Build shipping methods around your store’s rules
Custom Shipping Methods for WooCommerce Pro lets you create multiple custom shipping methods for a WooCommerce store. Instead of relying on one general rate, you can define availability and pricing according to the contents of the cart, product data, shipping classes, order value, or delivery distance.
The plugin is useful for stores with different delivery services, location-based charges, product-specific rules, or shipping offers that need more control than a simple flat rate. Each custom method can have its own conditions and presentation at checkout.
Calculate costs with cart data
Shipping cost formulas can use shortcodes for common cart values. The [qty] shortcode represents the number of items in the cart, while [cost] represents the total cost of cart items. Use [weight] for total cart weight and [volume] for total cart volume. Percentage-based fees can be handled with [fee], and [round] supports rounding in the calculation.
These values can be combined in a custom method’s cost calculation formula to create rates that respond to the order rather than remaining fixed for every customer.
Set detailed availability rules
Each shipping method can be limited by minimum and maximum cart cost, weight, volume, or quantity. You can also require or exclude specific products, product categories, and product tags. These conditions make it possible to show a method only when the order matches the products and cart values you have defined.
For distance-based pricing, the Pro edition provides the [distance] shortcode. The [costs_table] shortcode supports table rate shipping, with costs calculated using the Google Distance Matrix API. This gives stores a way to combine distance information with their own shipping formulas and availability limits.
Use shipping classes and order thresholds
Costs can be assigned by product shipping class, including products without a shipping class. You can charge shipping per class or per order, and choose whether limits are checked per class, per order, or across all items. This is useful when products have different handling or delivery requirements.
Pro also adds free-shipping controls. Set a minimum order amount for free shipping or identify products that qualify for free shipping. Minimum and maximum cost limits can further control when a method is available or how its final charge is applied. Minimum and maximum distance availability options are available for distance-based methods.
Customize the checkout presentation
Shipping methods can include custom frontend icons and descriptions so customers can understand the available choices. You can create customized icon templates displayed beside a method title and add custom HTML text for free shipping when the cost is zero.
The plugin also provides a custom return URL option, which can be used instead of the standard WooCommerce “Order received” page. This allows the post-purchase destination to match the store’s preferred workflow.
Installation and setup
Install and activate Custom Shipping Methods for WooCommerce Pro alongside WooCommerce. Open the plugin settings in the WordPress dashboard and create a custom shipping method. Add its formula, conditions, shipping-class rules, distance options, free-shipping settings, icons, and description. Test the method with carts that match and do not match its rules before making it available to customers.
