Calculated Shipping Rates for Shopify Plans

Calculated shipping on Shopify shows customers accurate USPS and Canada Post rates at checkout, free on all plans, so you stop overcharging and reduce abandoned carts.

Starting today, Shopify merchants in the US and Canada can display calculated USPS and Canada Post shipping rates to customers through Shopify. With calculated shipping, you won't have to manually enter estimated flat rates for all the places you ship, and you'll always charge the right amount for shipping.

Calculated shipping is free and available on all plans for all merchants using USPS and Canada Post rates at checkout.

Add calculated rates

Learn more about shipping with Shopify

When customers checkout from your store, they'll now see accurate shipping rates based on order weight, package dimensions, and shipping destination:

The shipping rates your customers see at checkout are Shopify's discounted USPS and Canada Post rates, and are cheaper than the rates you'd get at the post office. As of today, you can choose to pass on those savings directly to your customers.

Avoid overcharging and undercharging on shipping

Shopify stores overcharge for shipping 80% of the time when setting rates manually, which increases the risk of abandoned carts. Showing accurate shipping costs can boost your store's credibility during checkout, and help improve sales. By offering a range of delivery methods you can provide greater choice for your customers, and encourage them to come back and buy again.

Learn more: Find out how to choose the perfect third-party logistics (3PL) shipping provider.

Ship internationally with confidence

Using calculated rates will also reduce the amount of time you spend researching international shipping costs. You can trust that the best possible rate will always be shown to your customers, so there's less risk of losing money on international orders. Now you can ship anywhere worldwide, and be confident that you, and your customers, will always get the best, most accurate shipping rates.

Save money and skip the lines at the post office office with printable shipping labels

With Shopify, you can also buy shipping labels to print at home or at the office. These labels will reflect the same discounted rates that were displayed to your customers at checkout. Your customers will receive a tracking link so they can check the status of their shipment anytime.

Learn More: Everything You Need to Know About ePacket Shipping

To print a shipping label, simply log into Shopify, choose an order to fulfill, click "Buy shipping label" and print.

How to offer calculated rates in Shopify

If you're already using Shopify, you can start showing calculated rates to customers by updating your shipping zones. Be sure your products all have proper weights listed in their descriptions to get the most accurate rates. If you're located outside of US or Canada, or if you'd like to display third-party calculated rates (from FedEx, UPS, or other Shopify apps), you'll need to upgrade to the Advanced Shopify plan.

If you're looking for a primer on how to streamline fulfillment and the best ways to ship your products, visit the Shipping and Fulfillment 101 guide or the Shopify Help Center.

See our guide on epacket for exporting to China.

Calculated Shipping FAQ

What is calculated shipping?

Calculated shipping shows customers the exact carrier rate for their order at checkout instead of a flat amount you set manually. With calculated shipping, you won't have to manually enter estimated flat rates for all the places you ship, and you'll always charge the right amount for shipping. Rates are pulled based on order weight, package dimensions, and shipping destination, so pricing updates automatically for every order.

How is calculated shipping different from flat-rate shipping?

Flat-rate shipping charges a single price you decide on, while calculated shipping pulls a live rate from the carrier based on each order's actual weight and destination. Manual flat rates carry real risk: Shopify stores overcharge for shipping 80% of the time when setting rates manually, which increases the risk of abandoned carts. Calculated rates remove that guesswork by matching the price to the actual cost of the shipment.

Do I need a specific Shopify plan to use calculated shipping?

No upgrade is required for USPS and Canada Post calculated rates, since calculated shipping is free and available on all plans for all merchants using USPS and Canada Post rates at checkout. Displaying third-party calculated rates or shipping from outside the US and Canada does require a plan upgrade, as covered below.

Can I use carriers other than USPS and Canada Post for calculated rates?

Yes, other carriers can be added, but they require a plan upgrade. If you're located outside of US or Canada, or if you'd like to display third-party calculated rates (from FedEx, UPS, or other Shopify apps), you'll need to upgrade to the Advanced Shopify plan. This gives access to additional carrier connections beyond the built-in USPS and Canada Post options.

Why might my calculated shipping rates look inaccurate?

Inaccurate rates usually trace back to missing or incorrect product weight data, since carriers price shipments using that information. Be sure your products all have proper weights listed in their descriptions to get the most accurate rates. Double-checking weights and package dimensions in your shipping zones resolves most rate discrepancies at checkout.