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Getting started shipping with Shopify

In this article, you can learn to configure shipping settings, process orders, and buy discounted shipping labels directly from your Shopify admin.

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Before you begin

Before you begin, review the following considerations:

Setting up your shipping settings

Set up essential shipping settings that control how shipping rates calculate at checkout and where you can ship orders:

  1. Add your fulfillment locations: Set up where you store and ship inventory so your shipping rates are calculated accurately based on the origin address.
  2. Create shipping profiles: Group products that have similar shipping requirements so the right rates apply to each product automatically.
  3. Set up shipping rates and zones: Define where you ship and your shipping charges to display the correct shipping costs at checkout to customers.
  4. Configure packages: Add your box sizes, weights, and package defaults to calculate accurate shipping rates at checkout and when you buy shipping labels.
  5. Connect your carrier account: Connect your own account with an eligible shipping carrier to your Shopify admin. You can display real-time shipping rates from carriers such as UPS, FedEx, and USPS directly at checkout, and buy shipping labels for eligible carriers directly from your Shopify admin.
  6. Set up automatic delivery dates: Display specific delivery dates at checkout to encourage your customers to complete the purchase.
  7. Optional: Set up international shipping: Add customs information and HS codes to your products so customs forms generate automatically and shipments clear borders without delays.

Managing and preparing orders for fulfillment

Organize, manage, and prepare orders for fulfillment from your Shopify admin. Depending on your business workflows, you can complete the following steps in any sequence:

  • Filter and sort orders: Create custom views to organize orders by status, location, or shipping method.
  • Validate customer shipping addresses: Orders with incomplete or incorrect addresses are flagged with suggestions.
  • Manage order details: View and manage comprehensive order information including customer details, shipping addresses, payment information, and order history. Access all order data in one centralized location.
  • Edit orders: Edit existing orders by adding or removing products, updating quantities, changing shipping addresses, or adjusting prices. Handle order changes efficiently without canceling and recreating orders.
  • Manage order status: Change the status to indicate what stage an order is in your fulfillment process.
  • Print orders: Generate and print shipping documents such as packing slips, pick lists, and invoices to streamline warehouse operations. Customize document formats and automate printing workflows.

Buying and printing shipping labels

Purchase, print, and manage discounted shipping labels from shipping carriers directly in your Shopify admin:

  1. Buy shipping labels:
    1. Buy labels for single orders: Buy shipping labels individually.
    2. Buy labels in bulk: Buy up to 250 shipping labels at one time.
  2. Optional: Buy DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) shipping labels: Purchase Delivered Duty Paid labels for international shipments, so your customers won't face surprise fees at delivery.
  3. Add shipping insurance: Protect shipments with optional shipping insurance coverage. Eligible labels from the United States receive up to $200 USD of included shipping insurance.
  4. Change or void shipping labels: Void unused shipping labels directly from your Shopify admin and get credited back to your account.
  5. Print shipping labels: Print shipping labels and customs forms. You can print shipping documents separately, or combine and resize them to fit on your selected printing paper format.
  6. Schedule pickups, create manifests, and track shipments: Schedule carrier pickups for eligible labels, print shipping manifests for your records, and monitor delivery status from your admin.
  7. Provide customers with delivery tracking through the Shop app: Provide customers with real-time order tracking, delivery notifications, and live map tracking through the Shop app. Reduce support inquiries about order status and improve first-time delivery success rates.
  8. Submit insurance claims for shipments: File claims for lost or damaged shipments directly from your Shopify admin.

Handling returns

Streamline returns and exchanges with built-in tools:

  1. Set up self-serve returns: Allow customers to initiate returns from your online store.
  2. Set up return rules and return policy: Create rules for when customers can request a return and how return fees are applied to your store.
  3. Process returns and exchanges: Configure return policies and processes.
  4. Buy return labels: Create and send return labels to your customers from your Shopify admin.