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Pre-order items often need different shipping rules than in-stock products.
Shopify doesn’t automatically detect pre-orders, so you need to separate them intentionally, either through shipping profiles or automation.
Review the main methods to separate shipping rules for pre-order products:
Create a separate shipping profile for pre-order products
A dedicated shipping profile lets you control rates and delivery expectations for pre-orders.
- In your Shopify account, go to Settings, then open Shipping and Delivery.
- Select Shipping Profiles.
- Click Create new profile and name it (for example, “Pre-orders”).
- Add the shipping rates you want to apply.
- Assign all pre-order products to this profile.
This lets you clearly control delivery speed, pricing, and zones for pre-orders without affecting in-stock items.
If products move in and out of pre-order status, apps help avoid manual updates. Instead of moving products between shipping profiles, they apply rules based on products, collections, or tags (for example, a "pre-order" tag).
These apps can:
- Build or adjust shipping rates for products that match your pre-order conditions
- Hide, rename, or restrict shipping methods that shouldn't apply to pre-orders
- Prevent incorrect rates in mixed carts
| App | What it does | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| ShipX – Shipping Rates & Rules | Builds conditional shipping rates by product, weight, quantity, or postal code. Supports blended rates and packaging logic. | ⭐ 5.0 (1,055) |
| Shipping Rates & Rules – Shipfy | Hides, reorders, or schedules shipping methods based on products, collections, or customer tags. | ⭐ 4.9 (121) |
| Kedra Checkout Rules | Hides, renames, or restricts shipping and payment methods, and applies conditional discounts. | ⭐ 4.7 (105) |
When customers buy pre-order and in-stock items together, Shopify can split them into separate shipments, each with its own delivery timeline.
To enable split shipping:
- Go to Settings → Shipping and delivery.
- In the Shipping section, click Split shipping.
- Turn on Show split shipping in checkout and save.
Checkout will then show accurate delivery expectations for each shipment.
Is it possible to ship in-stock items now and pre-order items later without charging the customer twice for shipping?
Yes. Shopify can split an order into separate shipments when items come from different profiles, locations, or include pre-orders.
Checkout typically shows the lowest combined cost across all shipments, so customers may still see one overall charge.
What happens when a customer orders multiple pre-order items with different release dates?
Shopify treats each item as a separate line in a single order. If split shipping is enabled, you can fulfill each item when it becomes available.
For strict release-date automation, you will need a pre-order app or custom workflow.
Does Shopify natively support mixed-cart split shipping, and what settings do I need to enable?
Yes. Shopify supports split shipping when carts contain mixed item types.
To enable it:
- Go to Settings → Shipping and delivery.
- Open Split shipping or Manage.
- Turn on Show split shipping in checkout.
How can I clearly communicate shipping and delivery expectations to customers in mixed orders?
Use consistent messaging across your store:
- Mark pre-order items clearly on product pages.
- Add a note in the cart and checkout explaining split shipments.
- Include the same information in confirmation and shipping emails, and in your shipping policy.
How do I avoid double shipping fees or lost margins when fulfilling mixed or split orders?
Design your shipping setup so combined rates stay reasonable:
- Configure shipping profiles and rates that combine well.
- Place test orders for common scenarios.
- If you want customers to choose between combined or separate shipments, use a pre-order or order-splitting app that supports these options.
Double shipping fees usually happen when items in the cart:
- Belong to different shipping profiles, or
- Ship from different locations
Shopify then calculates a rate for each group.
Review the following methods to identify and fix the issue.
Multiple shipping profiles are the most common cause of stacked rates.
- In your Shopify account, go to Settings
- Open Shipping and delivery
- In Shipping profiles, check whether products in the same cart are split across multiple profiles (this often happens with dropshipping or print-on-demand apps).
- If possible, move products into the same profile or align the rates across profiles so customers see consistent totals.
This helps Shopify apply one shipping rate per order.
Use this if you have multiple warehouses or fulfillment apps.
- In your Shopify account, go to Settings, then open Locations.
- Open each location and keep online fulfillment enabled only for the locations that should ship online orders.
- Reassign inventory from any location you do not want to use for online orders, then test checkout again.
If profiles or locations can’t be merged, add a flat-rate option.
- In your Shopify account, go to Settings, then open Shipping and delivery.
- Add a rate (for example, Combined shipping) to each relevant shipping zone or profile.
- Set a single amount that covers typical mixed-cart scenarios.
- Test with a cart that includes products from different profiles or locations.
This does not merge profiles, but it helps customers avoid unexpected totals.
Why does Shopify split my order into multiple shipments?
Shopify splits orders when items come from different shipping profiles or different fulfillment locations.
Each source produces its own rate, which results in multiple fees.
Can Shopify calculate one shipping price even if items come from multiple warehouses?
Not natively in all cases. When items are split by profile or location, rates can stack.
To reliably charge a single amount, you usually need to consolidate profiles/locations or use a shipping rules app.
Does Shopify allow shipping logic based on cart total?
Yes. These rules apply to the whole cart and can help you avoid rate stacking when profiles or locations cannot be merged.
Will deleting a location stop double shipping?
It can, but you don’t need to delete the location. It’s safer to disable it for online fulfillment and move inventory to the location you want Shopify to use.
Some stores charge an additional fee when customers choose Cash on Delivery (COD) to cover carrier surcharges, handling costs, or higher return risk.
Shopify doesn’t allow fees to be attached directly to payment methods, so COD charges must be handled through shipping rates or apps.
Review the following methods to charge a shipping fee at COD:
- In your Shopify account, go to Settings, then open Shipping and Delivery.
- Select Shipping Profiles.
- Add a new rate and name it Cash on Delivery.
- Set your COD fee as a flat charge.
Customers who choose COD can then select this rate at checkout.
Note
This rate isn't linked to the COD payment method. Customers can still choose COD with a regular shipping rate, or pick the COD rate and pay by card. This method relies on customers selecting the right rate. To make sure the fee only applies to COD orders, use an app.
Use an app if you want fees applied automatically or conditionally.
| App name | Best for | Starting price | Shopify rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Releasit COD Form & Upsells | Replacing checkout with a COD order form | Free to install (paid plans from $9.99/month) | ⭐ 4.9 (2,257) |
| EasySell COD Form & Upsells | COD order form + upsells, address validation, optional OTP/SMS | Free to install (paid plans from $9.95/month) | ⭐ 4.9 (553) |
| COD King – COD Fees & OTP Verify | Adding COD fees, OTP verification, partial/upfront payments, and COD rules | Free to install (paid plans from $7.99/month) | ⭐ 4.9 (674) |
These apps support fixed or percentage-based fees, allow conditional rules (e.g., by order value or destination), and can apply the fee without requiring changes to your shipping profiles or rates.
COD charges can also be added by placing COD-eligible products into a dedicated shipping profile with its rate.
- Create a new shipping profile.
- Add a rate that includes the COD fee.
- Assign the relevant products to that profile.
This works well if COD applies only to selected products.
Can I block COD for certain products?
Not natively. Shopify does not allow payment methods to be restricted by product. Use a COD app for product-level control.
Can I charge different COD fees based on location?
Shopify cannot link fees to both the payment method and the customer’s location.
To set regional COD fees, use an app that supports conditional COD charges.
Can I set a minimum order value for COD?
No. Shopify does not support minimum-value rules for payment methods.
If you need COD to appear only above a certain amount, use a COD-management app.
Can I offer COD only in specific shipping zones?
Not with shipping rates alone. Adding a COD shipping rate to certain zones doesn't hide the COD payment method elsewhere, so customers in other zones still see COD at checkout.
To show COD only in specific regions, use a COD or payment-customization app that hides the payment method based on the customer's location.
Is there any way to redirect customers to pay the shipping charge to confirm their order after they select Cash on Delivery (COD)?
Not natively. Shopify doesn't offer a built-in way to collect part of a COD order upfront.
Some COD apps, such as COD King, support partial or upfront payments, letting customers pay the shipping charge online and the rest on delivery.
What’s the best way to configure Cash on Delivery in my online store?
Enable COD under Settings → Payments. To charge a COD fee, you can add a COD shipping rate, but it isn't tied to the payment method, so customers may skip it or select it without paying by COD.
For reliable fees or conditions, use a COD app.
How can I add an extra charge for Cash on Delivery service?
Create a dedicated shipping rate that includes your COD fee, or install an app that adds the fee automatically. Shopify does not support adding fees directly to payment methods.