Location-Based Shipping
Configure rates by country, state, zone, distance, and postal code
Location-Based Shipping
Customize shipping rates based on where your customers are located. Perfect for regional pricing, local delivery, and international shipping.
Domestic vs. International
Split rates between domestic and international customers.
Goal: $7.99 flat rate for US, $19.99 for international.
Implementation:
Rule 1: US Flat Rate
Conditions: Country = "United States"
Action: Fixed Rate - $7.99Rule 2: International Flat Rate
Conditions: Country ≠ "United States"
Action: Fixed Rate - $19.99Add weight-based tiers by combining Country + Weight conditions.
Country-Specific Rates
Different rates for different countries.
Goal: Custom rate per country or region.
Implementation:
Rule: Country-Specific Rates
Conditions:
┌─ Country ────────────────────────┐
│ Is Any Of: │
│ - Canada (€12.99) │
│ - Mexico (€14.99) │
│ - EU countries (€9.99) │
└──────────────────────────────────┘Create separate rules for each country/group, or use multi-select country picker for regions like EU.
State/Province-Specific
Regional rates within a country.
Goal: Remote states (Alaska, Hawaii) pay extra.
Implementation:
Rule 1: Remote States
Conditions:
- Country = "United States"
- State Is Any Of: [Alaska, Hawaii]
Action: Fixed Rate - $24.99Rule 2: Lower 48 States
Conditions:
- Country = "United States"
- State Is Not Any Of: [Alaska, Hawaii]
Action: Fixed Rate - $7.99Regional pricing works the same way: group states by West Coast, East Coast, Midwest with different rates.
Zone-Based Shipping
Create custom zones for complex regional logic.
Setup: Settings → Shipping Zones → Create Zone → Add countries/states/postal codes
Example Zones:
- Local: 50-mile radius ($4.99)
- Regional: Same state + neighbors ($7.99)
- National: Rest of country ($12.99)
Implementation:
Rule: Zone-Based Rates
Conditions: Zone = "Local" / "Regional" / "National"
Action: Fixed Rate (varies by zone)Postal Code-Based Rates
Fine-grained control by ZIP/postal code.
Goal: Special rates for metropolitan areas or rural zones.
Implementation:
Rule: Metro Area Rates
Conditions:
┌─ Postal Code ────────────────────┐
│ Starts With: │
│ NYC: "100,101,102,103,104" │
│ LA: "900,901,902" │
│ Rural AK: "995,996,997,998" │
└──────────────────────────────────┘
Action:
Fixed Rate - $5.99 (metro) or $29.99 (rural)Use postal code ranges for broad grouping: "90*,91*,92*" = Southern California.
Distance-Based Shipping
Rates calculated by distance from your warehouse.
Setup: Settings → Shipping Origin → Enter warehouse address
Goal: Progressive rates by distance.
Implementation:
| Rule Order | Distance | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rule #1 | 0-50 mi | $6.99 |
| Rule #2 | 51-150 mi | $9.99 |
| Rule #3 | 151-300 mi | $14.99 |
| Rule #4 | 301+ mi | $19.99 |
Note: Create separate rules for each distance tier. Place more specific (shorter distance) rules higher in the list.
Example Rule:
Conditions: Distance from Origin ≤ 50 miles
Action: Fixed Rate - $6.99Testing Location Rules
Test different locations to verify correct rates:
- NYC, NY → East Coast rate
- Los Angeles, CA → West Coast rate
- Anchorage, AK → Remote surcharge
- Toronto, Canada → International rate
Use Simulator: Go to rule → Test Rule → Enter address → Verify rate
Best Practices
Rule Ordering (drag to reorder in dashboard):
Top of list:
↓ Block/exclude rules (PO Boxes, restricted)
↓ Premium rates (same-day, local delivery)
↓ Specific locations (zones, metro areas)
↓ Standard (domestic, international)
Bottom: Fallback (default)Remember: Rules at the top are evaluated first. Drag rules to reorder - most specific rules should be higher.
Maintain Accuracy: Verify origin address, test boundary cases (49.9 vs 50.1 miles), review zones quarterly
Next Steps
Need help? Email support@ratetell.com