Custom shipping methods give you full control over how shipping is calculated and presented to your customers. You can define fixed or variable rates based on order total, weight, or shipping zones and create options such as Standard, Express, or International shipping that match your business model.
Using custom shipping methods helps you deliver accurate, predictable shipping costs at checkout, improving customer confidence and giving you the flexibility to tailor shipping for different regions, products, or channels (storefront and Business Hub).
In this article
- Prerequisites
- Why add a custom shipping method
- Step 1: Open Shipping settings
- Step 2: Review existing shipping methods
- Step 3: Add a custom shipping method
- Step 4: Configure the custom shipping method
- Step 5: Save and test the shipping method
- Best-practice tips
- Troubleshooting
- FAQs
- Additional resources
Prerequisites
- You must have administrator access to use this feature
Why add a custom shipping method
Adding custom shipping methods lets you:
- Offer tailored options such as Standard, Express, or International shipping.
- Charge shipping based on order total, weight, or shipping zones.
- Control which methods are available in your storefront versus Business Hub.
- Ensure customers see accurate shipping costs that reflect your operational and carrier constraints.
Step 1: Open Shipping settings
- Log into your DecoNetwork Website.
- Browse to Admin → Settings → Shipping.
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Select Shipping Methods.
Step 2: Review existing shipping methods
The Shipping Methods page displays a list of all shipping methods currently configured in your system.
Click the image to enlarge.
Color labels are used to indicate important conditions of the shipping methods:
- Gray labels indicate that the shipping method is inactive.
- Red labels indicate that the shipping method is only available in Business Hub.
If a shipping method is both inactive and available in Business Hub only, it will be highlighted with the inactive color.
Use the labels to quickly see which methods are live on your storefront and which are internal-only methods for staff when creating orders in Business Hub.
Step 3: Add a custom shipping method
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On the Shipping Methods page, click the Add Custom Shipping Method in the top actions toolbar.
The Add Custom Shipping Method screen is displayed.
Click the image to enlarge.
Various tabs are available for configuring the custom shipping method.
Step 4: Configure the custom shipping method
The Add Custom Shipping Method screen provides several tabs for configuring how the method behaves. Common options include:
- Basic details such as the name and description of the shipping method.
- Rate calculation as a fixed-value or based on order total, or weight.
- Any minimum or maximum thresholds for when the method is offered.
- Whether the method is active and available in the storefront, Business Hub, or both.
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Configure each tab as required for your business.
See the Custom shipping method settings article for details about the settings.
Step 5: Save and test the shipping method
- When you are satisfied with the configuration, click Save.
- Place a test order from your storefront and/or create a test quote or order in Business Hub to confirm that:
- The new method appears for the correct customer locations and order values.
- The calculated shipping amount matches your expectations.
Best-practice tips
- Use clear names (for example, Standard (3–5 business days) or Express (1–2 business days)) so customers know what to expect.
- Separate storefront and Business Hub methods if you need internal-only options for staff (such as free replacement shipments or special courier methods).
- Align your shipping zones with where you realistically ship to, so customers in unsupported regions do not see incorrect or unusable options.
- Review methods regularly to ensure they still reflect current carrier pricing and service availability.
Troubleshooting
The new custom shipping method does not appear at checkout
- Confirm the method is marked as active.
- Check that the method is configured to be available for the correct shipping zones.
- Review any minimum/maximum order value or weight rules that may be excluding the current cart.
The wrong shipping amount is being charged
- Verify that the rate table or rule configuration in the method matches your intended pricing (for example, correct brackets for weight or order total).
- Double-check that the customer’s shipping address falls within the expected zone for the method.
- Make sure there are no other overlapping methods with similar criteria that might be selected instead.
FAQs
Can I create different custom methods for domestic and international shipments?
Yes. You can configure separate custom shipping methods for different shipping zones. For example, one method can apply to domestic zones only, while another applies to international zones.
Can I restrict a custom shipping method to Business Hub only?
Yes. When configuring the method, you can set it to be available in Business Hub only. The method will then be visible to staff when creating quotes and orders but will not appear in storefront checkout.
Where do I change the detailed configuration later?
You can edit the method at any time from Admin → Settings → Shipping → Shipping Methods. Click the method name to open and adjust its settings.
Additional resources
Still have questions? Use the Search Tool at the top of the page to find more related guides. Need help? Click the icon to submit a support ticket—our Client Services team is ready to assist!
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