WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping is a flexible shipping method for WordPress that calculates delivery costs primarily through cart weight and destination rules. With over 1,800 sales on CodeCanyon, it provides a stable logic for store owners needing more control than standard flat rates. Developers and agencies use this tool to build complex shipping grids without writing custom code.
WPExclusive members get access to WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping as part of a full plugin and theme library — plans from $9.99/month. See the full CodeCanyon WooCommerce collection →
What Is WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping?
WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping is developed by CodeCanyon WooCommerce and is a shipping extension for WordPress. It has been available for over 11 years and maintains compatibility with the latest versions of PHP 8.x and WooCommerce core. It belongs to the ecommerce category on WPExclusive, alongside other tools for optimizing checkout and delivery flows.
The plugin solves the problem of rigid shipping calculations by allowing multiple conditional rules based on weight, subtotal, and destination. It is designed for online store owners who ship physical goods where shipping costs vary significantly by parcel weight.
WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping Features
The feature set focuses on rule-based logic to automate delivery fees during the WooCommerce checkout process.
Table Rate Shipping Logic
You can create as many shipping rules as needed for different customer countries, cart weight ranges, and subtotal thresholds. This allows for a detailed matrix where rates change dynamically as the customer adds items to their cart. It functions similarly to premium WordPress ecommerce plugins by providing a backend UI for complex logistics.
Flexible Price Calculation
Each shipping profile can be configured to expose a constant price, such as a traditional Flat Rate, or a progressive price based on weight. You can also combine both methods, such as charging a base handling fee plus a specific amount per kilogram. This flexibility ensures that heavier shipments always cover their actual carrier costs.
Shipping Classes and Weight Steps
The plugin supports shipping class overrides, allowing you to change how the price is calculated for specific groups of products. Additionally, the Weight Step feature allows you to rate every 500g or 1kg of cart weight rather than using the exact raw weight. This is particularly useful for matching the billing methods used by major postal services and couriers.
Conditional Free Shipping
Store owners can set up free shipping based on subtotal, total weight, or specific item counts. You can even exclude specific products from the free shipping threshold or allow certain products to trigger free shipping for the entire order. This level of granularity helps in running promotions without losing money on heavy items.
Pricing
Retail pricing for a Regular License is $25 for a single site, which includes future updates and 6 months of support. An Extended License is available for $99 for use in end products where users are charged.
| Plan | Price | Sites | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular License | $25 | 1 Site | Lifetime Updates |
| Extended License | $99 | 1 Site | Commercial Usage |
| WPExclusive Membership | From $9.99/month | Unlimited | Weight Based Shipping + full library |
For developers managing multiple sites, a WPExclusive membership covers Weight Based Shipping plus hundreds of other plugins and themes — usually less than one premium license.
WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping – Latest Version
The current version is 5.3.27. This release raises the minimum required WordPress version to 4.6 and includes tests for recent WooCommerce compatibility. WPExclusive updates plugin files promptly after each release.
How to Install?
- Download the WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping .zip from your WPExclusive member account
- In WordPress: Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
- Select the .zip and click Install Now → Activate
- Navigate to WooCommerce → Settings → Shipping → Shipping Zones
- Click Add Shipping Method and select “Weight Based Shipping” from the dropdown
WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping Use Cases
International Retailers using Tiered Postal Rates
A store selling pottery internationally needs different rates for every 2kg bracket to match DHL or FedEx pricing. By using the Weight Step feature in the plugin, the owner can ensure shipping fees scale exactly alongside courier costs. This prevents undercharging on heavy international shipments in WordPress ecommerce plugins.
Wholesale Distributors with Bulk Discounts
A wholesale vendor can offer free shipping only when the total order weight exceeds 50kg, regardless of the price. The plugin allows the distributor to set weight-specific thresholds that trigger different shipping methods automatically. This ensures high-volume orders are incentivized while maintaining margins on smaller, lighter deliveries.
Agencies and Developers Managing Multiple Client Sites
Agencies can deploy the plugin across various client stores to handle complex logistics requirements without recurring per-site costs. Using a WPExclusive membership allows developers to standardize their shipping logic across multiple client environments. This eliminates the need to manage individual license renewals for every store they maintain.
WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping vs Alternatives
| Feature | Weight Based Shipping | WooCommerce Distance Rate Shipping |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Logic | Cart Weight / Subtotal | Distance / Travel Time |
| Weight Steps | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| Starting Price | $25 | $8.25/mo |
| Available on WPExclusive | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Browse the full ecommerce plugins on WPExclusive →
Pros and Cons
✅ Strengths
- Supports complex progressive pricing using weight steps (e.g., per 500g)
- Enables conditional free shipping based on weight and subtotal simultaneously
- Deep integration with WooCommerce shipping zones and classes
⚠️ Limitations
- Does not provide real-time carrier API rates from UPS or FedEx
- Requires manual entry of weight brackets for all targeted destinations
- Developer auto-updates require an active license key. WPExclusive publishes updates manually when new versions are released.
Is WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping GPL Licensed?
Yes. WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping is distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL) — the same license that governs WordPress itself. GPL gives any user the legal right to use, study, share, and redistribute the software. This is the legal framework that makes WPExclusive’s membership model possible.
WPExclusive distributes 100% original, unmodified files — the same release the developer publishes. No injected code, no alterations, no security risks.
Get WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping on WPExclusive
WPExclusive membership starts at $9.99/month, $87/year, or $149 lifetime — giving you WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping plus every plugin and theme in the library, on unlimited sites.
Explore the full CodeCanyon WooCommerce collection → or browse all WordPress plugins →
Frequently Asked Questions
What does WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping do?
WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping is a shipping method that allows store owners to define costs based on the total weight of the cart. It supports unlimited rules and works across different shipping zones and classes to automate checkout fees.
Is WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping free?
While a limited free version is available on WordPress.org, the full version with shipping class support and priority rules is a premium product. Access it via WPExclusive to remove site-limit restrictions.
What is the latest version of WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping?
The current version is 5.3.27, which includes official support for WooCommerce 7 and PHP 8. WPExclusive members always receive the most current release.
How much does WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping cost?
Retail pricing starts at $25 for a single-site license on CodeCanyon. Via WPExclusive, it is included in plans from $9.99/month.
Is it legal to use WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping via WPExclusive?
WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping is GPL licensed, which explicitly permits redistribution. WPExclusive provides original, unmodified files — fully within GPL terms.
What are the best alternatives to WooCommerce Weight Based Shipping?
Real alternatives include WooCommerce Distance Rate Shipping and Advanced Flat Rate Shipping For WooCommerce Pro. All are available on WPExclusive within the same membership.
