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Woocommerce: Set Up Your WooCommerce Shipping Rates

This step-by-step guide explains how to configure your WooCommerce shipping settings to match Live Ink’s fulfillment costs. By using weight-based shipping, you ensure that customers are charged accurately for postage, covering the costs for any combination of products.

Step 1: Install a Weight-Based Shipping Plugin

Standard WooCommerce shipping doesn't handle weight brackets easily, so you'll need a plugin.

  1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.

  2. Go to Plugins > Add New.

  3. Search for "WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping".

  4. Install and Activate the plugin (the free version is sufficient).

Step 2: Set Your Default Unit of Weight

Live Ink uses kilograms (kg) to calculate shipping.

  1. Go to WooCommerce > Settings.

  2. Click the Products tab.

  3. Find the Weight unit dropdown and select kg.

  4. Click Save Changes.

Step 3: Assign Weights to Your Products

For the shipping rules to work, every product must have a weight.

  • If you sync products from Live Ink: The weights are added automatically—­you can skip this step.

  • For manual products: Use the Bulk Editor (Products > Select All > Edit > Apply) to set weights.

    • T-shirts: 0.1kg

    • Totes/Vests: 0.1kg

    • Hoodies/­Sweatshirts: 0.4kg to 0.5kg

    • Mugs: 0.15kg

Step 4: Create Shipping Zones

  1. Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Shipping.

  2. Click Add shipping zone.

  3. Create zones for your main markets (e.g., "UK Shipping", "USA", "Europe").

  4. Under Shipping methods within each zone, click Add shipping method and select Weight Based Shipping.

Step 5: Set Up the Rates (Using Keywords)

Live Ink uses keywords in the shipping title to know which service to use for your order. Note: Prices below are based on Live Ink's standard 2024­/2025 rates; check the live shipping page for current updates.

UK Shipping (Zone: United Kingdom)

Edit the "Weight Based Shipping" method and add these rules:

Label/Title (Must include keyword) Weight Range Price (approx)
Royal Mail 48 Tracked 0 - 0.1kg £2.12
Royal Mail 48 Tracked 0.101 - 0.699kg £3.61
Royal Mail 24 Tracked 0 - 0.1kg £3.26
Royal Mail 24 Tracked 0.101 - 0.699kg £4.75
Courier 0.7kg+ £11.99

International Shipping (Example: USA)

Create a zone for the United States and add these rules:

Label/Title Weight Range Price (approx)
USPS Tracked 0 - 0.1kg £7.08
USPS Tracked 0.101 - 0.399kg £11.64
USPS Tracked 0.4 - 0.699kg £23.94
Courier 0.7kg+ £37.80

Step 6: Test Your Checkout

  1. Open your store in an Incognito/­Private window.

  2. Add a T-shirt (0.1kg) to your cart and check the shipping price.

  3. Add a Hoodie (0.5kg) and ensure the price moves into the higher weight bracket.

  4. Change the shipping address to a different country to verify the international zones are working.

Important Notes:

  • Keyword Matching: If your shipping title doesn't contain keywords like "48 Tracked", "24 Tracked", or "Courier", Live Ink may default to a different (potentially more expensive) shipping method.

  • Profit Margins: These rates represent what Live Ink charges you. If you want to offer "Free Shipping," you will still be billed these amounts, so ensure your product prices cover the cost.