Fadiyah SamehOkay, let’s be real: nobody likes paying for shipping. It’s like finding a twenty-dollar bill, then immediately having to give half of it back.
And the numbers don’t lie. Did you know, 66% of shoppers expect free shipping, and nearly half abandon their carts when they see shipping costs?
Plus, free shipping can boost orders by a whopping 90%. So, yeah, it’s kind of a big deal. Now, you’re probably wondering how to make shipping free after amount added in WooCommerce?
To implement free shipping based on cart total in WooCommerce, navigate to your shipping zone settings. Add a “Free Shipping” method and set a minimum order amount. Alternatively, you can use Disco plugin to easily offer free shipping discounts based on cart amounts within a few clicks, which is more of a streamlined and flexible approach.
We’ll walk you through setting this up step-by-step and even show you how to supercharge your free shipping with plugins. Let’s get started.
How To Make Shipping Free After Amount Added in WooCommerce?
As we have mentioned already, there are two ways you can set up WooCommerce free shipping over amount.
- Built-in Method: Using WooCommerce Shipping settings, requires going through multiple steps and has limitations.
- Using a Plugin: Quickest and easiest way, allows for advanced conditions.
We will walk you through both the steps in detail. First up is WooCommerce’s built-in option.
- Example Scenario: “Offer free shipping when customers add $200 worth of items to the cart.”
Here’s how to set this up using the built-in tools.
Step 1: Enable Free Shipping in WooCommerce
- Navigate to WooCommerce >> Settings page from the WordPress admin panel.
- Click on the Shipping tab.
- Add or select one of your existing shipping zones.
- For a new shipping zone, select and set the name and location.
- To enable free shipping, click the Add Shipping Method button.
- Select the Free Shipping option from the pop-up window.
Step 2: Set Free Shipping Conditions
We need to set the WooCommerce free shipping threshold now. For that,
- Click the Continue button from the pop-up.
- From the Free shipping requires dropdown, select the option “A Minimum Order Amount.”
- In the Minimum order amount field, set your target threshold.
- Click Create And Save to finish setting up the WooCommerce free shipping minimum amount deal.
Step 3: Test Your Free Shipping Rule
Add a minimum of $200 or more worth of products to your WooCommerce cart. The cart page should automatically apply free shipping.
This is how to make shipping free after amount added in WooCommerce using built-in features.
Bonus: Offer Free Shipping with Coupons (Optional)
If you want to allow free shipping only with a WooCommerce free shipping coupon, you need to first select the option “A Minimum Order Amount AND coupon” from the Free shipping requires dropdown in the shipping method settings (Step 2:2).
After that, follow these steps –
- Go to Marketing >> Coupons and create a new coupon.
- Checkmark the option Allow free shipping.
- Publish the coupon.
Again, add $200 worth of products, and this time, apply the coupon code. Only after you apply the coupon code, the cart page will assign free shipping to the order.
Limitations of the Built-in WooCommerce Free Shipping Method
While the built-in method provides a basic solution for offering free shipping over a minimum amount, it does come with several limitations:
Limited Conditionality:
You’re primarily restricted to a single minimum order amount. This lacks flexibility for more complex scenarios, such as offering free shipping based on specific product categories, quantities, or customer roles.
Shipping Zone Constraints:
The free shipping rule is tied to shipping zones, which can become cumbersome if you need granular control across various regions or customer groups.
Coupon Dependency (For Combined Rules):
Combining minimum order amounts with coupons requires extra steps and can be confusing for both store owners and customers.
Lack of Advanced Rules:
The default method doesn’t offer advanced features like time-sensitive promotions, tiered free shipping thresholds, or automatic progress bars to encourage higher order values.
User Interface:
The user interface requires multiple clicks and navigation through various sections of the WooCommerce settings, which makes it time-consuming.
How to Make Shipping Free After Amount Added in WooCommerce Using a Plugin?
If you’re looking for a more efficient and powerful way to manage free shipping promotions, you need to go with plugins. There are a large number of discount plugins available for WooCommerce.
The WooCommerce free shipping plugin we picked is called Disco. This Free plugin offers a significant upgrade.
With Disco, you can create and offer the same free shipping based on cart amounts within just a few clicks. Moreover, Disco comes packed with a plethora of condition filters you can apply to your free shipping discounts, including:
- Product-specific free shipping.
- WooCommerce free shipping based on quantity
- Combining free shipping with automatic discounts.
- WooCommerce free shipping for logged-in users
- WooCommerce free shipping for first-time customers
- And many more advanced conditions.
The plugin also offers a range of operators for the conditions such as Less than, Greater than, Greater Than or Equal, Between, etc. This gives more flexibility and allows you to create more customized offers.
Disco also lets you add and apply multiple conditions to a single free shipping discount rule with AND/OR logic.
Overall, Disco simplifies the process, eliminates the need for complex configurations, and provides a user-friendly interface to manage your free shipping strategies.
Let’s create the same example using Disco.
- Example: “Free Shipping when cart total is $200 or more.”
Step 1: Install the Free Discount Plugin
- Navigate to Plugins >> Add New.
- Search for Disco.
- Click the Install and then Activate buttons to add the plugin to your setup.
Step 2: Creating a Free Shipping Discount Rule
- From the Disco dashboard, click the Create a Discount button.
- Name your discount and select the Shipping discount intent from the top.
- Specify your products and discount validity time and dates.
- Click the Add Condition button.
- Select the Cart Subtotal condition.
- Select the operator Greater Than Or Equal and input your cart threshold.
Step 3: Save and Test Free Shipping Rule
Hit the Save button, jump to the front of the store, and add $200 or more worth of products to the cart. The cart page will automatically apply the discount when the threshold is met.
This is how WooCommerce set free shipping programmatically using a plugin. Pretty straightforward, right?
Advanced Free Shipping Strategies Using Disco
While basic free shipping rules are a great starting point, Disco empowers you to take your promotions to the next level. Let’s dive into some advanced strategies that can significantly enhance your customer experience and boost sales, all achievable with a few clicks.
1. WooCommerce Free Shipping for Specific Products
Sometimes, you might want to incentivize the purchase of certain high-margin or slow-moving items. Offering free shipping on specific products can be a powerful way to do just that.
- Why use this:
- Boost sales of target products.
- Clear out excess inventory.
- Promote new arrivals.
- Example: “Free Shipping on selected products when the cart total is a minimum of $60.”
How to Make Shipping Free After Amount Added in WooCommerce Based on Specific Products?
To create such type of free shipping discount using Disco, follow these steps.
- Create a new discount rule and select the Shipping intent.
- Select the Few Products option from the Discount section.
- Search and select your target products.
- Add and set the Cart Subtotal condition.
- Save and test the rule from the front by selecting some of your target products.
2. WooCommerce Free Shipping Based on Product Category
Rather than individual products, you may want to offer free shipping for entire categories. This can be particularly useful for seasonal promotions or to drive sales in specific product lines.
- Why use this:
- Promote seasonal or thematic collections.
- Encourage purchases within specific product lines.
- Simplify promotion management.
- Example: “Free Shipping on Summer Collection category on cart subtotal worth $100 or more“
How to Set Up Category Specific Free Shipping Discounts in WooCommerce?
To set up a free shipping-based WooCommerce category discount, follow these steps –
- In a new discount rule, select the Shipping discount intent.
- Specify the products and set the Cart Subtotal condition.
- Click the Add Another Condition button and set the logic AND.
- Select the Categories filter and set the category.
- Save and test the rule by adding products from the Summer Collection category to the cart.
3. WooCommerce Free Shipping Based on Quantity
Encouraging bulk purchases is a great way to increase your average order value. Offering free shipping when customers buy a certain quantity of items can be a compelling incentive.
- Why use this:
- Increase average order value.
- Move larger quantities of products.
- Incentivize bulk purchasing.
- Example: “Offer free shipping when a customer buys 3 or more of your popular kids’ t-shirts.”
How to Make Shipping Free After Amount Added in WooCommerce (Quantity Amount)?
Here are the steps to create such bulk quantity discounts.
- Set up a new rule with Shipping intent and select the products.
- Add the condition Cart Items Quantity.
- Select the operator Greater Than Or Equal and enter your minimum value.
- Save and test it from the front.
4. WooCommerce Free Shipping for Logged-In Users
Rewarding your loyal customers can significantly improve retention. Offering exclusive free shipping to logged-in users is a great way to show appreciation and encourage repeat purchases.
- Why use this:
- Reward loyal customers.
- Increase customer retention.
- Encourage account creation.
- Example: “Provide free shipping on cart total $75 to all customers who have created an account and logged in.”
How to Make Shipping Free After Amount Added in WooCommerce For Logged-in Users?
- Create a new discount rule with the Shipping discount intent.
- Specify the products and add the Cart Subtotal condition.
- Set the minimum value and add another condition with AND logic.
- Select and set the condition Is Logged In.
- Save and test the rule before going public.
5. Free Shipping Based on User Role
For stores with different customer tiers or wholesale clients, offering free shipping based on user roles can be a valuable strategy. This allows you to tailor your promotions to specific customer segments.
- Why use this:
- Tailor promotions to specific customer segments.
- Offer exclusive benefits to wholesale clients.
- Incentivize higher-tier memberships.
- Example: “Offer free shipping to all ‘Gold’ members on purchases worth $50.”
How to Make Shipping Free After Amount Added in WooCommerce For Specific Members?
Here are the steps to create such customer-specific discounts.
- Create a new rule and select the Shipping intent.
- Select the products and add and set the Cart Subtotal condition.
- Hit the Add Another Condition button and set AND logic.
- Select the filter User Role.
- Select or type in your target user role and save the rule.
Best Practices for Offering Free Shipping in Your WooCommerce Store
Free shipping isn’t just a perk; it’s a powerful tool that can transform your eCommerce business. But, like any tool, it needs to be used strategically to maximize its impact.
Here’s how to do it right:
1. Know Your Numbers: Calculate Your Break-Even Point
- Don’t bleed money: Before offering free shipping, calculate your average order value, profit margins, and shipping costs. Determine the minimum order amount that allows you to cover these costs while still making a profit.
- Factor in hidden costs: Remember to include packaging, handling, and potential return shipping costs in your calculations.
- Dynamic adjustments: Regularly review and adjust your free shipping threshold as your business grows and costs fluctuate.
2. Set a Strategic Minimum Order Amount
- Incentivize higher spending: Set a minimum order value slightly above your average order value to encourage customers to add more items to their cart.
- Tiered thresholds: Consider offering tiered free shipping based on order value. For example, free standard shipping for orders over $50 and free express shipping for orders over $100.
- Localized thresholds: If you ship internationally, adjust your thresholds based on shipping costs to different regions.
3. Highlight Free Shipping Prominently
- Above the fold: Display your free shipping offer prominently on your homepage, product pages, and cart page. Use banners, pop-ups, or progress bars to catch the customer’s attention.
- Clear and concise messaging: Use clear and concise language to communicate your free shipping offer. For example, “Free Shipping on Orders Over $50!”
- Visual cues: Use eye-catching graphics and discount banners to draw attention to your free shipping offer.
4. Leverage Free Shipping Progress Bars
- Gamify the shopping experience: Use a progress bar to show customers how close they are to qualifying for free shipping. This can motivate them to add more items to their cart.
- Real-time updates: Ensure the WooCommerce free shipping bar updates in real time as customers add items to their cart.
- Personalized messages: Customize the messages displayed on the progress bar based on the customer’s cart value.
5. Target Specific Products or Categories
- Promote slow-moving items: Offer free shipping on specific products or categories to clear out excess inventory or promote new arrivals.
- Bundle deals: Create product bundles with free shipping to encourage customers to purchase multiple items.
- Seasonal promotions: Offer free shipping on seasonal products or categories to boost sales during specific times of the year.
6. Offer Free Shipping to Loyal Customers
- Reward repeat purchases: Offer exclusive free shipping to logged-in users or members of your loyalty program.
- VIP treatment: Create a VIP program that offers free shipping as one of its benefits.
- Personalized offers: Send personalized free shipping offers to your most loyal customers.
7. Use Free Shipping as a Marketing Tool
- Email marketing: Promote your free shipping offers through email campaigns.
- Social media: Share your free shipping offers on social media platforms.
- Paid advertising: Use paid advertising to target customers with your free shipping offers.
8. Test and Optimize Your Free Shipping Strategy
- A/B testing: Test different free shipping thresholds, messaging, and promotions to see what works best for your audience.
- Analyze your data: Track your sales, average order value, and customer behavior to measure the effectiveness of your free shipping strategy.
- Continuous improvement: Regularly review and optimize your free shipping strategy based on your data and customer feedback.
9. Be Transparent About Shipping Times
- Don’t overpromise: Clearly state your shipping times and ensure you can meet those expectations.
- Manage expectations: If there are potential delays, communicate them proactively to your customers.
- Offer tracking: Provide tracking information so customers can monitor the progress of their orders.
10. Consider Offering “Free Returns” Too
- Reduce customer anxiety: Offering free returns can alleviate customer anxiety about purchasing online.
- Increase conversions: Free returns can increase conversion rates, especially for high-value items.
- Build trust: Offering free returns shows that you stand behind your products and value customer satisfaction.
By implementing these best practices, you can create a free shipping strategy that drives sales, increases customer loyalty, and enhances your overall eCommerce success.
Wrap Up
Alright, folks, from the nitty-gritty of the default WooCommerce settings to the supercharged capabilities of the Disco plugin, you’re now armed with everything you need to make free shipping work for your store.
It’s clear that knowing how to make shipping free after amount added in WooCommerce is more than just a nice perk—it’s a game-changer. Whether you’re keeping it simple or diving into advanced strategies, remember to always keep your customers in mind and test what works best for your business.
So, go ahead, give it a shot, and watch those sales climb! You’ve got this!
