Shipping Methods in Orders

How Saleor Selects Shipping Methods

When a customer reaches the shipping step in checkout, or when you edit an order (draft or unconfirmed), Saleor builds the list of available shipping methods. It applies built-in rules, optionally applies app-driven logic via webhooks.

Built-in Shipping Methods

1. Channel and zone prerequisites

   • The checkout/order channel must have at least one shipping zone assigned.
   • The shipping address country must be assigned inside at least one of those shipping zones.
   • See: Shipping Zones.

2. Shipping methods channel availability

   • Shipping methods are channel-specific. A method must be listed for the same channel.
   • See: Shipping Methods.

3. Method conditions

   • Product exclusions: methods that exclude any product present in the checkout/order are removed.
   • Price-based methods: kept only if the channel subtotal is within the method’s min/max order price.
   • Weight-based methods: kept only if the total weight is within the method’s min/max order weight.
   • Postal code rules: include/exclude rules are checked against the shipping address postal code.

External Shipping Methods for Checkout’s

Apps can provide additional methods in real time:

1. Subscribe the app to SHIPPING_LIST_METHODS_FOR_CHECKOUT.
2. Saleor sends checkout context (addresses, lines, channel, currency).
3. The app returns methods with prices; Saleor merges them with built-in methods.

• The returned currency must match the checkout currency.
• Details and payload/response examples: Shipping webhooks.

Filtering Shipping Methods

After collecting candidates, Saleor can call filtering webhooks so apps can disable methods per business rules:

• CHECKOUT_FILTER_SHIPPING_METHODS: when listing methods for a checkout.
• ORDER_FILTER_SHIPPING_METHODS: when listing methods for an editable order (draft or unconfirmed).

An app may:

• Mark a method as inactive (active = false).
• Provide a message explaining why a method is unavailable.

See examples and guidance: Filter shipping methods.

See also

• Listing available shipping methods in Checkout
• Draft orders
• Order update

Example: Multiple Zones Matching One Address

If a country is assigned to more than one shipping zone, Saleor will aggregate all applicable shipping methods from all matching zones.

Zones:

• Zone Benelux: Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg → Methods: Standard, Express
• Zone All EU (including BE, NL, LU): → Methods: Economy, Courier

Checkout: Address in Netherlands, subtotal €40

Result: All four methods (Standard, Express, Economy, Courier) are returned.