How to Set a Free Shipping Threshold on Shopify

A free-shipping threshold can make an extra item feel worthwhile, but a number chosen at random can make expensive orders less profitable. Work backwards from your delivery cost and typical basket, then show the shopper the remaining amount while they can still act on it.

Find a threshold your orders can support

Start with your recent order values, gross margin, and average shipping cost. Consider the products customers commonly add together. A threshold just above a common basket gives shoppers a reachable next step, but the extra gross profit should normally cover the shipping you pay for. Check heavy, remote, and international orders separately because their costs may differ sharply.

For example, suppose a basket is £42, the proposed threshold is £50, and shipping costs you £5. If the extra £8 of merchandise contributes £6 after product costs, that addition could cover delivery before other expenses. If it contributes only £2, the same threshold may be too low. Use your own margin and shipping figures; an order value alone cannot tell you whether the offer is profitable.

Choose a rate or a discount

Shopify gives you two common ways to set this up. A conditional shipping rate makes a shipping option free above the amount you set in the relevant shipping zone. A free-shipping discount can be automatic or code-based, with a minimum purchase requirement and discount eligibility rules. Review zones, shipping profiles, and discount combinations before deciding which fits your store.

Avoid running two overlapping free-shipping offers for the same audience. If shipping is already free for every order, a threshold message creates a promise with no new benefit. Whatever method you choose, test the checkout in every shipping region you advertise.

Show the remaining amount in the right place

"Free shipping over £50" tells shoppers the rule. "£8 away from free shipping" tells someone with a £42 cart what to do next. A live progress message is most useful near the product or cart controls, where adding an item is still easy. After the threshold is met, replace the prompt with a clear confirmation.

Perk supports a free-shipping campaign with a spend threshold and a live progress bar on the product page. Once the cart reaches the threshold, its shipping discount applies at checkout. Review the wording against your shipping rules, especially if some regions or delivery methods cost more.

Check the edge cases

• Test a cart just below, exactly at, and just above the threshold.
• Check whether other discounts change the qualifying product subtotal.
• Test each shipping zone and any separate shipping profiles.
• Check a cart after an item is removed so the message and checkout still agree.

Shopify's free-shipping discount minimum excludes tax and shipping. When compatible product discounts apply, the discounted product price can be what counts toward the minimum. Those details are easy to miss, so verify the exact combinations your store allows.

Frequently asked questions