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.
53

I have an update to mention.

Today I again spoke with customer service. We always offered UPS and USPS as shipping options.

I learned that when a customer moves from a Basic Plan to the Shopify plan, Shopify enables the “Default Box Size” feature. Good or Bad you will now have to select One Default Box Size for all your products if you are using USPS. UPS rates are the same and does not use “Default Box Size” (not sure why?)

We always considered the dimensional weight (WxLxH divided by 166) against actual weight for our shipping costs. Then, whichever was greater is the weight we plugged into the product weight field (this always works for the consumer and the store owner). In order words for us, this will no longer be considered if you’re on the Shopify plan and use USPS as a shipping option.

Anybody else?

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