Location-Based Shipping Configuration

Location-Based Shipping allows you to provide different shipping options and costs depending on the product’s assigned store/warehouse location. This ensures accurate fulfillment, optimized shipping fees, and proper routing for multi-location inventory.

Step 1: Add Shipping Methods in WooCommerce

Before configuring location-based shipping, you must create shipping zones and methods in WooCommerce.

  1. Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Shipping
  2. Click Add Shipping Zone
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  1. Enter:
    • Zone Name
    • Region(s)
  2. Click Add Shipping Method
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  1. Choose methods such as:
    • Flat Rate
    • Free Shipping
    • Local Pickup
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Adjust the cost and settings per method

    You can repeat this for multiple shipping zones.

    Step 2: Assign Shipping Methods to Each Location

    Once shipping zones and methods are created:

    1. Go to Location Manage → Locations
    2. Click Add New Location or edit an existing location
    3. Scroll to the Shipping Zones & Shipping Methods section
    4. Assign:
      • Which shipping zones this location serves
      • Which shipping method instances belong to this location

    This allows each location/warehouse to have its own shipping rules.

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    Step 3: Configure Location-Based Shipping Behavior

    Now activate location-wise shipping logic.

    1. Go to Location Manage → Settings
    2. Open Location Wise Everything → Shipping
    3. Find the Location-Based Shipping panel
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    Enable Location-Based Shipping — ON/OFF

    • ON
      WooCommerce uses shipping options based on product location.
    • OFF
      Shipping behaves as normal WooCommerce (not location-specific).
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    Shipping Calculation Method Options

    There are two powerful modes depending on your fulfillment strategy:

    1. Per Location

    (Each location has its own rates)

    • If the cart contains products from multiple locations:
      • Each location shows its own shipping options
      • Customers may see multiple shipping charges
      • Backend calculates shipping separately per location

    Example:
    If cart includes products from Location A and Location B:

    Shipping from Location A → Flat Rate $5
Shipping from Location B → Free Shipping

    Perfect for multi-warehouse stores where items ship separately.

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    2. Nearest with Inter-Hub Transfer Cost

    This mode finds the nearest available location to the customer and applies:

    • Base shipping rate from nearest location
    • Extra inter-hub transfer cost for items sourced from other locations

    This simulates internal logistics movement between warehouses.

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    Inter-Hub Transfer Cost Configuration

    If using Nearest with Inter-Hub Transfer:

    1. Go to the Inter-Location Transfer Costs panel
    2. Set transfer cost values between each location pair

    Example:

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    Location A → Location B: $3
Location B → Location C: $5
Location A → Location C: $7

    These costs are added automatically when products must move between hubs to fulfill a single order.

    When to Use Each Method

    Use Per Location when:

    ✔ Orders are shipped separately per warehouse
    ✔ Each location has different couriers or pricing
    ✔ You want accurate, location-specific shipping totals

    Use Nearest with Transfer Cost when:

    ✔ You want to centralize shipping for customers
    ✔ You allow warehouses to move products internally
    ✔ You want a single shipping charge + internal logistics fee

    Frontend Behavior

    After enabling location-based shipping:

    • Customers select a location
    • Cart shipping options update depending on:
      • Assigned warehouse
      • Selected calculation method
      • Shipping zones and method availability
    • For multi-location carts:
      • Either multiple shipping blocks appear (Per Location)
      • Or a merged rate with transfer cost (Nearest with transfer)

    Best Practices

    • Always create WooCommerce shipping methods before assigning them to locations
    • Use clear naming for shipping zones (e.g., “East Hub Shipping”)
    • Test with multi-location carts to ensure expected calculations
    • Use Per Location for maximum transparency
    • Use Nearest with Transfer for simplified customer experience

    With Location-Based Shipping Configuration, your WooCommerce store becomes fully logistics-aware—ensuring consistent shipping rates, smarter routing, and optimized multi-warehouse operations.