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Setting up packages

You can add packages in your Shipping and delivery settings of your Shopify admin for easy selection when buying shipping labels, and assign a package to products and variants. You can also select a store default package that's used to calculate shipping rates at checkout when using weight-based or carrier-calculated rates. Setting up packages can help you get accurate shipping rates at checkout and speed up the label-buying process.

When you buy a shipping label and a suggested package isn't available, then your store default package is selected automatically for you.

On this page

Add a custom package

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

Steps:

Desktop

  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 change the store default package to this package, then select Use as default package.

  7. Click Add package.

Mobile

  1. From the Shopify app, tap Menu, and then tap Settings Settings.

  2. In the Store settings section, tap Shipping and delivery .

  3. In the Packages section, tap Add package.

  4. Enter the required information about the package type:

    1. In the Package name field, name your package.
    2. In the Package type section, select your package type.
    3. Add your package's dimensions and weight.

  5. Optional: If you want to change the store default package to this package, then select Use as default package.

  6. Tap Add package.

Store default package

The store default package is used to determine the shipping rate to charge your customers during checkout when using weight-based or carrier-calculated shipping rates. The store default package is used for products and variants that don't have a package assigned. In your Shipping and delivery settings, the store default package is indicated with the Store default label.

If you have weight-based rates, then the weight of this package is added to the weight of the products being shipped to determine which weight-based rate to charge.

The shipping 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 shipping 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 = $3.00 USD shipping rate
  • 5 to 9.99 kg = $5.00 USD shipping rate
  • 10 to 19.99 kg = $10.00 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 $5.00 USD shipping rate instead of the $3.00 USD shipping rate.

Change your store default package

You can have only one store default package that's used to calculate shipping rates at checkout. The store default package is used for products and variants that don't have a package assigned. If you have only one package in your store, then it's used to calculate shipping rates. When you add a new package, you can change your store default package.

Steps:

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

  2. In the Shipping section, click Packages, and then click the right arrow icon.

  3. For the package that you want to set as your default package, click … and then click Set as default.

Assign a package to a product variant

You can assign a package to your products and product variants. This can help you improve shipping rate accuracy at checkout and avoid excess shipping costs.

The package that you select for a product variant overrides your store default package for this specific product variant. This override works only for single item orders. If your order has multiple items, then your store default package is used to calculated rates at checkout.

You can assign an existing package or create a new package. You can also manage your existing packages.

Steps:

  1. From your Shopify admin, go to Products.

  2. Click a product that you want to assign a package for.

  3. Optional: If your product has variants, then in the Variants section click a variant that you want to assign a package for.

  4. In the Shipping section, make sure that the Physical product setting is activated.

  5. From the Package drop-down menu, select a package for your product.

  6. Optional: To create a new package, from the Package drop-down menu, click Add new package.

  7. Click Save.

Add a carrier package

You can add a carrier package from USPS, or UPS. 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 Shipping section, click Packages, and then click Add package Add package.

  3. Click Carrier package.

  4. Select USPS package or UPS package.

  5. Select a package type.

  6. Optional: To change the store default package to this package, select Use as default package.

  7. Click Add package.

Suggested packages

When you buy shipping labels, a Suggested package might be automatically selected. The Suggested package is based on the package that you've selected for similar orders previously. A Suggested package is available for more orders after you purchase more shipping labels.

Edit a package

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

  2. In the Shipping section, click Packages, and then click the right arrow icon.

  3. For the package that you want to edit, click … and then click Edit.

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

  5. 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 store default package.

To delete your store default package, you first need to set another package as your store default package.

Steps:

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

  2. In the Shipping section, click Packages, and then click the right arrow icon.

  3. For the package that you want to edit, click … and then click Delete.

  4. Click Delete package.