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Free Shipping Discounts

A free shipping discount removes the shipping charge at checkout, either when a customer enters a code or automatically once their order qualifies. You create it like any other discount and choose Free shipping as the type, then set which countries the offer covers and, if you want, exclude shipping rates over a certain amount so very expensive options are not given away for free. To encourage larger orders, add a minimum purchase amount under purchase requirements, so customers get free shipping once their order reaches a set amount.

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A free shipping discount removes the shipping charge at checkout, so a qualifying order ships for free. It is one of two routes to the same result: the other is to price a shipping rate at zero, covered in Free Shipping Rates. A discount is the route to choose when the offer is temporary, needs a code, or applies only to some customers, while a free rate is the one to use when shipping is free for everyone in a zone. You create it the same way as other discounts, but choose Free shipping as the type. Instead of asking for a discount value, the form asks which Countries the offer covers and lets you exclude shipping rates over a certain amount, so a premium or oversized shipping option is not given away for free. To run a "free shipping over a set amount" offer that encourages larger carts, add a Minimum purchase amount under purchase requirements. Like any discount, it can be a code customers enter at checkout or an automatic discount that applies on its own.

What a free shipping discount sets

Section What it controls
Method Whether customers enter a code or the discount is automatic
Countries The countries the free shipping applies to (for example, All countries)
Shipping rates Exclude shipping rates over a certain amount, so you do not give away very expensive shipping
Purchase requirements A Minimum purchase amount for a "free shipping over X" offer

Before you begin

  • Your role includes Edit discounts.
  • You have shipping set up for the countries you want the offer to cover.
  • Open Discounts in the admin sidebar, then select Create discount.

Steps

1. Open Discounts and choose Free shipping

Open Discounts, click Create discount, and in the Select discount type dialog choose Free shipping. See Discounts Overview.

2. Choose the method and set the countries and rates

Set Method to Discount code and enter or Generate random code a code, or set it to Automatic discount and give it a title. Under Countries, choose where the free shipping applies, such as All countries. Under Shipping rates, turn on Exclude shipping rates over a certain amount if you do not want to cover unusually expensive shipping options.

The Free shipping form with the Method, Discount code, Countries set to All countries, and the Shipping rates option to exclude rates over a certain amount. (opens full size)

3. Set a minimum purchase amount for a threshold offer

To run "free shipping over a set amount", open Purchase requirements and choose Minimum purchase amount, then enter the amount. Leave it on No minimum requirements to offer free shipping on any order.

4. Set who can use it

Under Eligibility, choose All customers, Markets, Specific customer segments, or Specific customers. See Apply a Discount to a Customer Segment.

5. Set usage limits and combinations

Under Usage limits, optionally cap total uses or limit one use per customer. Under Combinations, choose whether this offer can combine with Product or Order discounts.

A free shipping discount combines with product and order discounts only. It is itself the shipping discount, so there is no separate shipping discount combination to turn on.

6. Set the active dates

Under Active dates, set the Start date and Start time, and turn on Set end date if the offer should stop on a certain day. See Schedule Discounts.

7. Save, then test

Save the discount. At checkout, build an order that qualifies and confirm shipping shows as free, then build one that does not meet the minimum and confirm shipping is charged.

Verify the result

  • The discount appears in the Discounts table with the type Free shipping.
  • A qualifying order shows free shipping at checkout.
  • An order below the minimum purchase amount is still charged for shipping.

Best practices

  • Set a minimum purchase amount when you want free shipping to encourage larger orders rather than apply to every order.
  • Exclude shipping rates over a certain amount so a very expensive shipping option is not given away.
  • Limit the countries to the regions you can afford to ship to for free.
  • Give the offer an end date if it is a promotion rather than a permanent policy.

Common mistakes

  • Free shipping on every order with no minimum, which removes shipping revenue you may have planned for.
  • Covering all rates, so a premium or oversized shipping rate is also free.
  • No end date on a promotional free shipping offer, so it runs longer than intended.

If something goes wrong

  • Shipping is still charged. Check the order meets the minimum purchase amount and ships to a covered country, and that the discount is Active.
  • An expensive rate became free unexpectedly. Turn on Exclude shipping rates over a certain amount and set the limit.
  • You cannot create a discount. Your role may not have permission to manage discounts.

Next steps

Still stuck?

More in Discounts

  • Discount Detail Page

    Clicking a discount opens its detail page, which is the discount form filled in with its current settings, plus a Summary panel that shows the status, type, and a list of the discount's rules in plain language. From here you can review a discount in one read, edit any part of it, duplicate it, and see how many times it has been used.

  • Discount Management

    The Discounts page is where you manage every discount in your store. You filter the list by status, search for a discount, select rows to activate or deactivate several at once, manage the columns shown, export the list, and open any discount to edit it. Because everything is in one list, you can review and update your discounts from a single place.

  • Discount Status Flow

    Every discount has a status that says where it is in its life: Active, Scheduled, Expired, or Draft. The status tabs on the Discounts page group discounts by status, and a discount moves between them on its own based on its active dates, so the status tells you whether it is working right now.

  • Configure Discount Combinations

    The Combinations section decides whether a discount can be used together with other discounts on the same order. You can allow it to combine with product, order, or shipping discounts. By default a discount does not combine with any other, so a customer gets one discount at a time unless you turn a combination on.

All 32 articles in Discounts

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