How do I set weight‑based vs price‑based shipping in Shopify?

Weight-based and price-based shipping in Shopify let you charge different delivery fees based on cart weight or order value. These shipping rules help online stores stay profitable, avoid overcharging customers, and encourage higher-value orders.

What weight-based and price-based shipping really mean

With weight-based shipping, the delivery fee changes based on the total weight of the customer’s cart. With price-based shipping, the delivery fee changes based on the total order value. Shopify automatically calculates the cart and shows only the correct rates at checkout.

When to use each method

Use weight-based shipping if your carrier prices change a lot by weight or you sell heavy products. Use price-based shipping if your items have similar weights and you want to offer free shipping thresholds to increase your average order value.

Set up weight-based shipping in Shopify

1. Go to Settings → Shipping and delivery.
2. Open your shipping profile.
3. Next to your shipping zone, click Add rate.
4. Choose a transit time or select Custom flat rate.
5. Enter the shipping price (the amount customers will pay for this rate).
6. Click Add conditions and select Based on order weight.
7. Set the minimum and maximum weight range.
8. Click Done and Save.

Important: All products must have weights added in their product details for weight-based shipping to work correctly.

Set up price-based shipping in Shopify

1. Go to Settings → Shipping and delivery.
2. Open your shipping profile.
3. Click Add rate in the shipping zone.
4. Select a transit time or Custom flat rate.
5. Enter the shipping price (the amount customers will pay for this rate).
6. Click Add conditions and choose Based on order price.
7. Set the minimum order value. Leave maximum blank for “and above” or set a maximum for a specific range.
8. Click Done and Save.

What customers see at checkout

Shopify calculates the cart weight or order value automatically and shows only the shipping options that match the cart. The selected rate is added to the order total and appears clearly before payment.

If shipping rates are missing or incorrect

Check that all products have accurate weights, verify your ranges do not have gaps, ensure at least one rate covers every possible cart value or weight, confirm the shipping zone includes the customer’s country, and make sure products are assigned to the correct shipping profile.

Practical tips

• Create continuous ranges with no gaps (for example, 0–5 kg, 5–10 kg).
• Add your store’s default package weight.
• Use round numbers for free-shipping thresholds.
• Review rates when carrier prices change.
• Test with sample orders at different weights and values before going live.

Final recommendation

Use price-based shipping for most Shopify stores to increase order value, and weight-based shipping for heavy or bulky products. Start with simple tiers, test carefully, and adjust regularly based on your delivery costs and customer behaviour.