How to Setup WooCommerce Flat Rate Shipping (Easy Guide)

Running an eCommerce/WooCommerce store involves offering your customers a smooth and transparent shopping and checkout experience. One important aspect of this process is shipping.

Shipping costs play a crucial role in customers’ buying decisions. Complex or high shipping costs lead to cart abandonment, a nightmare for any store owner.

While real-time shipping calculations or table rate shipping can be complex, WooCommerce flat rate shipping can be a simple and effective solution for your store.

Let us guide you on how to add flat rate shipping in WooCommerce.

Without further ado, let’s kick things off.

What is WooCommerce Flat Rate Shipping?

Flat rate shipping in WooCommerce allows you to set a fixed/flat price for deliveries for all order types, regardless of size, quantity, or weight. All customers will have to pay the same price for shipping.

WooCommerce has this option built into its shipping settings. In addition, WooCommerce also allows you to apply some conditions to the flat rates to offer advanced flat rate shipping for WooCommerce.

We will walk you through all the flat rate settings in the following sections. Additionally, we will also set flat rate shipping WooCommerce using shipping plugins.

Let’s start with the default settings.

How to Set Up Flat Rate Shipping In WooCommerce?

When we said that through flat rate shipping, you can only set a flat/fixed shipping rate for all sizes and weights, that doesn’t necessarily mean you are limited to one shipping rate. Using the default WooCommerce flat rate shipping settings, you can offer a wide range of shipping rates to your customers.

You can charge different flat rates to customers from different locations or change flat rate shipping prices to WooCommerce based on quantity or weights using the default options. Let us walk you through with examples.

First things first, we will start with the basics. You can set your store address and where you want to ship from the WooCommerce >> General settings.

Now, let’s find out where to set flat rate shipping for WooCommerce. Go to WooCommerce >> Shipping.

You need to start by adding a zone. A zone is a geographic location where you are willing to ship your products or where you support shipping them.

For example, you can create zones for continents like Asia, America, Europe, etc., Or country-specific zones such as England, Spain, and the USA, and filter more by city/location zip codes.

After you set your zone locations, click the Add Shipping Method button. This is where you set your shipping game.

WooCommerce offers two methods by default–

1. Free Shipping
2. Flat Rate

Additionally, it has a separate tab for setting local pickup.

WooCommerce Flat Rate Shipping Settings

Let’s jump to our topic of discussion – WooCommerce flat rate shipping setup.

Select the method and hit continue.

Here are the default flat rate shipping settings –

• Name: This is the name that your customers will see during checkout. For example, you could call it “Economy Shipping.”
• Tax status: This shows whether the shipping cost is taxable. If it is, taxes will be added to the shipping cost. If not, no taxes will be applied.
• Cost: This is where you set the shipping charge per order. For example, if you want to charge $7.00 for shipping regardless of how many items are in the order, you would enter “7.00” here.
• Add shipping class costs: This feature lets you add extra charges based on shipping classes. Shipping classes group products with similar shipping needs. For example, if you have a “Fragile Items” shipping class with an extra $3.00 cost, and a customer buys two fragile items, they would pay an additional $6.00 for shipping.

Additional Flat Rate Cost Field Placeholders

The cost field for the flat rate field might seem plain, but you can do a lot more with it. This field in the WooCommerce flat rate shipping method supports some placeholders.

These placeholders let you create WooCommerce flat rate shipping formulas to offer different shipping rates based on specific conditions.

Here are the possible placeholders –

[qty]

This placeholder represents the number of products in a customer’s cart. It allows you to offer shipping rates based on the quantity of items.

For instance, if you charge $3 per item to ship ceramic mugs, you would use the formula [qty] * 3 in the cost field. If a customer adds 5 mugs to their cart, [qty] would be replaced by 5, resulting in a $15 shipping fee (5 items * $3/item).

[fee percent=”numeric value”]

This calculates the shipping cost as a percentage of the customer’s total order value.

For example, if you want to charge a 7% shipping fee for electronics, you would use the formula [fee percent=”7″]. If a customer’s order totals $200, [fee percent=”7″] would translate to a $14 shipping fee (7% of $200).

min_fee=”numeric value”

This sets a minimum shipping fee to ensure you cover your costs on small orders. For example, if you often ship small gadgets that cost less than $4 to ship, you can set min_fee=”4″ to guarantee a minimum $4 shipping fee. This protects your profit margin on low-cost items.

max_fee=”numeric value”

This sets a maximum shipping fee to prevent overcharging on large orders. Suppose you offer a $15 shipping cap for furniture.

You could set max_fee=”15″ to ensure that no matter how large the order, the shipping fee will not exceed $15. This way, customers won’t face unexpectedly high shipping costs on their large orders.

By using these placeholders, you can create flexible and fair shipping rates that cater to different types of orders and ensure both your costs are covered and your customers are satisfied.

WooCommerce Flat Rate Shipping Examples

Let’s look at a few examples to understand how to set flat rate shipping WooCommerce and how flat rate variables work in WooCommerce.

Example of WooCommerce Flat Rate Shipping for All Orders

Cost field data: $6.00

Explanation:

This means every order, regardless of size or value, will have a flat shipping rate of $6.00.

Example of WooCommerce Flat Rate Shipping Based On Quantity

Cost field formula: 4 + (2 * [qty])

Imagine you’re selling handmade candles online and want to charge a flat rate for shipping based on the number of candles in the cart.

Your standard flat rate is $4, and you want to add $2 for each additional candle.

Using the formula 4 + (2 * [qty]), the shipping cost for different quantities of candles would be:

• 1 candle: $4 + (2 * 1) = $6
• 2 candles: $4 + (2 * 2) = $8
• 3 candles: $4 + (2 * 3) = $10

Example of Percentage-Based WooCommerce Flat Rate Shipping

Cost field formula: 5 + [fee percent=”3″]

Suppose you run an online gourmet food store and want to charge a flat rate plus a percentage of the order total.

Your standard flat rate is $5, and you want to add a 3% shipping fee based on the order total.

Using the formula 5 + [fee percent=”3″], the shipping cost for different order totals would be:

• Order Total: $100.00, Shipping Cost: $5 + (3% of $100) = $8.00
• Order Total: $200.00, Shipping Cost: $5 + (3% of $200) = $11.00
• Order Total: $300.00, Shipping Cost: $5 + (3% of $300) = $14.00

Example of Percentage-Based Flat Rate with Minimum Fee

Cost field formula: 7 + [fee percent=”5″ min_fee=”12″]

Continuing with the gourmet food store example, now you want to ensure a minimum shipping fee of $12, even for smaller orders.

Your standard flat rate is $7, and you want to add a 5% shipping fee based on the order total.

Using the formula 7 + [fee percent=”5″ min_fee=”12″], the shipping cost for different order totals would be:

• Order Total: $150.00, Shipping Cost: $7 + (5% of $150) = $14.50 (since it’s above the minimum, it remains $14.50)
• Order Total: $50.00, Shipping Cost: $7 + (5% of $50) = $9.50 (since it’s below the minimum, it’s adjusted to $12.00)
• Order Total: $300.00, Shipping Cost: $7 + (5% of $300) = $22.00

Here’s an example of when the shipping cost is below 12.

Originally, the shipping cost should be $8.75. However, we have set a minimum fee of $12, that’s why its calculating: 7+12 = $19.

Example of Weight-Based Shipping Flat Rate

Let’s say you want to offer different shipping rates based on the weight of the products.

For example –

• Up to 1 kg: $5.00
• 1-5 kg: $8.00
• 5-10 kg: $10.00
• Over 10 kg: $15.00

You can achieve this through the combination of shipping classes and WooCommerce flat rate shipping method. Go to WooCommerce >> Shipping >> Classes and add your shipping classes.

Here’s how you set a class –

Similarly, create other classes.

After that, you need to assign these classes to your products according to their weight range. If a product is below 1 kg, you need to assign that to the class Up to 1 kg.

To bulk assign shipping classes, go to the All Products page and filter the necessary products.

Next, click the Quick Edit button.

Select the class and update the product.

The next task is to add flat rate shipping WooCommerce. Go to your zone and edit the flat rate method.

Now, you will see all the shipping classes you created under the Shipping Class Costs section.

In the Cost field, set your minimum WooCommerce flat-rate shipping rate and add shipping class rates at their respective fields. Save all changes.

Time to check from the front end. Let’s add a product below 1 kg weight.

The shipping cost is 10 because $5 (Flat rate cost) + $5 (Up to 1 kg class cost) = $10.

For over 10 kg product, it should be Primary cost $5 + Over 10 kg cost $15 = $20.

If we add another product between 1-5 kg along with the current added ones, here’s what the result looks like.

This is the calculation: Primary cost $5 + Over 10 kg cost $15 + 1-5 kg cost $8 = Total $28.

I hope these examples help you understand how to set different WooCommerce flat rate shipping costs. Create and save your settings, and make sure to save your zone to apply these changes.

How to Set Up WooCommerce Flat Rate Shipping Using Plugins?

Even though the default WooCommerce flat rate shipping method allows you to create multiple shipping rates, as we have explained above, a plugin can further enhance your shipping settings.

The flat rate shipping plugin for WooCommerce we will use is called Table Rate Shipping Method for WooCommerce by Flexible Shipping. This plugin allows you to offer WooCommerce multiple flat rate shipping with different conditions.

Let’s create WooCommerce flat rate shipping based on cart total using the plugin. After you install the plugin, go to one of your zones and add a shipping method.

Now, you will see a new method called Flexible Shipping. Select and continue.

After that, hit the edit button.

You will land on the following page.

The Shipping Cost Calculation Rules section at the bottom is what makes all the differences. From here, you can apply multiple shipping rate conditions such as table rate shipping, weight-based shipping, distance-based shipping, etc.

To offer a cart-based shipping rate, you will need the price condition.

Let’s say you want to set a shipping rate of $20 when the cart total is between $1-$100. Here’s how you set it.

Similarly, you can create and apply multiple conditions.

As you can see, we have set free shipping for carts totaling over $300. The plugin has dedicated free shipping settings.

Let’s check it out from the front end.

Working as per your set conditions.

Benefits of WooCommerce Flat Rate Shipping

WooCommerce flat rate shipping offers a compelling set of advantages for online stores, making it a popular choice for businesses of various sizes. Here’s a breakdown of why you might consider implementing it:

1. Simplicity for Customers

• Transparent Pricing: Customers know exactly what the shipping cost will be upfront, leading to a more predictable and frustration-free checkout experience. No surprise charges at the final step!
• Faster Checkout: By eliminating real-time shipping calculations, the checkout process becomes quicker and smoother for your customers. This can improve conversion rates and overall customer satisfaction.

2. Easier Management for You

• Predictable Costs: Flat rates allow you to estimate your total shipping expenses more easily, aiding in budgeting and pricing strategies.
• Reduced Complexity: You don’t need to integrate with complex shipping carriers or manage intricate weight and dimension calculations. This frees up your time to focus on other aspects of your business.

3. Strategic Sales Opportunities

• Encourage Larger Orders: You can strategically set your flat rate to incentivize customers to spend more and reach a free shipping threshold (if applicable).
• Control Over Margins: By factoring in average shipping costs, you can incorporate them into your product pricing to ensure healthy profit margins.

4. Ideal for Specific Products

• Flat Items: Flat-rate shipping accurately reflects the typical cost for businesses selling lightweight or flat-packed products and avoids overcharging customers.
• Consistent Weight/Size: If your products all fall within a similar weight and size range, flat rates simplify the process without the need for individual calculations.

5. A Foundation for Growth

• Starting Point: Flat rate shipping is an excellent option for new stores or those with a manageable product range. As your business grows and product diversity increases, you can explore more complex shipping methods later or set up an advanced flat rate shipping method for WooCommerce.
• Easy Integration: WooCommerce flat rate shipping seamlessly integrates with your existing store setup, requiring minimal configuration.

Wrap up

Overall, WooCommerce flat rate shipping balances customer convenience and manageable store operations. It’s a great choice for stores seeking a streamlined, cost-effective shipping solution.

Hope this article will help you create effective shipping flat rates at your WooCommerce store and grow your conversions.