Flat Rate Shipping on Squarespace
TL;DR:
- Flat rate shipping charges a fixed price per order or per item, regardless of order size
- Works best for products with similar dimensions or when shipping costs are minimal
- You can import existing flat rate settings from Etsy directly into Squarespace
- Shipping options display cheapest first at checkout to encourage completion
- Set up multiple flat rates for different delivery speeds or regions
Flat rate shipping keeps things simple. You set one price that applies to orders, making it easier for customers to understand costs upfront. This works particularly well when your products are roughly the same size and weight.
Setting Up Flat Rate Shipping
Getting flat rate shipping running on Squarespace takes just a few steps.
Open Your Shipping Settings
Head to your Squarespace dashboard and find the Shipping panel. Click Add Shipping Option and select Flat Rate from the options.
Configure Your Rate
You'll need to fill in a few fields:
- Option Name: This is what customers see at checkout, so keep it clear like "Standard Shipping" or "UK Delivery"
- Per Order Fee: The fixed amount you charge per order
- Fee Per Item: Optional extra charge that applies to each item in the order
The per order fee is your base rate. If you add a fee per item, Squarespace calculates the total by adding the item fees to your base rate.
Keep in mind that flat rate shipping applies the same rate to all products. You can't adjust pricing for specific items within this setup.
Save Your Settings
Click Save to activate your new shipping option.
Adding Multiple Flat Rate Options
You can create several flat rate options to give customers choice. Common setups include:
- Standard shipping (3-5 days)
- Express shipping (1-2 days)
- International shipping
Just repeat the setup process for each option you want to offer.
Importing from Etsy
If you're moving from Etsy, you can import your existing flat rate settings directly. This saves time and keeps things consistent for returning customers who know your shipping costs.
How Customers See Flat Rate Options
At checkout, Squarespace displays all shipping options sorted by price, lowest first. The cheapest option gets selected automatically, which helps reduce cart abandonment.
This ordering makes sense for most stores, but keep it in mind when naming your options. Clear names help customers choose the right service level.
FAQs
Can I offer both free shipping and flat rate shipping?
Yes, you can set up both options. Free shipping often encourages larger orders, while flat rate gives you a fallback for smaller purchases.
How do I set different flat rates for international orders?
Create separate flat rate options for different regions. Squarespace lets you specify which countries each rate applies to.
Will customers be able to track flat rate shipments?
Tracking depends on the carrier service you use. Most major carriers provide tracking, but you'll need to integrate this with your chosen shipping service.
Can I change flat rate prices after setting them up?
Yes, you can edit your flat rate settings anytime. Just remember that changes affect new orders, not ones already placed.
Jargon Buster
Flat Rate Shipping: Fixed shipping cost that doesn't change based on order weight or size
Per Order Fee: Base shipping charge applied to every order
Fee Per Item: Additional charge multiplied by the number of items in an order
Wrap-up
Flat rate shipping works well for stores with consistent product sizes or low shipping costs. The setup is straightforward, and importing from platforms like Etsy saves time if you're switching over.
The key is matching your flat rate structure to your actual shipping costs and customer expectations. Multiple options give customers control while keeping your pricing transparent.
Ready to get your shipping sorted? Join Pixelhaze Academy for more detailed Squarespace guidance.