Who This Guide Is For

This guide is for Shopify merchants who:

• Offer local or regional delivery services in the US, UK, Australia, Europe, or Canada
• Want to charge shipping based on actual distance traveled (miles or kilometres)
• Use multiple warehouses or store locations
• Need more granular control than Shopify’s default shipping settings
• Sell products where delivery distance significantly impacts costs (furniture, perishables, heavy items)
• Want to incentivize nearby customers with competitive local rates
• Need to handle region-specific challenges (Scottish Highlands, Australian outback, US rural areas)

If you’re currently using flat-rate shipping or zone-based pricing and finding it doesn’t match your actual delivery costs, distance-based shipping could be the solution.

What Is Distance-Based Shipping?

Distance-based shipping calculates delivery costs based on how far your products need to travel from your store or warehouse to the customer. Instead of charging flat rates or relying solely on postal zones, this method factors in actual distance—measured in miles or kilometres—to determine shipping fees.

Common scenarios where distance-based shipping excels:

North America (US & Canada):

• Local bakeries delivering fresh goods within a 50-mile (80km) radius
• Furniture stores charging more for deliveries beyond city limits
• Regional wholesalers with tiered pricing by distance zones

United Kingdom & Ireland:

• London-based businesses offering free delivery within 10 miles (16km)
• Handling Scottish Highlands and Islands surcharges based on distance
• Dublin shops with tiered pricing for metro vs outlying areas

Australia & New Zealand:

• Sydney/Melbourne retailers with suburb-based delivery tiers
• Managing vast distances between major population centers
• Auckland stores offering metro delivery within 30km

Continental Europe:

• Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris city-center delivery services
• Food delivery within dense urban areas
• Regional stores covering specific départements, Länder, or provinces

Unlike traditional zone-based shipping (which relies on predefined postal code ranges), distance-based pricing gives you granular control over rates tied to exact geographic proximity.

Why Shopify Merchants Need Distance-Based Shipping

1. Accurate Cost Recovery for Local Deliveries

When you operate a local business, your actual shipping costs directly correlate with distance traveled. Charging a customer 10 miles (16km) away at the same rate as someone 50 miles (80km) away means you’re either overcharging nearby customers or losing money on distant orders.

Real-world impact: A Singapore-based merchant using ShipEZ reported that distance-based rates helped them “calculate shipping costs very quickly” and fit their “business requirements perfectly”—especially when serving customers across dense urban areas where postal zones don’t reflect actual delivery effort.

2. Flexibility for Complex Shipping Scenarios

Standard Shopify shipping settings struggle with nuanced requirements like “free delivery within 20km, £10 for 20-50km, £25 beyond 50km.” Distance-based apps let you create these tiered rules without workarounds or manual calculations.

A Philippines-based store noted that ShipEZ “handles even the more complex shipping scenarios without any issues,” highlighting how flexible rate rules let them “create shipping options that match actual operations instead of being stuck with Shopify’s limitations.”

3. Improved Customer Experience at Checkout

Transparent, accurate shipping costs build trust. When customers see rates that make logical sense based on their location, they’re more likely to complete purchases. One U.S. merchant emphasized that calculated rates are “accurate, fast, and show up cleanly at checkout, which gives customers a smoother experience.”

How Distance-Based Shipping Works in Shopify

The Technical Foundation

Shopify doesn’t natively support distance-based calculations. To enable this functionality, you need a third-party app that:

1. Captures customer coordinates from their entered address at checkout
2. Calculates distance between your store/warehouse and delivery address
3. Applies rate rules based on distance brackets you configure
4. Returns shipping options to the checkout in real-time

Address Accuracy and Geocoding

Distance-based shipping relies on accurate address geocoding—converting street addresses into geographic coordinates. Here’s what you should know:

• Address completeness matters: Incomplete addresses (missing unit numbers, vague street names) may result in less accurate distance calculations
• Geocoding limitations: Rural areas or newly developed neighborhoods may have less precise coordinates
• Fallback handling: Some shipping apps may use postal code centers as approximations when exact coordinates aren’t available
• Customer privacy: ShipEZ requires access to customer address and geolocation data to calculate shipping rates, as disclosed on the Shopify App Store listing. For details on data handling, refer to the app’s privacy policy

Best practice: Encourage customers to provide complete, accurate addresses at checkout. Consider adding address validation to your checkout process.

Calculation Methods

Radius/Radial Distance:
Draw a straight-line circle from your origin point. Simple, fast, but doesn’t account for actual road routes.

Best for: Dense urban areas (London, New York, Sydney CBD), same-city deliveries

Road Distance (Actual Routes):
Uses routing and mapping APIs to calculate real driving distance along roads. More accurate but slightly slower.

Best for: Suburban/rural areas, long-distance regional shipping, areas with geographic barriers (rivers, mountains)

Setting Up Distance-Based Shipping with ShipEZ

Step 1: Install and Configure Your Origin Points

After installing ShipEZ from the Shopify App Store:

1. Navigate to the app dashboard
2. Go to Settings → Locations
3. Add your warehouse/store address as the origin point
   • For multi-warehouse setups, add all locations
   • With proper configuration, you can set up rules to use the nearest origin for orders

Step 2: Create Distance-Based Rate Rules

Example 1: Simple Radius Tiers (Multi-Currency)

Rule: Local Delivery

Tier 1: 0-15 km (0-9 miles)

– $5 USD / £4 GBP / $7 AUD / €5 EUR

Tier 2: 15-30 km (9-19 miles)

– $10 USD / £8 GBP / $14 AUD / €9 EUR

Tier 3: 30-50 km (19-31 miles)

– $15 USD / £12 GBP / $20 AUD / €14 EUR

Beyond 50 km (31 miles): Shipping unavailable

In ShipEZ:

1. Create new rule → Select “Distance-Based”
2. Set distance brackets with corresponding rates
3. Choose calculation method (radius or road distance)
4. Set your currency (USD, GBP, AUD, EUR, etc.)
5. Apply rule to specific products/collections if needed

Example 2: Free Delivery Radius with Fallback

Rule: Free Local Shipping

– 0-10 km (0-6 miles): Free shipping

– 10+ km: Show standard Shopify rates (Royal Mail, USPS, Australia Post, etc.)

This setup encourages nearby customers to buy while still serving distant customers through normal carriers.

Step 3: Combine Distance Rules with Other Conditions

ShipEZ’s power lies in rule stacking. You can combine distance with:

• Product type: “Furniture within 30km: £20, beyond 30km: unavailable”
• Cart total: “Orders over $100 USD (£80/€90) get free delivery within 25km”
• Customer tags: “VIP customers: free shipping within 50km radius”

Example Advanced Rule:

If:

– Customer location: within 40 km (25 miles)

– Cart contains: products tagged “perishable”

– Order total: over $50 USD / £40 GBP / $70 AUD / €45 EUR

Then:

– Apply: $8 / £6 / $11 AUD / €7 express local delivery

– Otherwise: show distance-based standard rates

Step 4: Test in Development Mode

ShipEZ includes a free testing mode where you can:

• Configure all settings without going live
• Test checkout with dummy addresses
• Verify rate calculations before charging customers
• Get 24/7 support for setup questions

Pro tip: Test edge cases like international addresses, PO boxes, and addresses exactly on distance boundaries to ensure your rules behave as expected.

Step 5: Monitor and Optimize

Use ShipEZ’s rate history log to:

• See which rules triggered for each order
• Debug unexpected shipping charges
• Identify opportunities to adjust distance brackets
• Track how many orders fall into each tier

Distance-Based Shipping by Region

🇺🇸 North America (United States & Canada)

Best for:

• Major metro areas (NYC, LA, Chicago, Toronto, Vancouver)
• Mile-based pricing familiar to US/Canadian customers
• State/province-level shipping strategies
• Integration with USPS, FedEx, UPS zones

Common US Setup:

Urban Store (New York City):

– 0-15 miles: $8 (free over $50)

– 15-30 miles: $15

– 30-50 miles: $25

– 50+ miles: USPS calculated rates

Suburban Store (Dallas):

– 0-20 miles: $10

– 20-40 miles: $18

– 40-75 miles: $30

– 75+ miles: FedEx Ground rates

State-specific considerations:

• California: Urban coastal delivery vs inland surcharges
• Texas: Vast distances between cities
• New York: NYC boroughs vs upstate delivery

Case Study: Los Angeles Furniture Store

A West LA furniture retailer implemented distance-based shipping:

Before: Flat $75 delivery fee throughout LA County

• Lost nearby customers to competitors with cheaper local delivery
• Unprofitable deliveries to distant suburbs

After with ShipEZ:

• 0-20 miles: $25 delivery
• 20-40 miles: $50 delivery
• 40+ miles: In-store pickup only

Results:

• 45% increase in conversions within 20 miles
• 18% increase in average order value
• Eliminated unprofitable long-distance deliveries

🇬🇧 United Kingdom & Ireland

Best for:

• London and major UK cities (Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh)
• Postcode-based delivery zones
• Handling Scottish Highlands & Islands surcharges
• Integration with Royal Mail, DPD, Hermes

Common UK Setup:

London Store (Shoreditch):

– 0-5 miles (8km): £5 (free over £40)

– 5-10 miles (16km): £8

– 10-20 miles (32km): £12

– Greater London (20-30 miles): £18

– Beyond M25: Royal Mail rates

Manchester/Birmingham:

– 0-8 miles: £6

– 8-15 miles: £10

– 15-30 miles: £15

– 30+ miles: DPD rates

Regional considerations:

• Scottish Highlands & Islands: Use postcode exceptions (IV, HS, KW, PA, PH, ZE) for surcharges
• Northern Ireland: Often treated as separate shipping zone
• Channel Islands: Typically excluded from distance-based, use Royal Mail
• Welsh Valleys: Consider road distance vs radius due to terrain

Case Study: London Bakery

A Shoreditch artisan bakery uses distance-based shipping for fresh bread delivery:

Setup:

• 0-5 miles: Free delivery (local neighborhoods)
• 5-10 miles: £3 (Greater London)
• 10+ miles: Not available (freshness concerns)

Results:

• 60% increase in local neighborhood orders
• Better profit margins (eliminated long-distance losses)
• Positioned as “local, fresh, community-focused”

UK Postcode Tips:

• Use postcode outward codes for zones (e.g., E1, E2, SW1)
• Handle special cases: EC (City of London), WC (West Central)
• Consider ULEZ zones for delivery cost calculations

🇦🇺 Australia & New Zealand

Best for:

• Major city metro areas (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Auckland)
• Suburb-based delivery tiers
• Managing vast distances between population centers
• Integration with Australia Post, StarTrack

Common Australian Setup:

Sydney Store (Inner West):

– 0-15 km: $10 AUD (free over $80)

– 15-30 km (Greater Sydney): $15 AUD

– 30-50 km (Outer suburbs): $25 AUD

– 50-80 km (Central Coast, Blue Mountains): $35 AUD

– 80+ km: Australia Post rates or unavailable

Melbourne Store (Fitzroy):

– 0-20 km (Metro Melbourne): $12 AUD

– 20-40 km (Outer metro): $18 AUD

– 40-80 km (Geelong, Mornington Peninsula): $30 AUD

– 80+ km: Contact for quote

Perth Store:

– 0-25 km (Metro Perth): $15 AUD

– 25-50 km (Mandurah, Joondalup): $25 AUD

– 50+ km: Not available (isolation challenges)

State/Territory considerations:

• NSW: Sydney metro vs regional NSW pricing
• VIC: Melbourne metro vs regional Victoria
• QLD: Brisbane/Gold Coast corridor vs rural Queensland
• WA: Perth isolation, vast distances to regional centers
• NT/Remote: Often excluded from distance-based due to extreme distances

Case Study: Melbourne Homewares Store

A Prahran homewares retailer implemented distance-based shipping:

Setup:

• 0-20 km (Inner Melbourne): Free delivery over $100
• 20-40 km (Outer suburbs): $15 AUD
• 40-80 km (Regional VIC): $30 AUD
• 80+ km: Australia Post parcel rates

Results:

• 35% increase in local delivery orders
• Expanded reach to Geelong and Mornington Peninsula profitably
• Clear shipping costs reduced cart abandonment

Australian Postcode Tips:

• Metro postcodes: 2000-2999 (Sydney), 3000-3999 (Melbourne), 4000-4999 (Brisbane)
• Use postcode ranges for remote areas (far north QLD, NT, WA outback)
• Consider ferry-required areas (Tasmania surcharges)

🇪🇺 Continental Europe

Best for:

• Single-country delivery within EU member states
• Dense urban areas (Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Madrid, Rome)
• City-center focused delivery
• Integration with DPD, DHL Europe, PostNL, Colissimo

Common European Setups:

Amsterdam Store (Jordaan):

– 0-5 km (City center): €5

– 5-15 km (Greater Amsterdam): €8

– 15-30 km (Randstad region): €12

– 30+ km: PostNL rates

Berlin Store (Kreuzberg):

– 0-10 km (Inner city): €6

– 10-25 km (Greater Berlin): €10

– 25-50 km (Brandenburg): €15

– 50+ km: DHL rates

Paris Store (Marais):

– 0-10 km (Paris intra-muros): €7

– 10-20 km (Petite Couronne): €12

– 20-40 km (Grande Couronne): €18

– 40+ km: Colissimo rates

Cross-border considerations:

• Distance-based works best within single countries
• For cross-border EU shipping, use standard carrier rates
• Consider customs/VAT for Northern Ireland post-Brexit
• Some countries have delivery restrictions (Sunday bans, etc.)

Country-specific notes:

Germany:

• Dense population, efficient road networks
• Consider Bundesland boundaries for regional pricing
• Integration with DHL, Hermes, DPD

France:

• Paris vs départements pricing
• Consider péage (toll roads) in delivery costs
• Integration with Colissimo, Chronopost

Netherlands:

• Small country, efficient delivery infrastructure
• Randstad region (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Utrecht-The Hague) as single zone
• Integration with PostNL, DPD

Spain:

• Madrid/Barcelona metro areas
• Island deliveries (Balearics, Canaries) often excluded
• Consider Correos integration

Italy:

• Milan, Rome, Naples metro zones
• Northern Italy vs Southern Italy delivery times
• Island deliveries (Sicily, Sardinia) require special handling

Case Study: Amsterdam Coffee Roastery

A specialty coffee roaster in Amsterdam uses distance-based shipping:

Setup:

• 0-10 km: Free delivery (same-day by bike courier)
• 10-30 km: €5 (next-day van delivery)
• 30+ km: PostNL parcel service

Results:

• Positioned as hyperlocal, sustainable (bike delivery)
• 70% of orders within 10km (free delivery zone)
• Expanded to Haarlem, Utrecht profitably

Advanced Distance-Based Strategies

Multi-Origin Fulfillment

If you have warehouses in multiple cities, ShipEZ can automatically calculate distance from the nearest location to minimize shipping costs.

Setup:

1. Add all warehouse addresses in Locations
2. Enable “Multi-origin” in settings
3. App picks closest warehouse for each order
4. Rates calculated from that specific location

Use case: A retailer with warehouses in Los Angeles, Dallas, and New York ships to Chicago—Dallas warehouse is selected automatically, and rates reflect that shorter distance.

International example:

• UK: Warehouses in London, Manchester, Edinburgh
• Australia: Warehouses in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
• Europe: Warehouses in Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris

Hybrid Postal Code + Distance Pricing

Combine postal code zones with distance for ultimate control:

Zone 1 (Metro Area Postcodes):

– 0-20 km: $5 USD / £4 / €5

– 20-40 km: $10 USD / £8 / €9

Zone 2 (Suburban Postcodes):

– 0-30 km: $8 USD / £6 / €7

– 30-60 km: $15 USD / £12 / €14

Zone 3 (Rural/Remote Postcodes):

– Distance-based rates disabled

– Flat $25 USD / £20 / €22 delivery fee

Examples by region:

• UK: London postcodes (E, N, NW, SE, SW, W, WC, EC) vs outer areas
• US: NYC zip codes (100xx, 112xx) vs Long Island, Westchester
• Australia: Sydney postcodes (20xx) vs regional NSW

Dynamic Pricing Based on Product Weight

Rule: Heavy Items

– Weight > 20 kg (44 lbs)

– Distance 0-25 km: $15 USD / £12 / €14

– Distance 25-50 km: $30 USD / £24 / €28

– Distance 50+ km: Contact for quote

Seasonal/Time-Based Distance Rules

During peak seasons (holidays, promotions), adjust delivery radiuses:

Regular Season:

• Deliver within 60 km (37 miles)

Holiday Rush (Black Friday, Christmas):

• Reduce to 40 km (25 miles) to maintain service quality
• Charge premium for 40-60 km zone

Common Distance-Based Shipping Challenges (And How to Solve Them)

Challenge 1: Customers Enter Incomplete Addresses

Problem: Geocoding fails without complete addresses
Solution: Use ShipEZ’s postal code fallback—if precise coordinates can’t be determined, the app calculates from postal code center point

Challenge 2: Cross-Border Distance Calculations

Problem: Measuring distance across country borders can be inaccurate
Solution: Set up separate rules for domestic vs international. For international orders, disable distance-based rates and use weight/zone methods instead.

EU-specific: Within Schengen, you can use distance for nearby border areas (e.g., Amsterdam to Brussels), but generally switch to standard carriers for cross-border.

Challenge 3: Islands or Ferry-Required Destinations

Problem: Straight-line distance doesn’t reflect ferry costs or geographic barriers
Solution: Create postal code exceptions for known island regions, applying flat fees regardless of distance.

Example Configurations:

UK:

If postcode in [IV, HS, KW, PA, PH, ZE]:

  Apply: £50 island delivery fee

Else:

  Apply: distance-based mainland rates

Australia:

If postcode in [7000-7999] (Tasmania):

  Apply: $50 AUD Bass Strait crossing fee

Else:

  Apply: distance-based rates

Greece/Spain:

If delivery to islands (Greek islands, Balearics, Canaries):

  Apply: €30 island surcharge

Else:

  Apply: distance-based mainland rates

Challenge 4: Balancing Accuracy vs Speed

Problem: Road distance calculations add 0.5-1 second to checkout loading time
Solution: Use radius method for fast calculations in dense urban areas; reserve road distance for large/expensive items where accuracy matters more

Distance-Based Shipping ROI: Real Numbers

Case Study: Multi-Regional Furniture Retailer

A furniture company with stores in London, Sydney, and Los Angeles implemented distance-based shipping across all three markets:

Before (Flat Rate):

• London: £75 delivery anywhere in UK
• Sydney: $120 AUD delivery anywhere in NSW
• Los Angeles: $75 USD delivery anywhere in LA County

Problems:

• Lost 30-40% of nearby customers to competitors with cheaper local delivery
• Unprofitable long-distance deliveries eating margins
• Customer complaints about “unfair” pricing

After (Distance-Based with ShipEZ):

London:

• 0-10 miles: £25
• 10-20 miles: £45
• 20-30 miles: £75
• 30+ miles: Unavailable

Sydney:

• 0-20 km: $35 AUD
• 20-40 km: $65 AUD
• 40-80 km: $120 AUD
• 80+ km: Unavailable

Los Angeles:

• 0-20 miles: $30 USD
• 20-40 miles: $55 USD
• 40+ miles: In-store pickup only

Combined Results Across Markets:

• 42% average increase in conversion rate for nearby customers (within first tier)
• 16% average increase in order value (customers adding more items)
• Reduced unprofitable deliveries by 85% (eliminated distant orders)
• 28% improvement in customer satisfaction scores (perceived fairness)

Distance-Based vs Other Shipping Methods: When to Use Each

Method	Best For	Limitations	Regions
Distance-based	Local delivery, regional stores, multi-warehouse operations	Needs accurate addresses; can be slower than flat rates	Best for US, UK, AU metro areas
Weight-based	Variable-weight products, national shipping	Doesn’t reflect delivery proximity	Works globally
Flat rate	Simple stores with consistent service areas	Can overcharge/undercharge by location	Works globally
Postal zone	International and region-based shipping	Zones don’t match real distance in dense areas	Essential for international
Carrier-calculated	Live carrier quotes, outsourced logistics	Requires carrier integrations; can be costly	Works with Royal Mail, USPS, Australia Post, etc.

Pro strategy: Combine methods. Use distance-based for local delivery, weight-based for national orders, and carrier-calculated for international shipments—all configurable in ShipEZ.

Step-by-Step: Your First Distance-Based Rule

Let’s create a practical rule for a local bakery (adaptable to any region):

Scenario:

You bake fresh bread and want same-day delivery within your city. You’ll deliver free within 5km (3 miles) to encourage neighborhood orders, charge a small fee from 5-15km (3-9 miles), and limit deliveries beyond that.

Configuration:

1. Install ShipEZ (14-day free trial, no credit card needed)
2. Create Rule:
   • Rule name: “Fresh Bread Local Delivery”
   • Type: Distance-based
   • Calculation: Radius (faster for dense urban areas)
   • Units: Choose km or miles based on your region
3. Set Distance Brackets (Multi-Currency Examples):

UK Version:

• 0-5 km: £0 (Free delivery)
• 5-15 km: £3 (Covers driver costs)
• Beyond 15 km: Hide this option

US Version:

• 0-3 miles: $0 (Free delivery)
• 3-9 miles: $4 (Covers driver costs)
• Beyond 9 miles: Hide this option

AU Version:

• 0-5 km: $0 AUD (Free delivery)
• 5-15 km: $5 AUD (Covers driver costs)
• Beyond 15 km: Hide this option

1. Add Conditions:
   • Apply only to products tagged “fresh-baked”
   • Minimum order value: $15 USD / £12 GBP / $20 AUD / €14 EUR
2. Test:
   • Enter test addresses at short, medium, and long distances
   • Verify rates appear correctly
   • Check that distant addresses don’t show local delivery option
3. Go Live:
   • Switch from test mode to production
   • Monitor first week of orders
   • Adjust distance brackets based on actual delivery patterns

Expected Results:

Within the first month, you should see:

• Increased orders from customers within free delivery zone
• Reduced customer support questions about delivery costs (transparent rates)
• Better control over delivery radius (no more unprofitable long-distance orders)

Distance-Based Shipping FAQs

Q: Does distance-based shipping work with Shopify’s native checkout?
A: Yes, ShipEZ integrates seamlessly with Shopify checkout. Rates appear alongside other shipping options customers can choose from.

Q: Can I use distance-based shipping on Shopify Basic plan?
A: ShipEZ can be installed on all Shopify plans, but showing app-calculated rates at checkout typically requires Carrier Calculated Shipping (CCS) to be enabled. On Shopify Basic, CCS is not officially supported, though some stores may still be eligible depending on Shopify’s discretion. To confirm if your store has CCS enabled, check Settings → Shipping and delivery in your Shopify admin, or contact Shopify Support for clarification.

Q: How accurate are distance calculations?
A: Radius method is accurate to within 1-2 km (0.6-1.2 miles). The road distance method uses routing and mapping APIs to calculate actual driving distance along roads, providing more precise measurements. Most merchants find radius sufficient for local delivery, while road distance is preferred for larger delivery areas where route accuracy matters.

Q: Does ShipEZ work outside the United States?
A: Yes, ShipEZ is used by Shopify merchants in multiple countries including the UK, Australia, and Canada. The app can work with different postal code formats and supports configuration in various currencies and distance units (miles or kilometres). For specific country compatibility, check the ShipEZ documentation or contact their support team.

Q: Does ShipEZ work with UK postcodes?
A: Yes, ShipEZ can work with various postal code formats including UK alphanumeric postcodes (e.g., SW1A 1AA), US zip codes, Australian postcodes, and Canadian postal codes. The app processes addresses based on the customer’s entered location data.

Q: Can I display rates in GBP, EUR, or AUD?
A: ShipEZ allows you to set your base currency when configuring rates. For multi-currency display to customers, you can use Shopify’s native multi-currency features or compatible currency conversion apps. Check the ShipEZ documentation for current integration details.

Q: Does distance calculation work across Europe?
A: Distance-based shipping works excellently within any single European country. For cross-border EU shipping, we recommend combining distance-based rates (for domestic orders) with standard carrier rates (for international orders). This gives you precise control for local delivery while using established carriers for cross-border shipments.

Q: What about remote areas like Scottish Highlands, Australian outback, or rural America?
A: You can set maximum distance limits or use postal code exceptions to handle remote areas. For example:

• UK: Exclude Scottish Highlands postcodes (IV, HS, KW, PA, PH, ZE) or apply surcharges
• Australia: Set maximum 80km for metro, exclude NT/remote WA postcodes
• US: Set maximum delivery radius and use USPS for beyond

Q: What if a customer enters the wrong address?
A: Rates calculated based on the address they provide. If they correct it later, they can re-initiate checkout to see updated rates. ShipEZ also logs all rate calculations for your reference in case of disputes.

Q: Can I hide distance-based shipping for certain products?
A: Yes, ShipEZ lets you apply rules by product tag, collection, vendor, or SKU. You can easily exclude items that shouldn’t qualify for local delivery (e.g., hazardous materials, international-only items).

Q: Does this work with local pickup options?
A: Yes, you can offer both distance-based delivery and local pickup/click-and-collect. Customers choose at checkout.

Q: What happens if my warehouse moves?
A: Simply update the origin address in Shopify settings. All future orders will be calculated from the new location automatically.

Q: Can I use both miles and kilometres?
A: You configure ShipEZ to use either miles or kilometres based on your preference. Most US/UK merchants use miles, while AU/EU merchants use kilometres. The unit you choose applies to all your distance rules.

Q: What customer data does ShipEZ access?
A: ShipEZ requires access to customer address and geolocation data to calculate shipping rates, as disclosed on the Shopify App Store listing. For specific details on how this data is stored, processed, and shared, please refer to ShipEZ’s privacy policy available at https://smartive.io/privacy-policy/.

Q: Does it work with Royal Mail, USPS, or Australia Post?
A: ShipEZ focuses on custom distance-based rate calculation. You can use it alongside carrier-calculated rates from Royal Mail, USPS, or Australia Post by configuring both in Shopify. For example, you might use distance-based rates for local delivery and switch to carrier rates for longer distances. Check ShipEZ documentation for current carrier integration capabilities.

Why Merchants Choose ShipEZ for Distance-Based Shipping

1. Flexibility That Matches Real Business Needs

As one Philippines merchant put it: “It lets us create shipping options that match our actual operations instead of being stuck with Shopify’s limitations.” Whether you’re handling simple radius-based pricing or complex multi-warehouse scenarios across multiple countries, ShipEZ adapts to your workflow.

2. Speed and Reliability

A Singapore store highlighted that the app “calculates shipping costs very quickly”—crucial for checkout conversion. Slow-loading shipping rates cause cart abandonment; ShipEZ’s optimized calculations happen in under 1 second, regardless of whether you’re using miles or kilometres.

3. Exceptional Support

Multiple reviewers emphasized the support quality: “Nothing is as important in an app than support.” ShipEZ offers 24/7 assistance via Whatsapp, Zoom, email, and chat, even during the free trial period. Setup questions, configuration help, and debugging are all included—available to merchants worldwide across all time zones.

4. Proven Track Record

With a 5-star rating and reviews from merchants in diverse industries (food delivery, furniture, general retail) and geographies (US, UK, Singapore, Philippines, Australia), ShipEZ has demonstrated reliability across different use cases and markets.

5. Risk-Free Testing

The free plan lets you configure and test everything in development mode before going live. No credit card required for the 14-day trial—perfect for evaluating if distance-based shipping fits your business before committing.

6. Global Currency & Unit Support

ShipEZ offers configuration options for international merchants:

• Set rates in your preferred currency
• Choose between imperial (miles) or metric (kilometres) units
• Configure rates for different postal code formats
• For specific multi-currency or localization features, refer to the ShipEZ documentation on the Shopify App Store

Beyond Basic Distance: Advanced ShipEZ Features

Once you’ve mastered distance-based rates, explore these complementary features:

AI-Powered Packaging

ShipEZ includes AI packaging logic that optimizes box selection based on product dimensions, reducing waste and dimensional weight charges. When combined with distance-based rates, this ensures you’re charging accurately for both the journey distance and package size.

Dimensional Weight Shipping

For bulky but light items (furniture, lampshades), use dimensional weight calculations alongside distance pricing:

Rule: Oversized Items

– Calculate volumetric weight

– Apply distance-based rates

– Add dimensional surcharge if volume exceeds threshold

B2B Customer Segmentation

Offer wholesale customers different distance-based rates:

Retail Customers (B2C):

– 0-20 km: $10 USD / £8 / €9

– 20-50 km: $20 USD / £16 / €18

Wholesale Customers (B2B, tagged “Wholesale”):

– 0-50 km: $15 USD / £12 / €14 flat rate

– Beyond 50 km: negotiated pricing

Prevent Double Rates

When combining distance-based rules with product-based rules, ShipEZ’s “Prevent Double Rates” feature ensures customers only see the most relevant shipping option—no confusing duplicate choices at checkout.

Rate Blending/Combining

If a customer orders multiple items with different shipping rules, ShipEZ can blend rates intelligently:

• Take the highest rate
• Sum all rates
• Average the rates
• Apply custom blending logic

Example: Customer orders a small item (distance-based $5 rate) and large furniture (distance-based $20 rate). The app shows a single $20 delivery option instead of two separate charges.

Getting Started: Your 7-Day Distance-Based Shipping Roadmap

Day 1-2: Planning

• Audit current shipping costs and common delivery distances
• Identify distance brackets that align with actual delivery expenses
• Map out origin points (store/warehouse locations)
• Decide on units (miles vs kilometres) based on your market
• Research competitor delivery options in your area

Day 3: Setup

• Install ShipEZ from Shopify App Store
• Configure warehouse locations with complete addresses
• Set currency and distance units
• Create first distance-based rule in test mode

Day 4-5: Testing

• Test with real addresses from past orders
• Verify edge cases (boundary distances, international addresses, postcodes vs zip codes)
• Adjust brackets based on test results
• Get support team to review configuration (included free)
• Test multi-currency display if applicable

Day 6: Soft Launch

• Enable for a subset of products or specific collection
• Monitor first real orders closely
• Check rate history logs
• Verify correct currency and unit display

Day 7: Full Rollout

• Apply to all eligible products
• Update shipping policy page on your site (mention distance-based pricing)
• Announce to customers via email (highlight local delivery benefits)
• Set up monitoring for ongoing optimization
• Add FAQs to your site about distance-based delivery

Conclusion: Is Distance-Based Shipping Right for You?

Distance-based shipping makes sense if you answer “yes” to any of these:

• ✅ You operate local or regional delivery (not nationwide/international only)
• ✅ Delivery costs vary significantly based on proximity
• ✅ You want to incentivize nearby customers with better rates
• ✅ You have multiple warehouses and want to ship from the nearest
• ✅ Standard postal zones don’t reflect your actual delivery areas
• ✅ You sell bulky items where distance + size both matter
• ✅ You serve dense urban areas (London, NYC, Sydney, Amsterdam)
• ✅ You need to handle regional exceptions (Highlands, outback, rural areas)

Not a fit if:

• ❌ You only ship via national carriers (USPS, FedEx, UPS, Royal Mail, Australia Post)
• ❌ Your products are small/light and ship for uniform flat rates
• ❌ You don’t offer any local delivery options
• ❌ You exclusively ship internationally (cross-border)

For local bakeries, furniture stores, regional wholesalers, food delivery services, and multi-warehouse operations across the US, UK, Australia, and Europe, distance-based shipping can dramatically improve profitability and customer satisfaction. By charging fair rates tied to actual delivery distance, you recover costs accurately while rewarding nearby customers with competitive pricing.

Ready to try distance-based shipping? Install ShipEZ from the Shopify App Store and start your free 14-day trial. Many stores can configure and test their setup quickly—often within an hour for simple setups. With 24/7 support available worldwide and a proven track record across diverse industries and markets, you can get accurate distance-based rates live with minimal risk.