Advanced Shipping Price Rules - Shipping Cost on Category

The Shipping Cost on Category option under Advanced Shipping Price Rules allows you to configure shipping charges for specific product categories. Instead of applying a flat cost storewide, you can set unique fees for items in selected categories.

For example:

• Electronics → $15 shipping
• Apparel → $5 shipping
• Furniture → $25 shipping

This gives you more control over shipping expenses for different types of products.

Why use shipping cost on category rules?

• Fair pricing: Match shipping costs with product category weight or handling needs.
• Flexibility: Apply lower fees for lightweight items (e.g., apparel) and higher fees for bulky items (e.g., furniture).
• Promotions: Offer free or discounted shipping for specific categories (e.g., books).
• Transparency: Customers clearly see shipping charges aligned with product types.

Configuration steps

1. Access advanced shipping rules

• Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Shipping → Flat Rate Shipping (Dotstore).
• Edit an existing shipping method.
• Scroll down to the section Advanced Shipping Price Rules.

2. Add cost to the category rule

• Find the Cost on Category section.
• Click Add New Rule.

3. Define rule conditions

Each rule can be configured with:

• Category selection → Choose the category the rule applies to.
• Minimum quantity → Minimum items from that category for the rule to apply.
• Maximum quantity → Maximum items from that category for the rule to apply.
• Shipping amount → Enter the shipping cost.

4. Add multiple rules

• Set up different rules for multiple categories.

• Example: Apparel = $5, Electronics = $15, Furniture = $25.

  

5. Save and test

• Click Save Changes.

• Add items from different categories to your cart and verify that the correct shipping cost is applied.

  

Two real examples (United States customers)

Example 1: Electronics vs. Apparel

• Rule 1: Electronics → $15 shipping

  Rule 2: Apparel → $5 shipping

  Checkout result:

  • Cart with only apparel (3 shirts) → $5 shipping
  • Cart with electronics (1 phone) → $15 shipping

Example 2: Furniture with a higher cost

• Rule 1: Furniture category → $25 shipping

  Rule 2: Books category → Free shipping

  Checkout result:

  • Customer buys a sofa (furniture) → $25 shipping
  • Customer buys 2 books → Free shipping

Expected outcome

Once configured, WooCommerce will automatically apply category-specific shipping charges. This ensures that customers are charged fairly based on the type of products in their cart, while store owners maintain better control over shipping costs.