How to set up shipping only for a specific product in WooCommerce
Sometimes, you may want to enable a shipping method only when a certain product is in the cart. For example:
- Charge extra shipping for fragile items.
- Offer free shipping for a promotional product.
- Restrict shipping so it applies only to one particular item.
This can be done easily with the Flat Rate Shipping Plugin for WooCommerce.
In The Article
Why use product-specific shipping?
- Accurate costs: Apply special shipping fees for heavy, bulky, or fragile products.
- Promotions: Offer free shipping for selected products to increase sales.
- Control: Make sure certain products are always shipped using the right shipping method.
- Customer clarity: Avoid confusion by showing shipping options only for the relevant items.
Configuration steps
1. Add a new shipping method
- Go to Dashboard → Dotstore → Flat Rate Shipping.
- Click Add New Shipping Method.
- Give it a name, such as “Special Product Shipping”.
- Enter the shipping cost (e.g., $15).
2. Create a product-specific rule
- Open the shipping method and go to the Shipping Rules tab.
- Click Add New Rule.
- From the Condition dropdown, select Product.
Choose the product you want this shipping method to apply to.
3. Save and test
- Click Save Changes.
- Go to your store and add that product to the cart.
The shipping method should only appear when that product is in the cart.
Two real examples
Example 1: Special shipping for a fragile product
- Product: Glass Vase ($60)
Rule: If product = Glass Vase → Shipping = $12 Flat Rate
Checkout result:
- Subtotal: $60
- Shipping: $12
- Total = $72
Example 2: Free shipping for a promotional product
- Product: Limited Edition T-Shirt ($30)
Rule: If product = Limited Edition T-Shirt → Shipping = Free
Checkout result:
- Subtotal: $30
- Shipping: Free
- Total = $30
Expected outcome
When configured, WooCommerce will only display the shipping method if the specific product is in the cart. This ensures customers see accurate shipping options while giving store owners more flexibility to run promotions or control costs.