WooCommerce Free Delivery Over a Certain Amount: Increase Sales and Customer Loyalty

Introduction

One of the most effective ways to increase sales and boost customer loyalty is by offering free delivery on orders over a specific amount. Customers are more likely to add extra items to their cart when they know they can unlock free shipping, making it a powerful tool for increasing average order value (AOV).

With WooCommerce, you can easily set up free shipping thresholds based on cart total, customer location, or product categories.

In this blog, we’ll cover:

• Why should you offer free shipping over a certain amount?
• How to set up free delivery in WooCommerce (step-by-step guide)
• Best plugins for advanced free shipping rules
• Tips for maximizing sales with free shipping promotions

Let’s dive in!

Why Should You Offer Free Shipping Over a Certain Amount?

Offering free shipping is not just a marketing gimmick—it’s a strategy that can significantly increase conversions and improve customer satisfaction.

1. Encourages Higher Spending

Customers are more likely to spend more money when they see that they can qualify for free delivery by adding more items to their cart.

???? Example: If your free shipping threshold is set at $50, a customer with a $40 cart total may add another item to qualify for free delivery.

2. Reduces Cart Abandonment

One of the top reasons customers abandon their carts is unexpected shipping costs at checkout. Offering free delivery removes this obstacle, leading to higher conversion rates.

3. Improves Customer Satisfaction & Loyalty

Shoppers love getting something for free. Free shipping enhances their shopping experience and encourages repeat purchases.

4. Gives You a Competitive Advantage

Many online stores offer free shipping thresholds, and customers now expect it. If your competitors offer free shipping but you don’t, you may lose potential sales.

5. Helps You Sell Slow-Moving Stock

You can bundle slow-moving or less popular products with free shipping promotions to encourage customers to add them to their cart.

How to Set Up Free Delivery Over a Certain Amount in WooCommerce (Step-by-Step Guide)

Step 1: Go to WooCommerce Shipping Settings

1️⃣ In your WordPress dashboard, go to WooCommerce > Settings
2️⃣ Click on the Shipping tab

Step 2: Add a New Shipping Zone

1️⃣ Under Shipping Zones, click Add Shipping Zone
2️⃣ Name the zone (e.g., United States – Free Shipping)
3️⃣ Select the regions where free shipping will apply
4️⃣ Click Add Shipping Method and choose Free Shipping

Step 3: Set Free Shipping Conditions

1️⃣ Click Edit next to Free Shipping
2️⃣ Under "Free Shipping Requires…", select "A minimum order amount"
3️⃣ Enter the minimum cart total required to qualify (e.g., $50)
4️⃣ Save changes

???? Now, customers who reach the minimum cart total will see a free shipping option at checkout! ????

Best WooCommerce Plugins for Advanced Free Shipping Rules

If you need more advanced free shipping conditions, such as:

✔ Free shipping for specific products or categories
✔ Free delivery only for logged-in users or specific user roles
✔ Combining coupons and free shipping

… then WooCommerce plugins can help!

1. WooCommerce Advanced Free Shipping

✅ Features:
✔ Set multiple free shipping conditions (cart total, weight, quantity)
✔ Restrict free shipping based on user role, location, or payment method
✔ Create tiered free shipping levels (e.g., Free shipping over $50, Express free shipping over $100)

✅ Best for: Stores needing complex free shipping conditions.

2. WooCommerce Table Rate Shipping

✅ Features:
✔ Set custom shipping rates based on cart subtotal
✔ Combine flat-rate and free shipping
✔ Offer regional-based free shipping (e.g., Free shipping within the U.S. but not internationally)

✅ Best for: Stores offering different free shipping rules for different locations.

3. Flexible Shipping for WooCommerce

✅ Features:
✔ Offer free shipping based on cart total, product weight, or customer role
✔ Set custom messages to encourage customers to spend more
✔ Combine free shipping with discount coupons

✅ Best for: Stores needing dynamic free shipping conditions.

Best Practices for Offering Free Delivery

1. Set a Profitable Free Shipping Threshold

Your free shipping threshold should be higher than your average order value.

???? Example: If your current AOV is $35, set the free shipping threshold at $50 to encourage customers to spend more.

2. Promote Free Shipping on Key Pages

Make sure customers know about your free shipping offer by displaying it on:

✔ The homepage
✔ The product page
✔ The cart & checkout pages

???? Example banner: “???? Free shipping on all orders over $50! Add more items to your cart and save!”

3. Use a Free Shipping Progress Bar

A progress bar shows customers how much more they need to spend to qualify for free shipping.

???? Example: “You're only $10 away from free shipping!”

???? Plugins like Cart Notices for WooCommerce can add this feature easily!

4. Combine Free Shipping with Discounts

To make free shipping even more attractive, combine it with discounts or promotions.

???? “Get 10% off + free shipping when you spend over $75!”

5. Limit Free Shipping to Specific Products or Categories

If offering sitewide free shipping isn’t profitable, restrict it to:

✔ Specific product categories (e.g., Free shipping on electronics but not on furniture)
✔ High-margin products (to maintain profitability)

6. Offer Free Shipping for VIP Customers

Encourage customer loyalty by rewarding repeat buyers with exclusive free shipping offers.

Example:
???? “Join our VIP club and get unlimited free shipping on all orders over $25!”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How Can I Offer Free Shipping to Certain Customer Groups?

You can use plugins like WooCommerce Advanced Free Shipping to offer free shipping only to:

✔ Logged-in users
✔ Wholesale customers
✔ VIP members

2. Can I Combine Free Shipping with Discount Coupons?

Yes! In WooCommerce, go to WooCommerce > Coupons > Add Coupon, then enable "Allow free shipping".

3. What If I Want to Offer Free Shipping for Certain Locations Only?

Set up different shipping zones (WooCommerce > Shipping) and enable free shipping only for specific regions.

4. Can I Exclude Certain Products from Free Shipping?

Yes! Some plugins let you exclude products or categories from free shipping.

5. How Can I Track If Free Shipping is Helping My Sales?

Use Google Analytics and WooCommerce reports to monitor how free shipping impacts conversion rates and AOV.

Conclusion

Offering WooCommerce Free Delivery Over a Certain Amount is one of the best strategies to boost average order value, customer loyalty, and sales.