Zones and rates: the basics
Shipping is configured under Settings > Shipping and delivery. There you define shipping zones (a group of countries or regions) and, within each zone, rates. A rate can be flat, depend on order weight or depend on order value, and you can add several so customers choose between standard and express.
For a store in Spain, the usual setup is one zone for the mainland and the Balearic Islands, another for the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla, and then whatever international zones you serve. The Canary Islands deserve their own zone because delivery times, costs and customs handling are different; check with your tax advisor and your carrier how to handle taxes on those shipments.
- Mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands
- Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla
- European Union
- Rest of the world, if applicable
Shipping profiles for different products
If all your products ship the same way, the general profile is enough. But if you sell a sofa and some cushions, they cannot cost the same to ship. Shipping profiles let you assign groups of products to different rates: one profile for bulky products with their own zones and prices, and the general profile for everything else.
When a cart mixes products from several profiles, Shopify adds up the rates from each profile. Keep that in mind when setting prices so a mixed order does not end up with an outrageous shipping cost. If you want a light product to add no cost when it ships with a bulky one, its profile's rate can be zero under those conditions.
Profiles also work for products that only ship to certain zones. If a product cannot leave the mainland, for example because of its size or transport regulations, simply leave the Canary Islands and international zones out of its profile. The customer will see it at checkout, so it is worth flagging it on the product page as well.
Free shipping and thresholds
Free shipping above a certain amount is set up as a price-based rate: for example, paid standard shipping for orders below a given amount and free above it. You can also create shipping discounts from the discounts section, with a code or automatic, limited to certain zones or customers.
Show the threshold in the store: in the announcement bar and, above all, in the cart, with how much is left to reach it. It is one of the simplest theme changes to make and one of the most effective at raising average order value.
Set the threshold based on your current average order value and your margin, not by copying another store. If you set it far above what your customers usually spend, almost nobody will reach it; if you set it too low, you give away shipping on orders you would have charged for anyway.
Carriers and shipping apps
Real-time rates calculated by third-party carriers using your own account are listed on Shopify's pricing page as a feature of the Advanced plan and above. On other plans you work with your own rates, which for most stores in Spain is the most practical option, since carrier prices are usually negotiated.
To generate labels, schedule pickups and send tracking to the customer, the usual choice in Spain is a shipping management app connected to your carriers, such as Sendcloud, Packlink PRO or Outvio, or the carrier's own app if it has one. These apps read Shopify orders, generate the label and send back the tracking number, which Shopify sends to the customer in the shipping confirmation notification.
Local pickup, local delivery and pickup points
If you have a store or warehouse open to the public, turn on local pickup at that location: the customer chooses to collect and pays no shipping. Local delivery lets you deliver yourself within a radius or by postal code, with its own price and minimum order, which is useful for food, florists and similar businesses.
Carrier pickup points (lockers and convenience stores) are offered at checkout through compatible apps. For many customers it is the preferred option because they do not need to be home, so it is worth considering.
Whatever combination you choose, name each method with the customer in mind: what it is and when it arrives. "Standard shipping" says little; "Standard, delivered in 24-72 business hours" answers the question the customer is asking at that moment.
Checklist before launch
Before opening the store, place test orders with addresses in each zone and with carts of different weights and product combinations. Check that the rates shown at checkout are the ones you expect and that method names are clear to the customer.
Pay special attention to variant weights. If they were imported without a weight, every weight-based rate will fall into the lowest bracket and you will undercharge on heavy orders. It is a silent error: nobody complains, and it only surfaces when you reconcile carrier invoices with what you charged customers.
- Real weight loaded on every variant
- Separate zone for the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla
- Profiles for bulky or special products
- Rate names with delivery times: "Standard 24-72 h"
- Free shipping threshold visible in the cart
- Shipping policy published and linked in the footer
Frequently asked questions
How do I offer free shipping above a set amount in Shopify?
In the relevant zone, create a rate based on order price with zero cost from the amount you choose, and keep a paid rate for orders below it.
Can I charge different shipping depending on the product?
Yes, with shipping profiles. You assign special products to a profile with its own zones and rates, and the rest stay in the general profile.
Which shipping app should I use in Spain?
It depends on your carriers and volume. Sendcloud, Packlink PRO and Outvio are common options that connect to several carriers, generate labels and send tracking back to Shopify.
Can I show real-time rates from my carrier?
According to Shopify's pricing page, third-party carrier-calculated rates are available on Advanced and Plus. On other plans you can use your own rates or apps that offer rate calculation.