Shipping - Default Package Size

Payments + Shipping & Fulfilment

Topic summary

Main issue: Only one default shipping box can be set for rate calculations, with no option to define different defaults by market.

Impact described:

  • US orders are typically single-item and end up slightly overcharged when the default is tuned for international.
  • International orders are highly weight-sensitive; small weight changes can double costs, forcing the merchant to optimize the single default for international accuracy.

Requested change:

  • Allow default packaging by market (at minimum). Ideally support multiple default packages to reflect different order profiles and product sizes.

Current capability/workaround:

  • A responder states this isn’t possible natively and suggests using a third-party shipping calculation app that supports multiple packages.

Disagreement/tension:

  • The original poster objects to relying on “expensive” apps for core shipping logic and argues this limitation affects many stores, especially those shipping internationally or with disparate product sizes.

Status/outcome:

  • No resolution or commitment from the platform. Discussion remains open; the only practical path today is third-party apps.
Summarized with AI on December 20. AI used: gpt-5.
1

Reposting this here because I’m not getting any replies where it was originally posted. That question was marked solved, however there are many people there still seeking answers.

The issue is regarding the fact that you can only have ONE default shipping box that is used to calculate rates.

You should at least be able to set default packaging options by market. Our USA orders tend to be smaller since shipping is less expensive, customers will order single items more frequently. However, our International customers plan carefully and fill boxes to make shipping as economical as possible. With only one default packaging, we have to err on the side of International orders coming out correct because a small change in weight can swing the shipping cost by double. But this means practically all USA orders are overcharged, maybe only slightly, but it feels unnecessary.

It should not take a rather expensive paid app to sort this out. Please let us AT LEAST specify default packaging by market.

1 Like
2

Hi @MNonlineseller ,
I am not sure this is currently possible to solve without a 3rd party shipping calculation app, which can help you apply multiple packages (instead of just one predefined) in order to achieve shipping rates accuracy.

3

Right, that’s my complaint. This would affect practically all stores that ship internationally or ship even two products of disparate size. It’s insane that Shopify pushes this functionality to expensive 3rd party apps. It’s a no-brainer to at least let us specify a default package by market.