How to Set Up Shipping on Shopify? (2026)

Last Updated on January 2, 2026 by Himanshu Rawat

Shipping is a crucial part of any online store, directly influencing customer satisfaction and sales. In today’s competitive eCommerce world, customers expect fast and reliable delivery — 77% of online consumers expect delivery within two hours or less, and free shipping is the top reason people shop online. This makes an optimized shipping strategy essential for retaining customers and boosting conversions.

Shopify is a leading platform for creating online stores and offers powerful tools to manage shipping with ease.

In this article, we’ll look at why shipping matters and explain how to set up shipping on Shopify, including tips for offering free shipping and handling shipping-related refunds.

How to Set Up Shipping rates on Shopify?

Setting up shipping on Shopify involves a few key steps:

• Log in to your Shopify admin dashboard.
• Navigate to Settings > Shipping and delivery.

• Click Manage or “General shipping rates” for the shipping profile you want to modify.

• Click Add rate for the desired shipping zone.

• Select Set up your own rates.
• Enter the Rate name, Price, and any desired Conditions (e.g., weight or order price).
• Click Done.
• Click Save to apply your shipping rate settings.

By following these steps, you can effectively set up shipping for your Shopify store.

How to Offer Free Shipping on Shopify?

Offering free shipping can be a powerful tool to attract customers and increase sales.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Log in to your Shopify admin dashboard.
• Navigate to Settings > Shipping and delivery.
• Click Manage for the shipping profile you want to modify.
• Click Add rate for the desired shipping zone.

• Enter a Rate name (e.g., “Free Shipping”).
• Set the Price to 0 to offer free shipping.
• Optionally, add Conditions based on item weight or order price to apply free shipping for specific criteria.
• Click Done.

By following these steps, you can easily create a free shipping rate for your Shopify store.

How to Refund Shipping on Shopify

Refunding shipping costs to customers can be necessary in certain situations, such as returns or order cancellations. Here’s how to handle shipping refunds in Shopify:

1. Access Orders:

• Go to Orders > Completed in your Shopify admin.

2. Find the Order:

• Locate the order you want to refund.

• Click Refund.

3. Select Refund Options:

• Choose Refund payment.
• Check the Shipping checkbox.

4. Enter Refund Amount:

• Specify the amount you want to refund in the Amount field.

5. Complete Refund:

• Click Refund to finalize the refund.

Note: If you’re using a third-party shipping app, the refund process may vary slightly. Consult the app’s documentation for specific instructions.

To sum it up, shipping is an important part of running an online store and can greatly affect customer happiness and sales. Providing a smooth shipping process helps keep customers coming back and boosts sales. When you sell on Shopify, you have access to easy-to-use tools to set up shipping rates, offer free shipping, and handle refunds. By using these features, you can improve your customers’ experience and make your store stand out in the crowded e-commerce world.

Final Thoughts

Shipping plays a major role in customer satisfaction and overall store success. Shopify makes it easy to set up shipping zones, rates, free shipping, and refunds, even if you’re just starting. By optimizing your shipping settings, you can deliver a smooth shopping experience, build trust, and stand out in the competitive eCommerce world.

FAQs: Setup Shipping on Shopify

1. Do I need a paid Shopify plan to set up shipping?

No, you can configure shipping settings on any Shopify plan, including the free trial. However, you’ll need a paid plan to start receiving orders and fully use shipping features.

2. Can I charge different shipping rates for different countries?

Yes. Shopify lets you create shipping zones, so you can set unique rates for specific countries or regions. This is helpful for managing international shipping costs.

3. How do I offer free shipping only on orders above a certain amount?

When adding a shipping rate, simply enable conditions based on order price, then set a minimum value (e.g., free shipping on orders over $50). Customers only qualify once their cart meets the threshold.

4. Does Shopify automatically calculate shipping rates?

It depends. Shopify supports both manual rates (flat or conditional) and carrier-calculated rates through shipping carriers or apps. Carrier-calculated rates display real-time shipping costs at checkout.

5. Can I refund shipping costs if a customer returns an item?

Yes. You can refund shipping directly from the Orders page in Shopify. Just select the order, click Refund, and include the shipping amount. If you use a third-party shipping app, the process may differ slightly.