Table rate shipping

Last update: July 19, 2024

CREATED FOR:

  • Beginner
  • Intermediate
  • Admin
  • User

The table rate shipping method references a table of data to calculate shipping rates based on a combination of conditions, including:

  • Weight v. Destination
  • Price v. Destination
  • Number of Items v. Destination

For example, if your warehouse is in Los Angeles, it costs less to ship to San Diego than to Vermont. You can use table rate shipping to pass the savings on to your customers.

The data that is used to calculate tables rates is prepared in a spreadsheet and imported into your store. When the customer requests a quote, the results appear in the shipping estimate section of the shopping cart.

NOTE
Only one set of table rate data can be active at a time.

Table Rate shipping option in the shopping cart order summary

Step 1: Complete the default settings

The first step is to complete the default settings for table rates. You can complete this step without changing the scope of the configuration.

  1. On the Admin sidebar, go to Stores > Settings > Configuration.

  2. In the Sales section of the left panel, choose Delivery Methods.

  3. Expand Expansion selector the Table Rates section.

    NOTE
    If necessary, first clear the Use system value checkbox to change the following settings as described.

    Table Rates

  4. Set Enabled to Yes.

  5. Enter the Title that you want to appear for table rates section during checkout.

    The default title is Best Way.

  6. Enter the Method Name that you want to appear as a label next to the calculated rate in the shopping cart.

  7. Set Condition to one of the following calculation methods:

    • Weight v. Destination
    • Price v. Destination
    • Number of Items v. Destination

  8. For orders that include virtual products, set Include Virtual Products in Price Calculation to Yes if you want to be able to include the virtual products in the calculation.

    NOTE
    Because virtual products—such as services—have no weight, they cannot change the result of a calculation that is based on the Weight v. Destination condition. However, virtual products can change the result of a calculation that is based on either the Price v. Destination or # of Items vs Destination condition.

  9. Configure the handling fee options according to your requirements.

    The handling fee is optional and appears as an extra charge that is added to the shipping cost. If you want to include a handling fee, do the following:

    • Set Calculate Handling Fee:

      • Fixed
      • Percent

    • Enter the Handling Fee rate according to the method used to calculate the fee.

      For example, if the charge is based on a fixed fee, enter the amount as a decimal, such as 4.90. However, if the handling fee is based on a percentage of the order, enter the amount as a percentage. For example, if you are charging six percent of the order, enter the value as .06.

  10. If needed, change the Displayed Error Message.

    This text box is preset with a default message, but you can enter a different message that you want to appear if this delivery method becomes unavailable.

  11. Set Ship to Applicable Countries:

    • All Allowed Countries - Customers from all countries specified in your store configuration can use this delivery method.
    • Specific Countries - When you choose this option, the Ship to Specific Countries list appears. Select each country in the list where this delivery method can be used.

  12. Set Show Method if Not Applicable to Yes if you want to show Table Rates all the time

  13. For Sort Order, enter a number to determine the sequence in which Table Rate Shipping appears when listed with other delivery methods during checkout.

    0 = first, 1 = second, 2 = third, and so on.

  14. Click Save Config.

Step 2: Prepare the table rate data

  1. In the upper-left corner, set Store View to Main Website, or to any other website where the configuration applies.

    NOTE
    If necessary, first deselect the Use system value checkbox to change the following settings as described.

  2. Change the Condition as needed.

  3. Click Export CSV.

    Export CSV

  4. Save the tablerates.csv file to your system.

  5. Open the file in a spreadsheet application.

  6. Complete the table with appropriate values for the shipping calculation condition.

    • Use an asterisk (*) as a wildcard that represents all possible values in any category.
    • The Country column must contain a valid three-character code for each row.
    • Sort the data by Region/State so the specific locations are at the top of the list, and the wildcard locations at the bottom. Using this method processes the rules with the absolute values first, and the wildcard values later.
    • Zip/postal code ranges are not supported. Use an asterisk (*) to allow all codes within the region/state, or specify a single code for a specific location in the Zip/Postal Code column.
    • Values in the Weight (and above) column can have a maximum of four decimal places (such as 2.5075). Using more decimal places in the data causes the import to fail.

    Weight vs. Destination (Australia)

  7. Save the tablerates.csv file.