Flexible Rate is the most advanced shipping method. It is ideal when you need tiered shipping rates based on specific conditions.
How to Add Flexible Rate Shipping
From the Shipping Methods page, click “Add Shipping Method”, assign a method name, and select the relevant zone. Then configure the method:
- Choose Manual Rate, then select Flexible Rate Method
- Enable Expected Delivery Time if you want to show delivery estimates to customers.
(Optional) - Create your shipping rules by adding Rate Tiers in the Tier Table.
- Click Add Rate Tier to create more ranges with different shipping costs.
- Enable Advanced Display Rules if you need more control over when this shipping method appears.
How to Create Rate Tiers in Flexible Shipping
A rate tier is a set of rules that defines when a specific shipping cost should be applied. Each rate tier consists of one or more conditions and a shipping cost.
A condition has three main fields:
- Attribute – what is being measured (for example: Cart Weight, Cart Total, Product Quantity)
- Operator – how the attribute is evaluated (for example: Equals, Greater than, Between)
- Value – the number or range used for comparison
Below is everything you need to know to create rate tiers that make Flexible Rate Shipping work correctly.
Key Rules for Rate Tiers
- You can create multiple rate tiers for a single Flexible Rate Shipping method.
- Each rate tier can include up to 3 conditions, added using the ➕ icon.
- Every rate tier must have a shipping cost.
- Conditions within the same tier follow AND logic.
This means all conditions must be met for that tier to apply. - Different rate tiers work independently.
When an order matches a tier’s conditions, the corresponding shipping cost is applied.
Here is an Example for Rate Tiers
Tier 1 with 2 Conditions
| Attribute | Operator | Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Condition 1 | Cart Weight | Between | 0–5 kg |
| Condition 2 | Cart Total | Greater than | 1000 USD |
Both conditions must be true for this tier to apply, and the shipping cost for this tier is 3 USD
Tier 2 with a single condition
| Attribute | Operator | Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Condition 1 | Cart Weight | Between | 5–10 kg |
The shipping cost for this tier is 4 USD
Shipping Cost Options for Flexible Rate
Within each rate tier, you choose how the shipping cost is calculated. There are three calculation options, each suited for different shipping scenarios.
Fixed Rate
A flat shipping fee that does not change based on cart value, quantity, weight, or any attribute. Use this when the shipping cost is the same for all orders that match the tier. For example, flat $10 shipping for all orders that match this tier.
Now, the Incremental Rate and Base Cost + Additional Charge options use a calculation basis to determine how the shipping cost increases. The calculation basis defines which attribute (such as quantity, weight, or amount) is used to calculate the additional charge.
You simply select the attribute to base the calculation on, and the shipping cost adjusts automatically. Multiple calculation bases are available to choose from.
| Cart Basis | Product Basis | Order Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Cart Quantity Cart Total Cart Subtotal Cart Weight Cart Length Cart Width Cart Height Cart Volume | Product Quantity Product Price Product Total Product Weight Product Height Product Width Product Length Product Volume | First Order Spent Last Order Spent Total Number of Orders |
Incremental Rate
An Incremental Rate is used when the shipping cost should increase gradually as something in the order increases, such as the number of items, the weight, or the price. Instead of charging one flat shipping fee, this method adds shipping cost in steps.
Think of it as:
👉 “The more you add, the more shipping increases.”
How It Works (Step by Step)
- First, choose the calculation basis
For example: Cart Quantity, Cart Weight, or Product Price. - Set the shipping cost
This is the amount you want to charge each time the value increases. - Specify how many units the shipping cost applies to
This tells the system how often the cost should be added.
The system will then add the shipping cost repeatedly as the value grows.
How to Read the Resulting Sentence
The system explains the rule using a simple sentence like this:
- Based on Cart Quantity, Cost is 5 USD for every 5 Items
→ For every 5 items added to the cart, 5 USD is added to shipping. - Based on Cart Weight, Cost is 10 USD for every 1 kg
→ Each extra 1 kg adds 10 USD to shipping. - Based on Product Height, Cost is 5 USD for every 10 cm
→ Every additional 10 cm adds 5 USD to shipping. - Based on Product Price, Cost is 4 USD for every 100 USD
→ For every 100 USD increase in product price, 4 USD is added.
Base Cost + Additional Charge
This is used when shipping has a minimum base cost, and then an extra cost is added as the order increases. This is useful when there is a minimum shipping cost plus a variable part.
Think of it as:
👉 “There is a minimum shipping cost, and anything extra costs more.”
How It Works (Step by Step)
- First, choose the calculation basis
Select what the shipping cost should be based on, such as Cart Quantity, Cart Weight, or Cart Total. - Set the Base Cost
This is the minimum shipping cost that will always be applied. - Define how much the Base Cost covers
Specify how much of the selected basis is included in the base cost. This value can be set to 0. - Set the Additional Charge
This is the extra cost that will be added after the base limit is exceeded. - Define how often the Additional Charge applies
Specify the step size for adding the extra charge.
The system applies the base cost first, then adds the extra charge step by step as the value increases.
How to Read the Resulting Sentence
The rule should make a simple sentence like this:
- Based on Cart Quantity, base cost is 10 USD for the first 5 items,
then 2 USD for every additional 3 items - Based on Cart Weight, base cost is 15 USD for the first 10 kg,
then 4 USD for every additional 5 kg
Attributes Available in Flexible Rate Conditions
There are 35 attributes, and they are organised into six categories for easier navigation. You can select an attribute by scrolling through the list or by searching directly in the attribute field.
General Attribute
| Always | This rule always applies, no matter what is and how much in the cart or who the customer is. |
Cart Specific Attributes
| Cart Quantity | Uses the total number of items added to the cart. |
| Cart Total | Uses the final cart amount after discounts and fees are applied. |
| Cart Subtotal | Uses the cart amount before discounts, shipping, and taxes. |
| Cart Coupons | Checks whether a coupon has been applied to the cart. |
| Cart Weight | Uses the total weight of all items in the cart |
| Cart Length | Uses the combined length of all items in the cart. |
| Cart Width | Uses the combined width of all items in the cart. |
| Cart Height | Uses the combined height of all items in the cart. |
| Cart Volume | Uses the total volume/space occupied by all items in the cart. |
Product Specific Attributes
| Product | Targets specific product(s) in the cart. |
| Product Categories | Applies the condition based on the product’s assigned categories. |
| Product Tags | Applies the condition based on the product’s assigned tags. |
| Product Shipping Class | Applies the condition based on the product’s shipping class. |
| Product Quantity | Uses the quantity of a specific product in the cart. |
| Product Price | Uses the price of a single unit of the product. |
| Product Total | Uses the total price of the product multiplied by its quantity. |
| Product Weight | Uses the weight of one unit of the product. |
| Product Height | Uses the height of one unit of the product. |
| Product Width | Uses the width of one unit of the product. |
| Product Length | Uses the length of one unit of the product. |
| Product Volume | Uses the volume of one unit of the product (length × width × height). |
Customer Specific Attributes
| User | Targets a specific registered customer by their user account |
| User Role | Applies the condition based on the customer’s assigned role (for example: customer, subscriber, wholesale). |
| Matches customers using their billing or account email address. | |
| Phone | Applies rules based on the customer’s provided phone number. |
| First Order Spend | Uses the total amount spent in the customer’s very first order. |
| Last Order Spend | Evaluates the total amount spent in the customer’s most recent order. |
| Total Number of Orders | Applies conditions based on how many orders the customer has placed in total. |
Location-Based Attributes
| Country | Applies the condition based on the customer’s selected country. |
| State | Applies the condition based on the customer’s selected state or region. |
| City/Town | Applies the condition based on the customer’s selected city or town. |
| Zip/Postcode | Applies the condition based on the customer’s zip or postal code. |
Other Attributes
| Weekday | Applies the condition based on the day of the week the order is placed. |
| Time | Applies the condition based on the time the order is placed. |
Operators Available in Flexible Rate Conditions
There are five operators available for conditions. But the operators you see vary depending on the type of attribute you select.
| Numeric or Range-Based Attributes (e.g., Amount, Quantity, Weight): | Text or List-Based Attributes (e.g., Product Name, Category, Attribute, Email): |
| Equals Does not equal Greater than or equal to Less than or equal to Between | Equals Does not equal Contains Does not contain |