Split shipping in Shopify Checkout
If a cart includes items which can't be fulfilled in a single shipment, then fulfillment splits into multiple shipments. For example, if a customer adds a preorder item to their cart, then your checkout displays that the preorder product ships separately from available items. The customer can select an available shipping option for each shipment.
An order is split into multiple shipments when it includes any of the following types of items:
- Preorders
- Subscriptions
- Separate products shipping from different locations
- Products from different shipping profiles
- Buy with Prime products
The Shipping method section of a checkout with multiple shipments displays how many shipments the order is split into, and the available shipping methods for each shipment. Your customer can select from the available shipping options for each shipment.
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Considerations for split shipping in checkout
Review the following considerations for split shipping in checkout.
Split shipping in checkout limitations
- Split shipping in checkout can’t be applied to checkouts from draft orders when a shipping line is already set.
- Split shipping in checkout can't be applied to B2B checkouts that require orders to be placed as draft orders.
- Split shipping in checkout can't be applied when a customer is purchasing multiples of the same line item that can't be supplied from the same location. For example, if the customer wants to buy 5 of a red shirt, and Location A has 2 in stock and Location B has 4 in stock, then even though there are 5 red shirts available across all locations, split shipping isn't supported. All 5 of the same line item must be shipped from the same location.
Shipping service compatibility
- Shipping Scripts can't access split shipping in checkout. Learn more about migrating from shipping scripts.
- If you have local delivery activated, then checkout won't display multiple shipments.
- Managed Markets supports split shipping. However, third-party shipping services might not display shipping selections that are made by customers.
Shipment grouping and default rates
- A customer can't choose how the products in their cart are split. Consider adjusting your shipping profiles and checking your location fulfillment settings to make sure that any products that can ship together aren't split.
- By default, split shipping in checkout selects the lowest total shipping cost for all shipments in the order.
Third-party fulfillment app compatibility
Certain third-party fulfillment apps might not be compatible with split shipping in checkout. If you aren't sure whether your third-party app is compatible, then you can test by adding eligible items to the checkout on your storefront. You can also contact your app's developer to check compatibility with split shipping in checkout. Learn more about getting help with apps.
Split shipping with shipping options by market
If your store uses shipping options by market, then some rates are combined when an order is split. Your customer pays for a shipping option one time when more than one shipment uses its flat rates or order amount rates. The price is the highest matching rate. The other shipments that use that shipping option are labeled Included, so your customer can tell that their shipping is already covered.
Some shipping options have flat or order amount rates that cover every shipment, such as Standard or Express. In the Shipping method section of the checkout, each of these shipping options is displayed as its own choice, with the price your customer pays. Lowest price is displayed when a different combination of shipping methods costs the same as or less than those choices. Fastest is displayed when checkout can compare the delivery estimates of every shipping method in the order. It isn't displayed when one of the other choices is already the fastest.
A shipping method that's available for only some shipments stays available at checkout. For example, your Next day rate applies only to products that ship from one location. Your customer can select that shipping method for those shipments in More shipping options. Its price is then added to the price of the other shipments.
Rates are added together instead of being combined in the following cases:
- Your customer selects different shipping options for different shipments. For example, if your customer selects Standard for one shipment and Express for another shipment, then they pay for both shipping options.
- The shipments use app-provided rates, which a shipping app manages.
- The order includes preorders and items that ship right away, even when their rates are in the same shipping option.
For more information about how each rate type is charged when an order is split, refer to combined rates at checkout.
Select shipping for each shipment
By default, available shipping methods for each shipment are automatically grouped into the following options for ease of customer selection:
- Lowest price: The least expensive shipping method for each shipment is selected. This option is selected by default.
- Fastest: The fastest shipping option for all shipments is selected.
If your store uses shipping options by market, then the choices can also include shipping options whose rates are combined across every shipment. Learn more about split shipping with shipping options by market.
Each option displays the total shipping cost for all shipments, as well as the following details for each shipment:
- the shipping method name
- estimated delivery time
- shipping rate
- how many items are included in that shipment
Your customer can click More shipping options to display all available shipping methods for each shipment, and then select a different shipping method for one or more of the shipments. For example, if your customer wants one shipment to arrive faster, then they can select a faster shipping method for that shipment, and keep the least expensive shipping methods for the other shipments.
Steps:
- In the Shipping method section of the checkout, click More shipping options.
- Select an available shipping method for each shipment.
- Click Done to change the shipping methods.
Example of a split shipment from different locations
For example, your store sells shirts. You have two different store locations: Location A and Location B.
A customer wants to buy a green shirt and a red shirt as gifts. The customer adds a red shirt and a green shirt to their cart. Location A has the green shirt in stock, but the red shirt is unavailable. Location B has the red shirt in stock, but not the green shirt. Your shipping rates are as follows:
- a standard shipping method with a 5–8 day delivery time for $10 USD
- an express method with a same day delivery time for $20 USD
At the checkout, each shirt is split into a different shipment. However, the shipping charges displayed differ based on your location group setup.
Example 1: Split shipping from different locations within the same location group
A single flat rate shipping charge is applied to orders that ship from multiple locations within the same location group. Your customers are charged $10 USD for standard shipping, or $20 USD for express shipping.
In this example, your customers don't have the option to select different shipping methods per item, as the express shipping option at $20 USD covers both items, compared to a combined total of $30 USD ($10 USD for standard and $20 USD for express methods).
Example 2: Split shipping from different locations in different location groups or different profiles
A combined shipping charge is applied to orders that ship from multiple locations from different location groups. Your customers are charged $20 USD for standard shipping ($10 USD per item coming from two location groups) and $40 USD for the express shipping. Customers are displayed with the More shipping options option that lets them select different shipping options for each item.
In this example, the customer can select express shipping for one item, and standard shipping for the other, resulting in a $30 USD shipping charge.
Example 3: Split shipping from different locations on a store that uses shipping options by market
If your store uses shipping options by market, then one shipping option can have a different rate for each location. For example, your Standard shipping option has a $10 USD rate for products that ship from Location A and a $12 USD rate for products that ship from Location B. Your Express shipping option has a $20 USD rate for products that ship from Location B only.
When your customer selects Standard, they're charged $12 USD for both shipments. The shipment of the green shirt from Location A is labeled Included.
If your customer selects Express for the red shirt instead, then they're charged for two different shipping options, so the rates are added together. Your customer is charged $30 USD: $10 USD for Standard shipping of the green shirt and $20 USD for Express shipping of the red shirt.
Activate or deactivate split shipping in checkout
If you have more than one shipping profile or shipping location, then you can activate or deactivate split shipping in checkout.
You can adjust the setting from the Shipping and delivery section of your Shopify admin settings.
Steps:
Desktop
From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Shipping and delivery.
In the Shipping section, select one of the following options below your shipping profile list:
- If you have fulfillable inventory settings, then click split shipping.
- If you don't have fulfillable inventory settings, then click Manage.
In the Split shipping in checkout modal, select Show split shipping in checkout to activate or deactivate split shipping in checkout.
Click Save.
Mobile
From the Shopify app, tap
, and then tap 
Settings.In the Store settings section, tap Shipping and delivery .
In the Shipping section, under Split shipping, select one of the following labels:
- If you have fulfillable inventory settings, then tap Split shipping.
- If you don't have fulfillable inventory settings, then tap Manage.
In the Split shipping modal, select Show split shipping in checkout to activate or deactivate split shipping in checkout.
Tap Save or ✓.