How to set Flat Rate shipping by region and weight in WooCommerce

If you want to charge different shipping rates based on the customer’s location and order weight, you can combine both conditions to create accurate and fair shipping fees. This guide will show you how to set up Flat Rate shipping by region and weight using the Dotstore Flat Rate Shipping Plugin.

Flat Rate shipping by region and weight allows you to:

• Charge higher rates for heavier orders.
• Apply different fees to specific regions or countries.
• Offer a consistent and predictable checkout experience.

Example: Charge $10 for orders up to 5 lbs in the East Coast region, and $20 for orders over 5 lbs in the same region.

Preconditions

Before starting:

• Flat Rate Shipping Plugin is installed and activated.
• Weight values are set for all products in your WooCommerce store.
• Shipping zones are configured in WooCommerce.

Step-by-Step Instructions to Set Up

Step 1 – Access the Plugin Settings

1. Go to Dotstore → Flat Rate → Manage Shipping in your WordPress dashboard.
2. Click the Add New button to configure the shipping method.
3. Enter the Shipping Method Details:
   • Method Name: Local Shipping
   • Base Shipping Fee: $10

Step 2 – Add the Weight-Based Condition

1. Open the shipping method you just created.
2. Scroll to the Shipping Rules / Conditions section.
3. From the condition dropdown, select Weight.

Step 3 – Add the Region Condition

1. In the same rule, add another condition for Region / State / Country.
2. Select the location where this shipping fee applies (e.g., "California" or "United States").

3. This ensures the fee only applies when both weight and region match.

   

Step 4 – Save and Test

1. Click Save Changes.
2. You can add products to your cart that match the weight and region conditions.

3. You can go to checkout and confirm that the correct Flat Rate is applied.

   

Alternate Uses

• Offer free shipping for lightweight orders in local regions, but charge more for heavy shipments.
• Create separate rates for domestic vs. international orders by weight.
• Combine with product category conditions for more precision.

Business Benefits

• Cost accuracy for different shipping destinations and weights.
• Prevents undercharging for heavy or far-distance orders.
• Improves customer trust with fair pricing.

Expected Outcome

• Customers see a shipping rate at checkout that matches both their region and the weight of their order.
• You maintain shipping profitability across varying delivery scenarios.