Beginner's Guide for Flat Rate Shipping Plugin

The Flat Rate Shipping Plugin for WooCommerce by Dotstore lets you configure flexible, condition-based shipping rules tailored to your store’s products, zones, order totals, and more.

Whether you want to apply different shipping charges for heavy items, specific locations, or delivery types, this plugin helps you control your shipping fees smartly and efficiently.

What You Can Do with This Plugin

• Set multiple flat rate shipping methods with advanced conditions
• Charge shipping fees based on country, state, postal code, or zone
• Define shipping cost rules by weight, quantity, cart total, and products
• Offer different rates for express shipping, fragile items, or remote delivery areas
• Apply conditional logic (AND/OR) for highly specific shipping setups

How to Get Started

Step 1: Install and Activate the Plugin

You can install the plugin like any other WooCommerce plugin.

For a detailed guide on how to install and activate, click here to review the step-by-step guide.

Step 2: Go to the Plugin Settings

After activation, navigate to:

Admin → Dotstore → Flat Rate Shipping

Here you can manage your Shipping Methods, configure rules, and control visibility.

Creating Your First Shipping Method

Step 1: Click on “Add New Shipping Method”

You’ll be directed to a form where you can name the method and define its basic settings.

Step 2: Set Conditions for When This Method Should Appear

You can create rule sets such as:

• Shipping only to specific countries
• Apply if the cart weight is above 10kg
• Enable for logged-in users only
• Restrict to specific user roles or product categories

Use the Rule Conditions section to set this up.

Step 3: Set the Flat Shipping Cost

Under the Shipping Charges section:

• Enter a flat rate (e.g. $10)
• Set tax status (Taxable or None)
• Add label (e.g., “Express Shipping – $10”)

You can also add handling fees or additional per-product charges if required.

Step 4: Save and Test

Click Save Method and then test it by going to your WooCommerce checkout.

Try different cart conditions and verify when your method appears.

Pro Tips

• Use shipping zones + conditions for advanced regional setup
• Set priority numbers if multiple methods apply
• Enable/disable specific methods without deleting them
• Use wildcards in postal codes for broader rule targeting (e.g., 9* for all 90000 series)

Common Use Cases

1. Charge $25 shipping for heavy items over 20kg
2. Offer free shipping in your city, but apply $10 fee outside the metro
3. Add a per-product shipping fee for bulky items
4. Enable “Next Day Delivery” with an extra charge only if selected