How to Set a Shopify Free Shipping Threshold

A useful free shipping threshold is reachable through a relevant purchase and affordable for the orders it subsidises. Start with basket values, available companions and delivery costs. A rule such as 20 percent above AOV can produce a candidate, but it cannot tell you whether that candidate fits your store.

Use typical baskets, not just the average

Look at the common paid baskets customers place. A catalogue mixing low-priced accessories and expensive hero products can have an AOV that describes neither group well. With few orders, use realistic example baskets and treat the result as a hypothesis.

Suppose a typical basket is 50 and a relevant companion is 12. A goal of 60 might be reachable with one item. If the only useful companion is 35, the same goal creates a much larger purchase decision.

Check contribution at the boundary

Estimate net sales less product costs, fees, packaging and variable fulfilment, including the shipping you absorb. Use the discounted payable amount where that is your qualifying rule. Exclude the catalogue value of a free gift.

As an illustration, 12 of extra paid spend at a 50 percent product margin leaves 6 before fees and extra fulfilment. A delivery subsidy of 7 is not covered by that addition alone. The whole order may still be acceptable, but the threshold does not automatically create extra profit.

Account for existing qualifying orders

The offer can also subsidise orders that would already exceed the goal. Estimate the cost of those orders alongside any new add-ons. A threshold is a trade-off between customer benefit and the amount you keep, not a way to make shipping cost disappear.

Match the cart message to eligibility

State the relevant destination or exclusions. Make product pages, banners, the cart and checkout agree. If delivery is free on every eligible order, communicate that benefit without an unnecessary spend goal.

Confirm whether the threshold uses the subtotal before or after other discounts and whether your shipping rate or discount implements the same condition. Automatic shipping discounts can reduce code entry, but still require an active eligible rule.

Test the number through checkout

• Test just below, exactly at and above the threshold.
• Add a relevant companion, then remove it.
• Apply another promotion you intend to allow.
• Check an eligible and an ineligible delivery destination.
• Confirm currency, progress and the final delivery charge agree.

Evaluate enough opportunities

Review offer exposure, paid add-ons, conversion and contribution profit. Orders near the threshold can be a clue, but are not proof of lift. A fixed four-week window may contain too few eligible shoppers to judge anything.

Keep a clear candidate while gathering evidence; fix a broken promise immediately. Do not move the goal repeatedly in response to one or two orders.

If customers usually buy one item, check whether reaching the goal requires one useful companion or several unwanted products. A higher item count is not a goal on its own. Keep the original purchase easy to complete.

Using Cart Uplift

Cart Uplift includes a shipping progress bar and automatic shipping discount support. Confirm the feature is enabled, the chosen threshold matches checkout and customers encounter it on their shopping routes. For message and setup checks, see our shipping bar guide. Add a gift milestone only when it has a separate purpose you can measure.