How Do I Set Up Shipping Zones and Rates?
Create shipping zones in Admin → Commerce → Shipping: one per country plus a worldwide catch-all, each with a base rate, per-kg rate, and named methods.
Shipping zones define where you ship to, and shipping rates define how much you charge for each zone. Set them up in Admin → Commerce → Shipping — you need at least one zone before physical products can be purchased.
How do I create my first shipping zone?
Click Add Zone in the Shipping tab. Each zone covers exactly one region: a two-letter country code (US, GB, DE…) or the word worldwide for the catch-all. Enter the base shipping rate for that region and, optionally, a per-kilogram surcharge. To cover several countries, add one zone per country. A worldwide zone is a good safety net for everywhere you haven't named.
What types of shipping rates can I set?
A zone sets the baseline: a base rate for the region plus an optional per-kg weight surcharge. On top of that, each zone can have several shipping methods — named services like Standard, Express, or Local Pickup — each with its own flat rate and an optional delivery estimate (like "3-5 business days") that buyers see at checkout. Any method can also be made free over an order-total threshold you set, which is how you get a 'free shipping over $50' rule.
When a customer checks out, VeloCMS first looks for a zone matching their exact country code. If none exists, it falls back to your worldwide zone. If you have neither, shipping is unavailable for that address and the order can't be completed.
How do I set up weight-based pricing?
Set the zone's per-kg rate when you create or edit it — the surcharge is the per-kg amount multiplied by the order's total weight, added on top of the method's flat rate. Product and variant weights are entered in grams on the product page. A product with no weight set simply contributes zero to the total, so the base rate still applies rather than the calculation failing.
What if I don't ship to a particular country?
Simple: don't create a zone for it, and don't create a worldwide zone either. If a customer tries to check out with a shipping address your zones don't cover, the checkout reports that shipping isn't available for that address and the order can't be completed. This is cleaner than setting high rates to discourage orders — it's honest and avoids wasted time for both you and the customer.