How to Set Up WooCommerce Shipping Options (Step-by-Step Guide)

Learning how to set up shipping options in WooCommerce is important for showing the correct rates at checkout and giving customers a clear and smooth shipping experience. WooCommerce lets you manage shipping through Shipping Zones, Shipping Methods and Shipping Classes, and each part needs to be set up in the right order.

In this guide, you will

• Step 1: Create your shipping zones
• Step 2: Add Flat Rate, Free Shipping and Local Pickup
• Step 3: Configure each shipping method
• Step 4: Set up shipping classes
• Step 5: Disable or remove methods you do not need
• Step 6: Fix common WooCommerce shipping issues

Follow the steps below to set up your WooCommerce shipping options with confidence.

What Are Shipping Options in WooCommerce?

WooCommerce also includes a Shipping Settings page, which controls global shipping behavior for your entire store. 

Here you can enable the shipping calculator on the cart page, choose when shipping costs appear and set the address WooCommerce should use when calculating rates. These settings do not affect individual zones or methods but help you control how shipping works at the store level.

Shipping options in WooCommerce are the tools that control how your store calculates and displays shipping rates. You can manage all shipping settings inside WooCommerce Settings under the Shipping tab. The main parts include Shipping Zones, Shipping Methods and Shipping Classes.

• Shipping Zones let you choose the locations you want to ship to. 
• Shipping Methods include Flat Rate, Free Shipping and Local Pickup. 
• Shipping Classes help you group products that need different shipping costs.

These elements work together to create the final shipping options your customers see at checkout.

How to Set Up Shipping Options in WooCommerce

Below are the steps you need to follow to set up your WooCommerce shipping options correctly. You will start by creating your shipping zones, then adding shipping methods, and finally configuring each method so the right rates appear at checkout.

Step 1: Create your shipping zones

Shipping Zones decide which locations your store will ship to and what shipping options customers see in each region. 

Go to WooCommerce (1) > Settings (2) and open the Shipping (3) tab.

Click Shipping Zones and choose Add Shipping Zone. You will see a screen like the one in the image. 

Enter a name for your zone, such as Local, Domestic or Worldwide. In the Zone regions field, choose the countries, states or regions you want this zone to cover. Customers will be matched to this zone based on the address they enter at checkout.

After you set the zone name and regions, scroll down to the Shipping Methods section. This is where you will add Flat Rate, Free Shipping or Local Pickup for this zone. When you finish adding your methods, remember to save your changes.

Step 2: Add shipping methods to each zone

After you create your zones, the next step is to add the shipping methods you want to offer in each location. 

Open a zone and select Add Shipping Method. You can choose Flat Rate, Free Shipping or Local Pickup. Each zone can have one method or several, depending on how you want to charge customers in that region. Once the methods are added, you can edit each one to set the rules and costs you need.

Step 3: Configure flat rate shipping

Flat Rate is the most common shipping method in WooCommerce because it lets you set a fixed cost for an order, an item or a class of products. 

Open the Flat Rate option inside your selected zone and enter the amount you want to charge. You can also choose if the rate applies per order or per item and decide if tax should be included. This step allows you to create simple and predictable shipping fees for customers.

Step 4: Enable free shipping (conditions and rules)

Free Shipping can be offered in WooCommerce when certain conditions are met. 

Open the Free Shipping method inside your zone and choose how customers can qualify. You can set a minimum order amount, require a valid coupon or allow both rules at the same time. This setup helps you run simple promotions or reward customers who reach a spending target without adding extra complexity.

Ass you can see, WooCommerce includes a basic Free Shipping method that works with a minimum order amount or a coupon. 

If you need more advanced free shipping rules, such as subtotal ranges, weight conditions or product-based rules, you can use a plugin like Advanced Free Shipping.

This tool lets you create custom conditions and offer free shipping when all selected rules match.

Step 5: Set up local pickup

Local Pickup lets customers collect their orders directly instead of paying for delivery. 

Open the Local Pickup method in your zone and enter the cost you want to charge, or keep it at zero if you prefer to offer it for free. You can also choose the tax setting for this method. Local Pickup is useful for stores that have a physical location or want to give customers a quick, cost-saving option.

Step 6: Set up shipping classes

Shipping Classes help you group products that need different shipping costs. This is useful for items that are heavy, bulky or require a higher delivery fee. To create them, go to the Shipping Classes section in WooCommerce Settings and add the classes you need. Then open each product and assign the correct class under the Shipping tab.

If you want to learn how to use shipping classes in WooCommerce, the key is to link each class to a specific cost. Go back to your Flat Rate settings inside a shipping zone and enter the price for every class you created.

WooCommerce will apply these costs only to the products that belong to that class. This gives you full control over your shipping fees and keeps pricing consistent for different product types.

Optional: Disable or remove shipping methods

You can disable or remove a shipping method at any time if you no longer want to offer it in a specific zone. 

• Open the zone you want to adjust and find the method you want to change.
• Use the Disable option to hide the method from checkout while keeping it available for future use.
• Use the Remove option to delete it completely from that zone.

This gives you flexibility when updating your shipping strategy or testing new setups.

Common WooCommerce Shipping Issues and How to Fix Them

Even a small mistake in your shipping setup can cause the wrong rates to appear or make shipping options disappear at checkout. Most problems come from incorrect zone settings, missing method rules or incomplete shipping class configuration. 

Here are the most common WooCommerce shipping issues and the simple fixes you can apply to get everything working again.

1. Shipping method not showing at checkout

This issue appears when WooCommerce cannot match the customer’s address to any shipping zone. The store then fails to display a valid shipping method. You can fix this by checking the country, state and postcode you added to each zone and making sure they match the customer’s location. 

You should also confirm that at least one shipping method is enabled inside that zone. If you use shipping classes, make sure the product settings do not block the method. When all zone rules and method settings match correctly, the shipping option will appear at checkout.

2. Wrong shipping costs displayed

This problem happens when WooCommerce calculates shipping fees using settings that do not match your zone or method rules. A mismatch between shipping classes, product assignments or Flat Rate formulas can cause the wrong amount to appear. 

You can fix this by reviewing the costs you set for each shipping class, checking the product’s assigned class and confirming that your Flat Rate settings use the correct calculation. Once all values match your intended setup, WooCommerce will display the correct shipping cost at checkout.

3. Free shipping not applying even when conditions are met

This issue occurs when the rules for Free Shipping do not match the customer’s cart details. WooCommerce checks the minimum order amount, coupon requirements or both before it activates Free Shipping. 

If the order does not meet these rules exactly, the method will not appear. You can fix this by reviewing the minimum amount, confirming that the correct coupon is applied and making sure the method is enabled inside the correct shipping zone. Once the conditions align with the cart, WooCommerce will activate Free Shipping as expected.

4. Shipping zones overlapping or misconfigured

This problem occurs when two or more shipping zones cover the same location or when a zone is missing important location details. WooCommerce reads zones in order, so any overlap can cause the wrong zone to activate and display incorrect methods. 

You can fix this by checking each zone’s countries, states and postcodes to make sure there is no duplication. You should also place your most specific zones at the top of the list. When each zone covers a unique area and the order is correct, WooCommerce will match customers to the right zone and show the correct shipping options.

How to Set up Shipping Options in WooCommerce: FAQs

Conclusion

Learning how to set up shipping options in WooCommerce becomes simple once you understand how Shipping Zones, Shipping Methods and Shipping Classes connect. 

When you follow the steps in this guide, you can create accurate rates, offer the delivery choices your customers need and prevent common checkout issues. Review each zone, check your method settings and test your cart with different addresses. 

Once everything matches your shipping rules, WooCommerce will always display the correct shipping options.