Shipping is one of the most complex — yet most important — parts of running a successful Shopify store. Not all products cost the same to ship. Some are lightweight, some are bulky, some are fragile, and others may require special handling.

If you charge the same shipping rate for all products, you risk either losing money or overcharging customers, both of which hurt your business.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn how to set up different shipping rates for different products on Shopify, using built-in features and apps, along with best practices, examples, and common mistakes to avoid in 2026.

Method 1: Use Shipping Profiles (Best Built-in Solution)

Shipping profiles are the recommended and most flexible way to set different shipping rates for different products.

What Is a Shipping Profile?

A shipping profile allows you to:

• Group specific products together

• Assign unique shipping rates to that group

• Apply different rates by country or region

Step-by-Step: Create a Custom Shipping Profile

Step 1: Go to Shipping Settings

• Shopify Admin → Settings

• Click Shipping and delivery

Step 2: Create a New Shipping Profile

• Scroll to Shipping profiles

• Click Create new profile

• Name it (e.g. “Heavy Products”)

Step 3: Add Products to the Profile

• Select the products that require special shipping

• Save

Step 4: Set Shipping Zones

• Add zones (e.g. United States, Europe)

• Each zone can have different rates

Step 5: Add Custom Shipping Rates

You can add:

• Flat rates

• Free shipping

• Weight-based rates

• Carrier-calculated rates

Example

• Apparel products → Standard profile ($5 shipping)

• Furniture products → Heavy profile ($50 shipping)

Method 2: Weight-Based Shipping Rates

Weight-based shipping is ideal when shipping cost increases with product weight.

How It Works

Shopify calculates shipping based on total cart weight.

How to Set It Up

1. Go to Settings → Shipping and delivery

2. Open a shipping profile

3. Select a shipping zone

4. Click Add rate

5. Choose Weight-based

6. Set weight ranges and prices

Example

• 0–1 lb → $5

• 1–5 lbs → $10

• 5–20 lbs → $25

Best For

• Physical products

• Stores with predictable weight costs

Method 3: Price-Based Shipping Rates

This method calculates shipping based on order value.

How to Set It Up

1. Go to shipping profile

2. Add Price-based rate

3. Set minimum and maximum order values

Example

• Orders $0–$49 → $8 shipping

• Orders $50–$99 → $5 shipping

• Orders $100+ → Free shipping

Limitations

• Not accurate for heavy products

• Better combined with shipping profiles

Method 4: Use Carrier Calculated Shipping Rates

Carrier-calculated rates show real-time shipping costs from carriers like UPS, USPS, DHL, or FedEx.

Best Use Cases

• Large or heavy items

• International shipping

• Variable shipping distances

Requirements

• Shopify Advanced or Plus plan

• Or paid carrier-rate add-on

Tip

You can combine carrier rates with shipping profiles for product-specific accuracy.

Method 5: Different Shipping Rates by Product Location

If products ship from different warehouses, Shopify can calculate rates based on location.

How to Set It Up

1. Go to Settings → Locations

2. Add multiple locations

3. Assign inventory to each location

4. Create shipping profiles per location

Example

• Local warehouse → Cheap shipping

• Overseas supplier → Higher shipping

Method 6: Free Shipping for Specific Products

Some products can ship free while others cannot.

How to Do It

1. Create a shipping profile

2. Assign free-shipping products

3. Add a $0 shipping rate

4. Keep paid shipping for other profiles

Example

• Accessories → Free shipping

• Furniture → Paid shipping

Method 7: Using Shopify Apps for Advanced Shipping Rules

If Shopify’s built-in tools aren’t enough, apps can help.

Best Shopify Shipping Apps

Advanced Shipping Rules

• Conditional shipping logic

• Product-specific rules

• Zip-code restrictions

Better Shipping

• Rule-based shipping

• Cart-based conditions

ShipMagic

• Multi-condition shipping logic

• Product tags & collections

When to Use Apps

• Complex shipping scenarios

• B2B pricing

• Special handling rules

Setting up different shipping rates for different products on Shopify is essential for scaling your store profitably. Whether you use shipping profiles, weight-based rules, or advanced apps, the goal is the same: charge customers fairly while protecting your margins.

In 2026, customers expect transparent and accurate shipping — and Shopify gives you the tools to deliver exactly that.