WooCommerce Free Delivery Over a Certain Amount: Boost Sales & Improve Customer Satisfaction

WooCommerce Free Delivery Over a Certain Amount: Boost Sales & Improve Customer Satisfaction

  Ecommerce   Feb 21, 2025   25  Add to Reading List

Introduction

Offering free shipping is one of the most effective strategies to increase conversions and encourage customers to spend more on your WooCommerce store. Many successful eCommerce businesses use "Free Shipping Over a Certain Amount" to:

✅ Encourage higher order values
✅ Reduce cart abandonment
✅ Improve customer satisfaction
✅ Stay competitive in the market

By implementing this strategy, you can set a minimum order amount threshold that customers must reach to qualify for free shipping. This helps maximize revenue while ensuring that shipping costs remain manageable for your business.

In this guide, we’ll cover:

  • Why should you offer free shipping over a certain amount?
  • How to set up free shipping in WooCommerce
  • Best plugins to customize free shipping rules
  • Proven strategies to increase order values with free shipping

Why Should You Offer Free Shipping Over a Certain Amount?

1. Increase Average Order Value (AOV)

When customers see that they are close to getting free shipping, they are more likely to add extra items to their cart.

For example:

  • If free shipping is available for orders above $50, and a customer has $40 worth of products in their cart, they will likely spend an extra $10 to avoid shipping fees.

2. Reduce Cart Abandonment

One of the biggest reasons for cart abandonment is unexpected shipping costs. Studies show that 48% of online shoppers abandon their carts due to high shipping fees. Offering free shipping reduces this risk.

3. Improve Customer Experience

Customers love the feeling of getting a good deal. When they know they can qualify for free shipping, they are more likely to complete their purchase and return for future orders.

4. Compete With Bigger Retailers

Amazon and other large retailers offer free shipping incentives. By setting a reasonable free shipping threshold, small and medium-sized WooCommerce stores can remain competitive.

How to Set Up Free Shipping Over a Certain Amount in WooCommerce (Step by Step)

Step 1: Enable Free Shipping in WooCommerce

  1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard.
  2. Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings.
  3. Click on the Shipping tab.
  4. Click on Shipping Zones and select the zone where you want to offer free shipping (e.g., United States).

Step 2: Add a Free Shipping Method

  1. Click "Add Shipping Method".
  2. Select "Free Shipping" from the dropdown menu.
  3. Click "Add Shipping Method" again.

Step 3: Set the Minimum Order Amount

  1. Click on the newly added Free Shipping method.
  2. Under "Requires a minimum order amount", enter your desired threshold (e.g., $50).
  3. Click Save Changes.

???? Now, customers will automatically get free shipping if their order total meets or exceeds the minimum amount!

How to Customize Free Shipping Rules Using Code (Optional)

If you want to apply more complex free shipping conditions, you can use a custom PHP function.

Example: Apply Free Shipping for Specific Products

Add the following code to your functions.php file:

php
function custom_free_shipping( $is_available ) { $cart_total = WC()->cart->subtotal; $free_shipping_threshold = 50; // Change this to your desired amount if ( $cart_total >= $free_shipping_threshold ) { return true; } return $is_available; } add_filter( 'woocommerce_shipping_free_shipping_is_available', 'custom_free_shipping' );

Example: Apply Free Shipping for Logged-In Users Only

If you want to offer free shipping only to registered customers, use this:

php
function free_shipping_for_logged_in_users( $is_available ) { if ( is_user_logged_in() ) { return $is_available; } return false; } add_filter( 'woocommerce_shipping_free_shipping_is_available', 'free_shipping_for_logged_in_users' );

???? This encourages more users to create an account before purchasing!

Best WooCommerce Plugins to Set Free Shipping Rules

For store owners who want more advanced control, several WooCommerce plugins allow you to customize free shipping options.

1. WooCommerce Advanced Free Shipping

⭐ Best for: Custom free shipping rules based on cart contents, user roles, or shipping zones.

  • Set multiple free shipping conditions
  • Apply free shipping based on product categories
  • Restrict free shipping to specific user roles

2. Table Rate Shipping for WooCommerce

⭐ Best for: Advanced shipping rules, tiered rates, and free shipping thresholds.

  • Create multiple free shipping tiers (e.g., Free Shipping over $50, Express Free Shipping over $100)
  • Apply free shipping based on weight, quantity, or location
  • Combine free shipping with flat-rate shipping

3. Free Shipping Bar for WooCommerce

⭐ Best for: Encouraging customers to increase their cart total to unlock free shipping.

  • Display a progress bar showing how much more they need to spend
  • Auto-update messages based on cart total
  • Boosts AOV with a visual incentive

Proven Strategies to Increase Sales Using Free Shipping

1. Show a Free Shipping Progress Bar

Let customers know how much more they need to spend to get free shipping.

Example:
???? "You're $10 away from FREE shipping!"

This tactic pushes customers to add more items to their cart.

2. Promote Free Shipping on Your Website

Use banners, popups, and notifications to highlight your free shipping threshold.

Example:
???? "Get FREE Shipping on Orders Over $50 – Limited Time Only!"

3. Create Free Shipping Tiers

Encourage customers to spend more by offering multiple free shipping options.

Example:

  • Spend $50 → Get Standard Free Shipping (5-7 Days)
  • Spend $100 → Get Express Free Shipping (2-3 Days)

4. Offer Free Shipping to Specific Customer Groups

You can reward loyal customers by giving them exclusive free shipping.

Example:

  • Logged-in members get free shipping
  • VIP customers get free express shipping

5. Use Free Shipping as a Limited-Time Offer

Promote "Free Shipping Weekends" or "Holiday Free Shipping" to boost sales during peak seasons.

Example:
???? "This Weekend Only – FREE Shipping on All Orders!"

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Setting the Free Shipping Threshold Too High

If the minimum spend is too high, customers might feel discouraged from completing their purchase.

???? Tip: Analyze your average order value and set a free shipping threshold just slightly above it.

❌ Not Clearly Displaying Free Shipping Conditions

If customers don’t know about the free shipping offer, it won’t influence their purchasing decisions.

???? Tip: Add a banner, cart notification, and checkout reminder.

❌ Forgetting to Factor in Profit Margins

Ensure that your free shipping offer doesn’t reduce your profit margin too much.

???? Tip: Consider increasing product prices slightly to cover shipping costs.

Conclusion

Offering WooCommerce Free Delivery Over a Certain Amount is a powerful way to increase average order value, reduce cart abandonment, and improve customer satisfaction.

✅ Set a minimum order amount for free shipping in WooCommerce
✅ Use plugins for advanced shipping conditions
✅ Encourage customers to spend more with free shipping bars and notifications
✅ Optimize your free shipping strategy to boost sales and maximize profits

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