Store Defaults Configuration

This is the detailed companion to Store Defaults. It walks the Store defaults section of Settings, General field by field, so you understand what each value shapes and how to set it well. These defaults sit under your store's prices, weights, and times, so setting them correctly at launch avoids reworking products and orders later. For the quick walkthrough with the section shown, follow the pillar article above.

The fields in Store defaults

Before you begin

• Your role includes General settings.
• Open Settings > General in the admin sidebar. The Store defaults section is on that page.

Steps

1. Open the Store defaults section

From the admin, open Settings, then General. The Store defaults section sits below Store details and holds the default currency, backup region, unit system, default weight unit, and store timezone. The section is pictured in Store Defaults.

2. Default currency

The default currency is the currency your store keeps its default pricing and financial operations in, shown here as US Dollar. A note on this field points out that regional pricing and the currencies customers see are configured in Markets, so this field is your store's base currency rather than a per-region one. Change Store Currency changes it, and Currency Formatting sets how prices are formatted.

3. Backup region

The backup region is the fallback used when a customer does not match an active market, set to United States here. Its note explains that the choices come from the countries in your active markets, which you manage in Markets. Keep this pointed at a region you actually serve, since it is where customers fall back to by default.

4. Unit system

The unit system sets the measurement system your store works in, shown here as Metric. This shapes how measurements read across the admin, so choose the system your team and suppliers use to avoid converting values by hand.

5. Default weight unit

The default weight unit is the unit used for product and shipping weights, set to Kilograms here. Set it to the unit your carriers and shipping rates expect, since product weights feed directly into shipping calculations.

6. Store timezone

The store timezone sets the timezone your store's dates and times use, shown here as Eastern Time, with the current time displayed beneath it. A note explains that your own personal timezone and language are set separately in account settings. Set the store timezone to where you run the business, because it is the basis for the timestamps on orders and reports.

Best practices

• Set the defaults before launch. Currency, units, and timezone affect products, orders, and reports, so getting them right first avoids rework later.
• Treat the default currency as your base. Use Markets for the currencies customers pay in by region, and keep this field as your store's own currency.
• Match the weight unit to your carriers. Product weights feed shipping rates, so use the unit your carriers expect.
• Set the store timezone to the business, not yourself. Your personal timezone is separate in account settings; the store timezone drives order and report times.

Common mistakes

• Changing the default currency to serve another region. Regional and customer-facing currencies belong in Markets, not this field.
• Leaving the timezone on the wrong zone. Order and report times will be off if the store timezone does not match where you operate.
• Mixing weight units. A weight unit that does not match your carriers forces manual conversion and invites errors.

If something goes wrong

• Times on orders look off. Check the store timezone here, and remember your personal timezone is set separately in account settings.
• You need different currencies per market. Those are set in Markets, not in this section, which holds only the base currency.
• You cannot edit the section. Your role may not allow managing settings. Ask an owner or admin.

Next steps

• Store Defaults
• General Settings
• Change Store Currency

Related articles

• Currency Formatting
• Store Details Configuration
• Store Details
• Set Up Shipping Rates