 is shown in the order details.
Also, the order bump shows the related offers just above the order details specific to the USA region.
So, this is how you can set the order bump offer for your specific country or area.
Outside the USA
After adding the iPhone 15 Pro Max to the cart outside the USA region, the shipping cost of $120 is shown in the order details.
Also, as a part of the order bump, you can see the the offer inside the order.
Getting free shipping inside the USA by availing of a minimum order amount of $1200
Free shipping is available outside the United States with a minimum order amount of $1000.
So that’s all. This is how you can set up WooCommerce flat rate shipping for your targeted product and provide value to your customers.
Also, this way you’re giving a super shopping experience through the free shipping charge.
Flat rate shipping is a go-to for many WooCommerce store owners because it’s easy. However, tweaking and optimizing your setup will make it work effectively.
By using some smart strategies, you can make flat rate shipping not just convenient but a real asset for your store—boosting customer satisfaction, keeping costs under control, and creating a smoother checkout process.
Here are six simple tips to help you get the most out of your flat rate shipping game.
Shipping classes allow you to assign different flat rates based on product type. For instance, charge higher rates for bulky items and lower rates for lightweight goods.
Make sure your shipping costs align with the product’s nature and your budget.
Offer both standard and faster flat rate shipping options to cater to different customer needs.
Customers who want faster delivery can pay extra for express shipping, improving their overall shopping experience.
Set up shipping zones to apply different flat rates based on customer location.
This helps you optimize rates for domestic and international orders, ensuring you cover costs accurately without overcharging.
Encourage larger purchases by setting a threshold. For example, offer free shipping on orders over $50; this incentivizes customers to add more items to their cart, boosting your average order value.
FunnelKit Cart lets you set up threshold-based rewards: free shipping, discount coupon and free gifts based on the cart value.
Combine the flat rate with other shipping methods like local pickup, free shipping, or same-day delivery.
Offering a combination of shipping options gives customers the flexibility to choose what works best for them, whether they want the most affordable option or the fastest delivery.
This variety can make a big difference at checkout, encouraging more customers to complete their purchases.
Shipping costs change over time, so regularly review your rates to ensure they’re competitive and profitable.
Adjust your flat rates to reflect current shipping costs, keeping your pricing strategy aligned with market conditions.
1. What are the common mistakes to avoid when configuring flat rate shipping in WooCommerce?
Here are some reasons that store owners often forget while implementing flat shipping rates.
2. Can WooCommerce Flat Rate Shipping be combined with other shipping methods, like free shipping or local pickup?
Yes, WooCommerce allows you to combine flat rate shipping with other methods, such as free shipping, local pickup, or even table rate shipping.
This flexibility enables you to offer multiple shipping options at checkout, catering to different customer preferences.
For example, you could set up free shipping for orders over a certain amount while still offering a flat rate for standard deliveries and local pickup for customers who prefer to collect their orders.
3. How do shipping classes affect WooCommerce's flat rate shipping costs?
Shipping classes allow you to set different flat rate shipping costs for specific types of products.
For example, you can create a “Heavy Items” shipping class with a higher rate compared to a “Light Items” class.
By assigning shipping classes to products, you can charge appropriate shipping fees based on the item’s nature, size, or weight, giving you more control over your shipping strategy and ensuring costs are accurately reflected.
WooCommerce flat rate shipping is a simple yet effective way to streamline your shipping process, keeping costs predictable and transparent for your customers.
By customizing flat rates, using shipping classes, and setting up shipping zones, you can tailor your shipping strategy to fit your business needs.
To take your checkout experience to the next level, consider integrating FunnelKit Funnel Builder. You can design custom checkout funnels that highlight your shipping options, add personalized upsells, and provide a seamless, high-converting experience for your customers.
Mastering flat rate shipping with FunnelKit’s added power can transform your store’s performance, reduce cart abandonment, and boost your sales effortlessly.
