Fadiyah SamehA WooCommerce free shipping discount is a promotional offer that eliminates shipping costs for your customers. It’s a powerful tool for boosting sales and slashing cart abandonment rates.
Did you know that 48% of online shoppers abandon their carts due to high shipping costs and taxes?
That translates to a staggering $1.92 trillion in lost sales annually!
But here’s the good news: businesses can recover up to $108 billion of that lost revenue by strategically offering free shipping or shipping discounts. Free shipping is a game changer for your bottom line.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through setting up various free shipping discounts in WooCommerce, from the basic configurations to more advanced strategies. We’ll cover everything from offering free shipping over a certain amount to setting up free shipping for specific products and even offering free shipping based on quantity.
We’ll also briefly touch on using free shipping coupons. Let’s start with the most basic walkthrough of how to offer free shipping in WooCommerce.
How to Setup WooCommerce Free Shipping Discount?
The core coupon tool in WooCommerce has the features to create a WooCommerce shipping discount coupon. However, the process takes you back and forth to coupon and shipping settings.
The best way to offer a WooCommerce free shipping discount is through a discount plugin such as Disco. Disco makes it a breeze to offer basic as well as advanced shipping discounts based on different criteria.
Let us walk you through the steps to set up WooCommerce free shipping for specific products.
Example Scenario: Offer free shipping on specific products.
Step 1: Install and Activate a Discount Plugin
You’ll need a plugin like Disco to offer a WooCommerce free shipping discount for specific products. Navigate to Plugins >> Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
Search for “Disco” and install the plugin. Once installed, click Activate. This will allow you to easily set up WooCommerce shipping discounts.
Step 2: Create a New Discount
Go to WordPress >> Disco. Click Create a Discount.
You will be redirected to the Disco discount generation window.
Step 3: Configure Discount Details
Discount Name: Assign a clear name for your discount (e.g., “Free Shipping for Specific Products”). This helps you identify it later and is a good practice for WooCommerce free shipping setup.
Step 4: Choose Discount Type
On the Discount Intent section, you’ll see various discount types. Select Shipping.
This is the most essential part of your WooCommerce free shipping configuration, as it ensures the discount specifically targets shipping costs.
Step 5: Set Discount Conditions (Who Qualifies)
For this example, we need to select the specific products you want to offer free shipping on. Select the Few Products option.
Search to select your target products. This is how you configure WooCommerce free shipping for specific products.
You can also set a discount expiry date and user limit if needed. This is useful if you want to offer a shipping discount for a limited time.
Step 6: Save & Test the Discount
Once you’ve configured all settings, click the Save button to activate your free shipping discount.
Add one of the targeted products to your front store to test the discount rule. You should see the free shipping discount applied successfully.
Advanced WooCommerce Free Shipping Discount Strategies
Okay, so you’ve got the basics down, but now it’s time to get serious about free shipping. We’re talking next-level stuff here – the kind of strategies that can really move the needle on your sales.
Think of these as your free shipping superpowers. We’re going beyond just “free shipping on specific products” and diving into some seriously effective tactics. Here are some advanced free shipping discount strategies that will have your customers adding to their cart and checking out faster than you can say “free shipping!
1. WooCommerce Free Shipping Over Amount
Offering free shipping when customers spend a certain amount is a classic strategy for boosting average order value. It encourages shoppers to add more items to their cart to qualify for the discount, increasing your sales.
Also, this is the best strategy for preventing cart abandonments.
Best Use Cases:
- Increasing average order value
- Clearing out slow-moving inventory (set a minimum spend slightly above average order value)
- Promoting seasonal or holiday sales
How to Setup WooCommerce Free Shipping Over Amount?
Example Scenario: Offer Free Shipping on orders over $100.
For this strategy, we will need to use a Disco condition. Disco conditions are like the gatekeepers of your discounts. They let you define the exact circumstances under which a free shipping offer becomes available.
Think of them as the “if this, then that” rules that make your discounts super targeted and effective. In this case, we’ll set a condition based on the total cart amount.
This ensures the free shipping offer is only triggered when a customer’s order reaches a predefined minimum spend. It’s a great way to encourage larger purchases and boost your average order value.
Here’s how to do it:
- Select the Shipping discount intent after you set the name of your rule.
- For this discount example, select All Products from the Discount section.
- Click the Add Condition button.
- Add the condition Cart Subtotal from the list.
- Select the operator Greater Than Or Equal because we want to offer free shipping when the cart subtotal reaches a minimum of $100.
- Save and add $100 worth of products to the cart to test this WooCommerce free shipping discount.
2. WooCommerce Free Shipping Based on Quantity in the Cart
Free shipping, based on the number of items in the cart, encourages customers to add more items to their order, even if they’re not buying multiple quantities of the same product. This is a great way to increase the number of items sold per transaction.
Best Use Cases:
- Increasing the number of items per order
- Promoting a wider variety of products
- Encouraging exploration of different product categories
How to Setup Quantity Based WooCommerce Free Shipping Discount?
Example Scenario: Offer Free Shipping when the total cart item count is 5.
We’ll show you how to offer WooCommerce free shipping discount when a customer’s cart reaches a specific item count threshold, like 5 items.
- Select the Shipping discount intent and All Products from the Discount section.
- Add the condition Cart Items Quantity.
- Select the Greater Than Or Equal operator and enter your minimum quantity in the following box.
- Save and test the WooCommerce free shipping based on quantity discount.
3. WooCommerce Free Shipping Discount for Specific Product Categories
Targeting free shipping to particular product categories can help you promote specific lines or clear out older stock. It’s a great way to drive sales in areas of your store that need a boost.
Best Use Cases:
- Promoting new product lines
- Clearing out overstocked or seasonal items
- Driving sales in underperforming categories
How to Setup Category-Based WooCommerce Free Shipping Discount?
Example Scenario: Free shipping for “Summer Collection” category products.
Here’s the WooCommerce free shipping setup process based on category.
- Start by selecting the Shipping intent.
- Select All Products as we are offering a discount on all products under our target category.
- Add the Categories condition.
- Search and select the category.
- Save and test the rule from the front.
4. WooCommerce Free Shipping Discount for Members or Subscribers
Rewarding loyal customers with exclusive free shipping creates a sense of community and encourages repeat business. This strategy builds customer loyalty and increases lifetime value.
Best Use Cases:
- Building a loyal customer base
- Incentivizing sign-ups for memberships or email lists
- Providing exclusive perks to VIP customers
How to Create User Role-based WooCommerce Free Shipping Discount?
Example Scenario: Free shipping for “Platinum” members.
User role discounts are beneficial for offering special perks to subscribed members in a membership-based Woo site. Here’s the process –
- Select Shipping and All Products from the top.
- Add the condition User Role.
- Type and search your target user role and select it.
- Save the rule, and your Platinum members can now enjoy the WooCommerce free shipping discount on their next purchases.
5. WooCommerce Free Shipping Discount Based on Shipping Class
Free shipping based on shipping class allows you to offer free shipping for specific product types or categories that share the same shipping class.
This is particularly useful if you have products with varying shipping costs (e.g., oversized items, fragile items) and want to offer targeted promotions. For example, you might offer free shipping for all “standard” shipping class products.
Best Use Cases:
- Targeting promotions to specific product types
- Simplifying shipping costs for certain product categories
- Encouraging sales of specific product lines
How to Offer Free Shipping Discounts Based on Shipping Class?
Example Scenario: Free Shipping on ‘’Heavy’’ shipping class items.
Let’s say you have three shopping classes in your WooCommerce store – Heavy, Light, Standard.
Now, you want to offer free shipping on heavy items as they are already expensive. This will incentivize customers significantly to hit that Place Order button.
Here’s how you can do it using Disco.
- Select the Shipping intent.
- From the Discount section, select All Products, as we are offering the WooCommerce free shipping discount on all products under that shipping class.
- Add the condition Shipping Class.
- Select Contain from the dropdown and type in your shipping class.
- Save and test the rule. WooCommerce should automatically activate free shipping for all your “Heavy” classed items.
How to Create a WooCommerce Free Shipping Discount Using Built-in Features?
Let’s talk about setting up WooCommerce free shipping discounts using the tools that come built right into WooCommerce. No extra plugins needed for the basics!
WooCommerce has some pretty decent shipping features that let you offer different shipping methods and even free shipping based on a few different rules. You can even combine WooCommerce shipping coupons & discounts this way.
WooCommerce lets you offer free shipping to your customers based on a few key things:
- Where they’re located (location-based free shipping)
- How much they spend (free shipping based on minimum spend)
- If they have a special code (free shipping using a WooCommerce free shipping coupon)
We will demonstrate all of these processes in the following sections.
How to Offer Free Shipping Based on Location in WooCommerce?
Want to give a WooCommerce free shipping discount (aka free shipping!) to customers in, say, specific cities?
Easy peasy. Head over to WooCommerce >> Settings and click the Shipping tab. Hit Add Shipping Zone.
Give your zone a name (like “Free Shipping Zone”) so you can find it later. In Zone Regions, select the states and then the specific zip codes to which you want to offer free shipping.
Click Add Shipping Method.
Choose Free Shipping.
WooCommerce lets you offer free shipping in a few ways:
- No Requirements: Free shipping is automatic. No hoops to jump through.
- Free Shipping Coupon: They need a special code.
- Minimum Order Amount: They need to spend a certain amount.
- Coupon OR Minimum Order Amount: Either a code or spending enough works.
- Coupon AND Minimum Order Amount: They need both a code and to spend enough.
For now, choose No Requirements and save. Customers in your chosen area now get free shipping!
How to Offer Free Shipping Based on Minimum Spend in WooCommerce?
Let’s say you want to offer a WooCommerce free shipping discount when customers spend $200 or more.
- Choose A Minimum Order Amount.
- Set the minimum to $200.
- Check “Apply minimum order rule before coupon discount.” This is important! It makes sure the $200 is calculated before any coupons are applied. So, even if a coupon brings the total below $200 after the coupon, they still get free shipping if it was $200 or more before the coupon.
- Save.
Now, anyone spending $200 or more gets free shipping. For everywhere else, set a standard shipping rate (like $30).
Test it out! Add stuff to your cart, put in an address in your free shipping zone, and make sure it works.
If the address is outside your zone, the standard rate will show up.
How to Offer Free Shipping with Coupons in WooCommerce?
WooCommerce also lets you create free shipping coupons.
Create a new shipping zone, set the location, and add the free shipping method. This time, choose A Valid Free Shipping Coupon.
Go to Marketing >> Coupons and create a new coupon. Check: Allow free shipping. Set a code and publish it.
Now, when a customer apply a shipping discount WooCommerce coupon code, they’ll get free shipping!
You can also combine free shipping with other discounts (percentage, fixed cart, fixed product) and set conditions like minimum spend, specific categories, maximum spend, specific products, or even customer email addresses.
Best Practices for WooCommerce Free Shipping Discounts
Offering free shipping can be a game-changer for your WooCommerce store, but it’s crucial to implement it strategically.
Here are some best practices to maximize the benefits of your WooCommerce free shipping discount offers:
1. Setting Realistic Minimums/Quantities:
Don’t just pick a number out of thin air. Carefully consider your profit margins, average order value, and shipping costs when setting minimum spend amounts or quantity thresholds.
The goal is to encourage larger orders without cutting into your profits. Analyze your sales data to find the sweet spot that works for your business.
2. Promoting Your Free Shipping Offer:
Don’t keep your free shipping offer a secret! Make sure your customers know about it.
Use prominent banners on your website, feature them in pop-ups, and highlight them in your email marketing campaigns. Clear communication is key to driving conversions.
3. Targeting Specific Customer Segments:
Consider using plugins or other tools to segment your customer base. This allows you to tailor your WooCommerce free shipping discount offers to specific groups.
For example, you might offer exclusive discounts to loyal customers or first-time buyers.
4. Analyzing Results:
Track your sales data and cart abandonment rates to measure the effectiveness of your free shipping promotions. See what’s working and what’s not.
This data-driven approach will help you optimize your WooCommerce free shipping configuration and refine your strategies over time. Regularly review your free shipping setup to ensure it’s aligned with your business goals.
Wrap Up
So there you have it! Mastering WooCommerce free shipping discounts is a powerful way to boost your sales and keep customers happy.
From simple location-based deals to targeted minimum spend offers and even coupon-driven promotions, you have the tools to create a free shipping strategy that works for your business.
Remember to A/B test your strategies to find the best solution to boost your conversions. Best of luck!
