Setting up shipping zones & rates
Step-by-step instructions for creating shipping zones and setting shipping rates in WooCommerce.
Shipping zones let you charge different rates to different parts of the world. This guide walks you through creating zones and setting the rates customers see at checkout.
Quick summary
Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Shipping. Create a zone for each region you ship to, add a shipping method (flat rate, free, or local pickup) to each zone, and set the prices. Customers see the options that match their address.
What you'll need
Beginner 10–15 minutes- A clear idea of where you ship and what you charge
Step 1 — Open the Shipping settings
Go to WooCommerce → Settings.
Click the Shipping tab at the top of the settings page.
Click Shipping zones. This is where you manage all your zones.
Step 2 — Create a shipping zone
Click Add shipping zone.
Enter a Zone name. This is for your reference — customers don't see it. Use something clear like "United States," "Canada," or "Local."
Set the Zone regions. Click in the region field and search for or select the countries, states, or continents this zone covers. You can include multiple regions in one zone.
Click Save changes at the bottom to save the zone before adding methods.
Step 3 — Add a shipping method to the zone
Click Add shipping method inside the zone.
Choose a method:
- Flat rate — charge a fixed price.
- Free shipping — no charge (can be conditional).
- Local pickup — for in-store collection.
Click Add shipping method to confirm.
Click the method name (e.g., "Flat rate") to configure it.
Step 4 — Configure the flat rate
In the flat rate settings, enter a Method title. This is what customers see at checkout, e.g., "Standard shipping."
Enter a Cost. Type the price in the cost field, e.g., 5.99 for $5.99. For free shipping, enter 0.
Click Save changes.
Advanced flat rate pricing
The cost field supports simple math. For example, 5 + ( 2 * [qty] ) charges $5 plus $2 per item in the cart. Ask us if you need help setting up more complex pricing rules.
Step 5 — Add more zones as needed
Repeat steps 2–4 for each region. Common setups include:
| Zone name | Regions | Method |
|---|---|---|
| United States | United States | Flat rate — $5.99 |
| Free shipping threshold | United States | Free shipping (min. order $50) |
| International | Everywhere else | Flat rate — $19.99 |
| Local pickup | Your city/state | Local pickup — $0 |
The "Rest of the world" zone
WooCommerce automatically includes a "Rest of the world" zone. Any customer whose address doesn't match a named zone falls here. If you don't want to ship internationally, don't add any methods to this zone — customers from uncovered regions will see no shipping options and won't be able to checkout.
Changing the order of zones
Zones are checked in order from top to bottom. If a customer matches two zones, WooCommerce uses the first matching one. Drag and drop the zones to set priority order.
Common questions
Related guides
- How WooCommerce shipping works
- Setting up free shipping
- Understanding the checkout experience
- WooCommerce extensions explained
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