Dimensional Rates

Calculate shipping rates dynamically from each order's weight and size. Optional, in-checkout flow only

Written By Edgar from TextWisely

Last updated 6 days ago

Good to know: Dimensional rates apply only to the in-checkout flow (Plus, Advanced, Grow with annual billing). On the post-checkout flow, customers pick the carrier – not the location – at checkout, so rates are flat and dimensional fitting doesn't happen. See Set up post-checkout pickup

Dimensional rates let ShipWisely calculate shipping costs dynamically based on each order's weight and size. While optional, this is highly recommended for in-checkout stores – it ensures customers get accurate rates, prevents overcharging or undercharging, and prevents offering pickup-point delivery for oversized orders.

How rates are calculated

To determine whether a parcel locker can accommodate an order, ShipWisely's rate and fitting engine performs a series of calculations:

  • First, it checks the total order weight against the pickup point's limits.

  • Next, it checks the order volume against the maximum capacity of the parcel locker.

Throughout this process, we select the smallest parcel locker compartment that can fit the order based on its weight and volume, and price it accordingly. This reduces after-sales support, allows you to offer the lowest delivery price for each qualifying order, and improves checkout conversion.

Enable dimensional rates

  1. Configure variant and product metafields:

    1. Navigate to your store settings and open the "Custom data" page

    2. Under "Metafield definitions," select Variants and press "Add definitions"

    3. Add 3 metafield definitions:

      • Name: Length, Namespace and key: shipwisely.length, Type: Dimension

      • Name: Width, Namespace and key: shipwisely.width, Type: Dimension

      • Name: Height, Namespace and key: shipwisely.height, Type: Dimension

    4. Go back to "Metafield definitions," select Products, and add the same 3 definitions again — identical names, namespaces and keys, and type. The product-level metafields are required for products that don't have variants (see below).

  2. Add dimensions for your products and variants:

    • Once the metafields are set up, they appear on your product and variant pages. Enter dimensions for everything you sell – ShipWisely uses this information to select the best compartments and rates for each order, and to ensure that only pickup points that can actually fit the order are offered to your customers.

    • Products with variants: enter the dimensions on each variant page. Variant values always take priority.

    • Products without variants (Shopify creates a single hidden "Default Title" variant for these): enter the dimensions in the product metafields on the product page. Keep variant values empty. If a product has values in both places, make sure they match – if they differ, the variant value takes priority for that dimension.