Setting up your packages

You can add packages in your Shipping and delivery settings of your Shopify admin for easy selection when buying Shopify Shipping labels. You can also set up a default package that's used to determine the shipping rate to charge to your customers during checkout when using weight-based or carrier-calculated rates.

Add a custom package

You can add a custom package with custom dimensions and weight.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Shipping and delivery.

2. In the Packages section, click Add package.

3. In the Package name field, name your package.

4. In the Package type section, select your package type.

5. Add your package's dimensions and weight.

6. Optional: If you want to make this package as your default package, then select Use this package to calculate rates at checkout.

7. Click Add package.

Add a carrier package

You can add a carrier package from USPS, UPS, or Sendle. Carrier packages have predetermined dimensions. Learn more about carrier packages.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Shipping and delivery.

2. In the Packages section, click Add package.

3. Click Carrier package.

4. Select USPS package, UPS package, or Sendle package.

5. Select a package type.

6. Optional: If you want to make this package as your default package, then select Use this package to calculate rates at checkout.

7. Click Add package.

Managing up your default package

A default package is used to determine the shipping rate to charge your customers during checkout when using carrier-calculated shipping rates. If you have weight-based rates, then the weight of the default package is added to the weight of the products being shipped to determine which weight-based rate to charge.

Your default package is also automatically selected when you buy Shopify Shipping labels.

The box dimensions advertised by your shipping carrier might refer to the inside of the packaging. You need to measure and use the outside dimensions of your boxes when creating packages because the outside dimensions are used to calculate the shipping cost.

For example, suppose you have a default package weight of .1825 kg and you have the following weight-based shipping rates:

• 0 to 4.99 kg = 3 USD shipping rate
• 5 to 9.99 kg = 5 USD shipping rate
• 10 to 19.99 kg = 10 USD shipping rate

Suppose a customer purchases products that weigh a total of 4.9 kg. When the customer reaches your checkout, the default package weight of .1825 kg is added to the weight of the products. Because the products and default package have a combined weight of 5.0825 kg, the customer would be charged the 5 USD shipping rate instead of the 3 USD shipping rate.

Set up your default package

The first package that's created in your store becomes the default package. You can make any of your packages as your default package, but you can have only one default package at a time. Your current default package is indicated with the following text: This package is used to calculate shipping rates at checkout.

Note

If you select a carrier package as your default package, then your checkout displays rates only for that carrier and the applicable services for that package type. For example, if you select UPS Express Small Box package as your default package, then only UPS shipping rates are displayed at your checkout.

To use multiple carriers and services, create a custom package for your default package, so your customers can access a wider range of rates and services at checkout.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Shipping and delivery.

2. In Packages section, click Edit next to the package that you want to make as your default package.

3. Select Use this package to calculate rates at checkout.

4. Optional: Make any adjustments to your package's type, size, or weight.

5. Click Save.

Edit a package

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Shipping and delivery.

2. In the Packages section, click Edit next to the package that you want to edit.

3. Make any adjustments to your package's type, size, or weight, and then click Save.

Delete a package

If you no longer need a package in your shipping settings, then you can delete it. You can't delete your default package. To delete your default package, you need to make another package as your default package.

Your current default package is indicated with the following text: This package is used to calculate shipping rates at checkout.

Steps:

1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Shipping and delivery.

2. In the Packages section, click Edit next to the package that you want to delete.

3. Click Delete package, and then click Delete.