---
title: "Standard Shipping"
description: "The Standard Shipping plugin lets you create multiple shipping methods with flexible rate calculation."
url: "https://docs.j2commerce.com/v6/shipping-methods/shipping-standard"
markdown_url: "https://docs.j2commerce.com/v6/shipping-methods/shipping-standard.md"
last_updated: "2026-10-23T02:33:38+00:00"
version: "J2Commerce 6"
breadcrumbs:
  - title: "Home"
    url: "https://docs.j2commerce.com/"
  - title: "J2Commerce 6"
    url: "https://docs.j2commerce.com/v6"
  - title: "Shipping Methods"
    url: "https://docs.j2commerce.com/v6/shipping-methods"
  - title: "Standard Shipping"
    url: "https://docs.j2commerce.com/v6/shipping-methods/shipping-standard"
---

# Standard Shipping

The Standard Shipping plugin lets you create multiple shipping methods with flexible rate calculation. It supports 7 different calculation types — from simple flat rates to weight-based and percentage-based pricing — so you can match your real-world shipping costs as closely as possible.

Each shipping method can have its own rates per geographic zone (geozone), tax profile, and subtotal restrictions, giving you complete control over what customers are charged for delivery.

## Requirements

- PHP 8.3.0+
- Joomla! 6.x
- J2Commerce 6.x

## Purchase and Download the Plugin

**Step 1:** Go to our [J2Commerce website](https://www.j2commerce.com/extensions) > Extension

**Step 2:** Locate the **Standard Shipping** Extension -> click **View Details** **-> Add to cart -> Checkout**.

**Step 3:** Go to your **My Downloads** under your profile button at the top right corner and search for the app. Click **Available Versions -> View Files -> Download**

## Install the Plugin

Go to **System** -> **Install** -> **Extensions**.

Upload the `shipping_standard.zip` package file

![Joomla System Dashboard with the System sidebar entry, the Install group and its Extensions link highlighted](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/ato-install.webp)

## Enable the Plugin

There are **two** ways you can access the Plugin.

**Option A:** Go to the **J2Commerce** icon at the top right corner **-> Setup -> Shipping Methods**

**Option B:** Go to **Components** on the left sidebar **-> J2Commerce -> Dashboard -> Setup -> Shipping Methods**

![Joomla admin navigation to Shipping Methods: Components, J2Commerce, Dashboard, then the J2Commerce menu button with Setup and Shipping Methods highlighted](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/atoship-app.webp)

Look for **Standard Shipping**, click the **X,** and it will turn into a green checkmark. It is now enabled and ready for setup.

![Shipping Methods list after a Plugin successfully saved message, with the Standard Shipping plugin's enabled status check mark highlighted, below AtoShip and Free Shipping](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/shipping-enable.webp)

## Understanding Calculation Types

Before creating shipping methods, choose the calculation type that best matches how your shipping carrier charges you.

| Type | Name | How It Works |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **0** | Per Order Flat Rate | A single fixed shipping cost for the entire order, regardless of what is in the cart. |
| **1** | Per Order Quantity Based | The shipping cost is determined by the total number of items in the cart. You set price ranges based on quantity. |
| **2** | Per Order Price Based | The shipping cost is determined by the order subtotal. You set price ranges based on the cart's dollar amount. |
| **3** | Per Item Flat Rate | Each item in the cart is charged the same flat shipping fee, multiplied by its quantity. |
| **4** | Per Item Weight Based | Each item is charged based on its individual weight. You set price ranges for different weight brackets. |
| **5** | Per Order Weight Based | The shipping cost is determined by the total weight of all items combined. You set price ranges for different weight brackets. |
| **6** | Per Item Percentage | Each item's shipping cost is a percentage of its price. |

### Which Type Should I Use?

- **Flat rate (type 0):** Best for stores that charge a single shipping fee (e.g., "$5.99 flat rate shipping").
- **Quantity based (type 1):** Best when your costs scale with the number of items (e.g., "$2 per item").
- **Price based (type 2):** Best for "free shipping over $50" scenarios — set a $0 rate for orders above a threshold.
- **Weight based (types 4 or 5):** Best for stores shipping physical goods where weight drives the carrier cost.
- **Percentage (type 6):** Best when shipping cost is proportional to product value (e.g., 5% of the item price).

## Creating a Shipping Method

![Plugins: Standard Shipping toolbar with Manage Standard Methods and New Shipping Method buttons highlighted, above the Plugin and Template Style tabs; Status Enabled](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/shipping-rate-manage-new.webp)

**Step 1:** Go to **J2Commerce** -> **Shipping** -> **Shipping Methods**.

**Step 2:** Click the **Standard Shipping** plugin title to open it.

**Step 3:** Click the **New Shipping Method** button.

![Plugins: Standard Shipping toolbar with the New Shipping Method button highlighted, beside Manage Standard Methods, Save and Close; Status Enabled](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/shipping-rate-new1.webp)

**Basic Details** tab:

![New Shipping Method, Method Name and Basic Details tab highlighted: Shipping Type Per Order - Flat Rate, Tax Class Not Taxable, Address Override None, Subtotals 0, Published](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/shipping-rate-new-basic1.webp)

**Shipping Method Name:** The name shown to customers at checkout (e.g., "Ground Shipping").

**Shipping Method Type:** Choose one of the 7 calculation types described above.

**Tax Class:** Select a tax profile if shipping should be taxable. Choose **Not Taxable** if shipping is tax-free.

**Address Override:** Force rate calculation to use the billing or shipping address. Leave as **None** to use the default shipping address.

**Subtotal Minimum:** Only show this method when the cart subtotal is at or above this amount. Set to `0` for no minimum.

**Subtotal Maximum:** Only show this method when the cart subtotal is at or below this amount. Set to `0` for no maximum.

**Status: Published** to make it available at checkout, **Unpublished** to hide it.

### Parameters Tab

![New Shipping Method screen with the Parameters tab highlighted, showing the Select Text field for custom checkout text, above an empty Method Name field](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/shipping-rate-new-perameter.webp)

**Select Text:** Custom label shown at checkout instead of the method name. Leave blank to use the method name.

Click **Save** to create the method.

## Setting Up Shipping Rates

After creating a shipping method, you need to add rates. Rates define how much to charge per geozone.

![Plugins: Standard Shipping toolbar with the Manage Standard Methods button highlighted, beside New Shipping Method, Save and Close; Plugin and Template Style tabs below](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/shipping-rate-manage1.webp)

Click on **Manage Standard Methods**, click the **Set Rates** button next to your method.

![Manage Shipping Methods list with the Set Rates link highlighted for the first Standard Shipping method (Per Order - Flat Rate), above a second method and its Set Rates link](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/shipping-rate-manage-rate1.webp)

- Fill in the rate fields:

![Set rate form with Geo Zone, Shipping Cost and Handling Cost headers highlighted, Geo Zone Canada, costs 0, and the Create button highlighted](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/shipping-rate-manage-rate3.webp)

**Geozone:** The geographic zone this rate applies to (e.g., "United States", "EU Countries"). Geozones are configured under **J2Commerce** -> **Localization** -> **Geozones**.

**Shipping Cost:** The shipping fee charged for this rate. For percentage type (6), this is the percentage value (e.g., `5` for 5%).

**Handling Cost:** An optional additional handling fee added on top of the shipping cost.

- Click **Create** to add the rate.
- Repeat for each geozone and rate bracket you need.

![Set Rate For: Standard Shipping: Geozone Continental US, Shipping and Handling Cost 0, Create button, and an existing Hawaii & Alaska rate of 50, with headers highlighted](https://docs.j2commerce.com/images/docs/shared/shipping-rate-manage-rate.webp)

> **Tip:** You can add multiple rate rows for the same geozone with different ranges. For example, for weight-based shipping to the US:
>
> | Geozone | Range Start | Range End | Shipping Cost | Handling Cost |
> | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
> | United States | 0 | 5 | 5.99 | 0 |
> | United States | 5.001 | 10 | 9.99 | 0 |
> | United States | 10.001 | 50 | 14.99 | 0 |

### Editing Existing Rates

All existing rates appear in a table below the "Add New Rate" form. You can:

- **Edit** any field directly in the table.
- **Save Changes** to update all modified rates at once.
- **Delete** selected rates by checking their checkboxes and clicking the **Delete** button.

## How Rates Are Calculated

When a customer reaches checkout, J2Commerce:

1. Loads all published shipping methods that match the cart subtotal range (min/max).
2. Determines the customer's shipping address and finds matching geozones.
3. For each method, looks up rates matching the customer's geozone.
4. Calculates the shipping cost based on the method's calculation type.
5. Adds handling fees and tax (if a tax profile is assigned).
6. Displays all available shipping options to the customer.

### Range-Based Types (1, 2, 4, 5, 6)

For these types, J2Commerce matches the relevant value (quantity, price, or weight) against the **Range Start** and **Range End** values in your rate table. The first matching range is used.

If no range matches, the shipping method does not appear at checkout for that order.

### Flat Rate Types (0, 3)

For flat rate types, the **Range Start** and **Range End** fields are not shown. The rate applies to all orders (type 0) or all items (type 3) in the matching geozone.

## Example Configurations

### Free Shipping Over $50

1. Create a method named "Free Shipping" with type **Per Order Price Based** (type 2).
2. Set **Subtotal Minimum** to `50`.
3. Add a rate with **Shipping Cost** of `0` and **Handling Cost** of `0`.

### $5.99 Flat Rate Shipping

1. Create a method named "Standard Delivery" with type **Per Order Flat Rate** (type 0).
2. Add a rate for your geozone with **Shipping Cost** of `5.99`.

### Weight-Based Shipping

1. Create a method named "Ground Shipping" with type **Per Order Weight Based** (type 5).
2. Add rate rows for your geozone:
   - Range 0 to 2 kg: $4.99
   - Range 2.001 to 5 kg: $8.99
   - Range 5.001 to 20 kg: $14.99

Make sure your products have weights configured under the **J2Commerce** tab -> **Shipping** tab in each product's edit screen.

## Tips

- **Create geozones first.** Before setting up shipping methods, configure your geozones under **J2Commerce** -> **Localization** -> **Geozones**. Each geozone groups countries and zones (states/provinces) together.
- **Use subtotal min/max for tiered shipping.** Create multiple methods with different subtotal ranges. For example, one method for orders under $50 that charges $5.99, and another for orders over $50 with free shipping.
- **Set product weights.** Weight-based calculation types (4 and 5) require that your products have a weight value configured. Products without weight are excluded from the calculation.
- **Test with different cart contents.** After setting up your methods, place test orders with varying quantities, weights, and totals to verify that the correct rates appear at checkout.
- **Use handling costs for packaging.** The handling fee is added on top of the shipping cost. Use it to cover packaging materials or other per-shipment expenses.

## Troubleshooting

### Shipping method does not appear at checkout

**Cause:** The customer's address does not match any geozone with a configured rate, the method is unpublished, or the cart subtotal falls outside the min/max range.

**Solution:**

1. Verify the method is **Published** under **J2Commerce** -> **Shipping** -> **Shipping Methods**.
2. Check that a rate exists for the customer's geozone. Open the method and click **Set Rates** to review.
3. Confirm the cart subtotal is within the method's **Subtotal Minimum** and **Subtotal Maximum** values. Set both to `0` to remove restrictions.
4. Go to **J2Commerce** -> **Localization** -> **Geozones** and verify the customer's country and state/zone are included in at least one geozone.

### Wrong shipping amount is calculated

**Cause:** The rate ranges may overlap or have gaps, or the wrong calculation type is selected.

**Solution:**

1. Open the method and click **Set Rates** to review all rate rows.
2. Check that range brackets do not overlap (e.g., 0-5 and 5-10 should be 0-5 and 5.001-10).
3. Verify the **Shipping Method Type** matches your intended calculation.
4. For weight-based types, check that your products have correct weights set.

### Shipping tax is not applied

**Cause:** The shipping method's **Tax Class** is set to **Not Taxable**.

**Solution:**

1. Edit the shipping method.
2. Select the appropriate tax profile from the **Tax Class** dropdown.
3. Click **Save**.

### Rates panel shows "No matching results"

**Cause:** No rates have been created yet for this method.

**Solution:**

Use the **Add New Rate** form at the top of the Set Rates page to create your first rate. Select a geozone, enter the shipping cost, and click **Create**.