Questions about default packaging size and shipping rates?

Payments + Shipping & Fulfilment

Topic summary

Merchants need accurate shipping based on box size and item count, but Shopify only allows a single default package at checkout, causing undercharges for medium/large boxes. Users want automatic box selection (e.g., 1–4 items box A, 5–7 box B) and per‑product packaging.

Shopify support suggested two workarounds: use a paid app (e.g., Boxify) or set default package weight to 0 and add packaging weight to products via the bulk editor. Support says the feature request is logged but provides no ETA.

Third‑party apps (not free) like PluginHive’s Multi Carrier Shipping Label can auto-pack by weight/dimensions, print labels, and track; trials (14–15 days) are mentioned, with prices cited by users around $9–$30/month. One user ships USPS Priority.

Other workarounds: create shipping profiles with added fees based on test rates to distant zones, inflate product weights to approximate dimensional charges, or use ShipStation (some report malfunctions).

Requested features include:

  • Per‑product package dimensions and weight
  • If/then rules (e.g., add packaging by product type)
  • Auto box selection and multi-box splitting for mixed carts

Status: Ongoing, no native solution as of 2023; several merchants consider switching platforms.

Summarized with AI on December 13. AI used: gpt-5.
106

I agree with all. Its completely ridiculous that something so fundamental to ecommerce and shipping is not built into Shopify. I sell products that each have drastically different dimensions and weights, so a single default size makes zero sense. I know their solution is a third party app, and everyone has been complaining for years. its now 5 years since the start of this thread and here is WHY THEY WILL NEVER CHANGE THAT…you have to upgrade to use a third party app for it. Why would they include something, when they can make you upgrade to almost $400 per month, just so you can pay for another app to actually perform the function. Its too lucrative for them to change that.

I have been looking at other platforms to rebuild on, so far it seems all others would require a 3rd party app which is not a problem. And can do so at a significantly lower cost.

Any recommendations on a different platform? Considering Wix.