Not every address costs the same to reach. Remote areas, islands and some rural postcodes carry surcharges from carriers, while nearby zip codes might be cheap enough for a lower rate or same-day delivery. Charging one rate everywhere means some orders lose money.
Why zip code rates matter
- Remote and island surcharges — Scottish Highlands, Northern Ireland, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico and many others cost more to reach.
- Local delivery — nearby postcodes can get a cheaper or faster option.
- Carrier coverage — some courier services don’t reach every postcode.
What Shopify does on its own
Shopify’s shipping zones are built from countries and regions (states, provinces). You can’t create a zone for specific zip codes in regular shipping. Local delivery uses postal codes, but only when you deliver yourself.
Three ways to match zip codes
| Method | Example | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| List | 10001, 10002, 10003 | A handful of specific areas |
| Range | 96701–96898 | A continuous block (for example, Hawaii) |
| Wildcard | BT*, HS*, ZE* | All postcodes with a prefix (for example, UK surcharge areas) |
Wildcards are especially useful for UK, Canadian and other alphanumeric postcodes, where ranges don’t make sense.
Set up zip code rates with ShipEase
- Create a zone in ShipEase by country, state and zip code.
- Add a rate for the zone — flat, weight-based, per item or by cart total.
- Use ranges or wildcards to cover whole areas (Pro).
- Test on your real checkout with an address from the zone, and see why each rate shows.
What each plan allows:
- Free — 2 zones by country, state and zip code.
- Basic — up to 5 zones.
- Pro and Carrier — zip ranges, wildcards and unlimited zones.
Hide methods that don’t reach a postcode
Sometimes the problem isn’t the price but the method. If a courier doesn’t deliver to certain areas, a checkout rule can hide it for those addresses, so shoppers only see options that work. See how to hide, rename or reorder shipping methods.
Tips
- Start from your carrier’s surcharge list. Most carriers publish the postcodes they charge extra for.
- Name the rate clearly. “Highlands & Islands delivery” is better than a surprise extra cost.
- Review once a year. Carrier surcharge areas change.
More options: the complete guide to custom shipping rates.
Frequently asked questions
Can Shopify set shipping rates by zip code?
Not in standard shipping zones, which stop at country and region. Shopify's local delivery option uses postal codes, but only for your own delivery. For rates by zip code with regular shipping, use an app.
What's a zip code wildcard?
A pattern that matches many postcodes at once, such as “BT*” for every Northern Ireland postcode or “9*” for US zip codes starting with 9. ShipEase supports wildcards on the Pro plan.
Can I block shipping to some zip codes?
You can hide shipping methods for specific addresses with a checkout rule — for example, hiding a courier service that doesn't reach certain postcodes.
How many zones can I have?
In ShipEase, 2 zones on Free, up to 5 on Basic, and unlimited on Pro and Carrier.