How to Set Flat Rate Shipping by Quantity in WooCommerce

This business use case shows how a WooCommerce store set up flat rate shipping fees based on the total quantity of items in the cart.

This helped the store offset higher packaging and handling costs for bulk orders—while still keeping things simple for customers.

Overview

Charge shipping based on the total number of products in the cart. This helps you handle shipping charges more efficiently for larger orders — whether you're offering tiered rates or incentives for buying more. (Plugin feature: Quantity-Based Flat Rate Shipping)

Revenue/Business Impact Example: A WooCommerce clothing store charges:

• ₹50 shipping for 1–2 items
• ₹100 for 3–5 items
• ₹150 for 6+ items

This encourages customers to increase their cart size (to maximize value) while helping the business cover shipping and packaging costs.

Preconditions

• Flat Rate Shipping Plugin is installed and activated.
• Products must be quantifiable (not virtual-only or downloadable)
• Quantity-based shipping conditions are enabled in the plugin settings

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Access Shipping Settings

Go to: Dashboard → Flat Rate Shipping → Manage Shipping

2. Create a Method for 1–2 Quantity

• Click “Add New Shipping Method”
• Title: Small Order Shipping

• Fee Type: Flat Rate

  Fee Amount: ₹50

  Enable Condition: Cart Quantity < 2

4. Save and Enable All Methods

Make sure all created shipping methods are enabled in the shipping zone.

Test the Flow

Scenario 1: Add 2 items to cart → Checkout

• You should see: ₹50 shipping

Scenario 2: Add 4 items → Checkout

• You should see: ₹100 shipping

Scenario 3: Add 7 items → Checkout

• You should see: ₹150 shipping

Alternate Flows

• Combine quantity + category (e.g., charge extra for bulk orders in "Heavy Items")
• Set free shipping for orders above 10 items
• Use labels like “Save More on Bulk Orders” to encourage higher cart quantities

Expected Outcome

• Flat shipping fee is auto-selected based on item quantity
• Store avoids undercharging for large or heavy orders
• Customers get clarity and fairness in shipping pricing

A flexible way to scale shipping charges without confusing your buyers.