Should You Offer Free Shipping on Etsy? Pros & Cons

Offering free shipping on Etsy can be a powerful way to boost conversion rates, improve your search ranking, and meet shopper expectations around simple, all‑in pricing. At the same time, free shipping affects your profit margins, product pricing, and how sustainable your shop feels to run long term.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the real‑world pros and cons of free shipping on Etsy, including how the Etsy Free Shipping Guarantee ($35+ orders to the US) works, when it can genuinely increase sales, and when it might hurt your margins or brand. By the end, you’ll be ready to decide confidently: should you offer free shipping on Etsy?

What “free shipping” really means on Etsy

How Etsy’s free shipping guarantee works for US buyers

On Etsy, “free shipping” is mostly about what the buyer sees at checkout, not about the seller avoiding shipping costs.

For US buyers, Etsy offers a Free Shipping Guarantee that sellers can choose to turn on. When a shop activates it, any order that:

• ships to a US address, and
• totals 35 USD or more from that single shop

will show free standard shipping to the buyer.

This applies whether it is one item priced at 35 dollars or more, or several smaller items that add up to at least 35 dollars. The guarantee only covers the lowest-cost standard shipping option. If the buyer chooses a faster upgrade, they still pay the extra cost.

Also, only participating shops are included, and the order must ship to the 50 US states or DC in USD.

Free shipping vs low-cost shipping vs calculated rates

Etsy gives sellers a few different ways to set shipping prices:

• Free shipping: The listing or order shows “Free shipping” to the buyer. Behind the scenes, the seller usually builds the shipping cost into the item price or absorbs it as a business expense.
• Low-cost (fixed) shipping: The seller sets a simple flat rate, like 3.95 dollars to ship within the US. This is entered manually in the shipping profile as a fixed price.
• Calculated shipping: For many US and Canadian sellers, Etsy can calculate the shipping cost automatically based on the package weight, size, origin ZIP, and the buyer’s address. The buyer sees a real-time rate instead of a flat fee.

From the buyer’s point of view, “free” almost always looks better than “cheap”, but Etsy’s search system also pays attention to how high or low your shipping prices are, especially for US domestic listings.

What still costs you money even when buyers see “free”

Even when your Etsy listing proudly shows “Free shipping”, several real costs are still coming out of your pocket:

• Postage or carrier fees: You still pay USPS or another carrier to move the package. Etsy’s own help pages are very clear that free shipping does not mean the carrier ships for free.
• Packaging materials: Boxes, mailers, tape, labels, tissue, and padding all add up, especially for fragile or oddly shaped items.
• Your time: Weighing, packing, printing labels, and dropping off parcels is labor, even if it is not a separate line item.
• Insurance and tracking upgrades: If you choose extra coverage or signature confirmation, that cost is on you unless you charge separately.
• Replacements for lost or damaged orders: When something goes missing in transit and you decide to resend it, you are paying shipping again.

So on Etsy, “free shipping” really means the buyer does not see a shipping charge, but the seller is still paying for every mile that package travels. The trick is deciding whether you build those costs into your prices, accept a smaller margin, or use free shipping only in specific situations.

Big pros of offering free shipping on Etsy

Does free shipping boost your Etsy search ranking?

Free shipping can absolutely help your Etsy search ranking, especially for US shoppers. Etsy’s own search disclosure states that postage price is a ranking factor and that listings with a US free delivery guarantee, free delivery, or postage under about 6 dollars can get a boost in search results for relevant buyers.

So while free shipping is not the only thing that matters, it is one of the signals Etsy uses when deciding which listings to show higher. On top of that, free shipping adds a visible badge in search results, which makes your listing stand out and can improve how often people click on it.

In short: good SEO still matters most, but competitive or free shipping can give your listings an extra nudge upward, especially in US‑to‑US searches.

How free shipping affects click-throughs and conversion rate

Shoppers love simple, all‑in pricing. When they see “Free shipping,” they know the total cost right away, which makes them more likely to click your listing and actually finish checkout.

Etsy has shared that buyers are significantly more likely to complete a purchase when an item is listed with free shipping, and independent analyses echo this, reporting around a 20 percent higher chance of conversion when shipping is free.

Free shipping also reduces that “sticker shock” moment at checkout. If someone clicks a cute 20 dollar item and then sees 9 dollars added for shipping, many will back out. When the total price is clear from the start, more of those clicks turn into real orders instead of abandoned carts.

Why many Etsy shoppers filter for free shipping

Many Etsy buyers now expect free or very low‑cost shipping, thanks to big marketplaces that normalized it. Because of that, Etsy lets shoppers filter search results to show only items with free shipping or a free shipping guarantee.

If your listings do not offer free shipping, you simply disappear whenever a shopper uses that filter. That means you might be missing out on a chunk of high‑intent buyers who are ready to purchase but refuse to pay extra for postage. Being in the “free shipping” filter keeps you in front of those customers instead of your competitors.

Building trust and reducing cart abandonment with simpler pricing

Free shipping also works on a psychological level. It makes your pricing feel honest and straightforward: what they see on the listing page is what they pay. That transparency builds trust, especially for new buyers who have never ordered from your shop before.

When there are no surprise fees at checkout, people feel more relaxed and confident about clicking “Place order.” Etsy’s own experiments and third‑party studies show that lower or free shipping reduces cart abandonment and encourages repeat purchases.

So while free shipping is not magic, it can be a powerful way to:

• get a small search boost,
• attract more clicks,
• convert more of those clicks into sales, and
• make your shop feel fair, friendly, and easy to buy from.

Honest cons and risks of free shipping for Etsy sellers

How free shipping can quietly eat into your profit margin

Free shipping on Etsy sounds simple, but the cost has to land somewhere. If you do not raise your item prices enough to cover postage, packaging, and Etsy fees on both, the difference comes straight out of your profit. For light items, that might only be a couple of dollars. For heavier or fragile products that need tracking and insurance, it can wipe out most of your margin on every order.

There is also the risk of rising carrier rates. When postage goes up but your prices stay the same, your “free shipping” promise becomes more expensive over time. Many sellers only notice this when they sit down to do their books and realize that their best‑selling items are actually their least profitable.

When “free shipping” makes your prices look too high

To cover free shipping, you usually roll at least part of the shipping cost into the item price. That can make your listing look overpriced next to competitors who show a lower item price plus a visible shipping fee. Some shoppers sort by “lowest price” and never even click through to see that your total cost is similar or better. That can hurt your click‑through rate and, over time, your search performance.

This is especially tricky in crowded categories where buyers compare lots of thumbnails at once. If your mug is $32 with free shipping and the next one is $24 plus $8 shipping, many people will only register “$24” and scroll right past you.

Perception issues: does free shipping feel cheap or mass-produced?

Free shipping can also send mixed signals about brand perception. In some niches, shoppers associate “free shipping” with big-box style, mass‑produced goods. If you sell premium, slow‑made items, a big free‑shipping badge can clash with your story of careful craftsmanship and higher value.

On the flip side, if you raise prices a lot to cover shipping, some buyers may feel the product is overpriced for what it is. That tension between “this looks cheap” and “this seems too expensive” is one of the hardest parts of using free shipping on handmade or luxury items.

Extra pain on returns, exchanges, and damaged items

Returns and exchanges are where the hidden costs of free shipping really sting. If you paid to ship the order out and then refund the buyer, you usually do not get that original shipping cost back from the carrier. You may also pay again to send a replacement, especially for damaged or defective items. All of that comes out of your pocket when shipping is “free.”

For fragile, bulky, or high‑risk products, one or two problem orders can erase the profit from several smooth sales. That is why many experienced Etsy sellers track not just average shipping cost, but also how often they have to reship or refund, before committing to permanent free shipping.

Should every Etsy shop offer free shipping?

Not every Etsy shop should offer free shipping, and that is completely okay. Free shipping can be a powerful tool, but it works best for certain products, price points, and audiences. The sweet spot is where shipping costs are predictable and small enough that you can absorb or build them into your prices without destroying your profit.

Product types where free shipping usually works well

Free shipping on Etsy tends to work best for:

• Lightweight items that ship first class or in small parcels, like jewelry, stickers, art prints, stationery, small accessories, and digital-product add‑ons. Shipping is relatively low and consistent, so it is easier to roll into your item price.
• Higher-priced or premium products, where the shipping cost is a small percentage of the total. A $7 shipping cost on a $15 item hurts, but on a $120 item it feels minor and can be quietly absorbed into the price.
• Giftable items where buyers care more about convenience and a clean “all‑in” price than about seeing a separate shipping line.
• Made‑to‑order or custom pieces with healthy margins. If you already charge for your time and skill, you often have room to include average postage in the price.

In these categories, free shipping can feel like a nice bonus instead of a red flag, and it often encourages shoppers to add “just one more thing” to their cart to hit a free shipping threshold.

When free shipping is a bad fit (heavy, bulky, low-margin items)

Free shipping is much harder to make work when:

• Your products are heavy or oversized: pottery, large candles, wood signs, furniture, big vintage pieces, bulk supplies, or anything that regularly tips into higher USPS zones or dimensional weight pricing. The cost to ship across the country can be several times more than shipping to a nearby state, and building the worst‑case cost into your price can make you look wildly overpriced.
• You sell low-margin items where you already compete on price, like basic craft supplies or low-cost components. There is simply not enough room to hide $8–$20 of postage without losing competitiveness.
• Your shop relies on combined‑shipping savings. If buyers often purchase multiple heavy items, separate shipping charges can be fairer than inflating each item’s price to cover “free” shipping.

In these cases, a clear, honest paid shipping rate or a partial discount usually serves you better than forcing free shipping that quietly wipes out your profit.

How your target customer and price point change the answer

Whether you should offer free shipping on Etsy also depends a lot on who you sell to and how you position your brand.

If your audience is bargain-focused and used to big-box marketplaces, they may strongly prefer free or very low shipping and will filter search results to see those listings first. Etsy’s own data shows that free or affordable delivery can improve purchase rates and help with search visibility, especially for US buyers.

If your buyers are collectors, luxury shoppers, or niche hobbyists, they often care more about quality, uniqueness, and safe packaging than about saving a few dollars on postage. They may be perfectly happy to pay a transparent shipping fee if your pricing and branding clearly communicate value.

Your average price point matters too:

• At lower prices (under about $25), shipping can feel like a deal‑breaker, so free or very low shipping can make a big difference in conversion.
• At mid to high prices, buyers expect to pay something for delivery, so you have more flexibility to choose between free, flat‑rate, or calculated shipping.

In the end, free shipping on Etsy is not a moral obligation or a universal rule. It is a strategic choice. If it fits your product type, margins, and audience expectations, it can be a great growth lever. If it does not, you are usually better off with honest, well‑explained shipping fees that keep your business healthy.

How to crunch the numbers before you decide

Simple way to calculate your true shipping cost per order

Before you decide on free shipping, you need a clear average shipping cost per order. A simple way to do this is:

1. Look at your last 20–50 shipped orders for the same general product type.
2. Add up what you actually paid for postage on those orders.
3. Divide that total by the number of orders.

That gives you your average postage cost per order.

If you are just starting and do not have history yet, use your carrier’s rate calculator with your usual box size, weight, and common destinations. Check a few different states, then average those numbers.

Write this down as a real number, not a guess. For example:

• Average postage per mug order: 7.80 dollars
• Average postage per earring order: 4.10 dollars

You will use this number in every pricing decision about free shipping, partial shipping, or paid shipping.

Factoring in packaging, time, and possible replacements

Postage is only part of your true shipping cost. To see the full picture, add:

• Packaging materials: boxes, mailers, tape, labels, tissue, inserts, padding. Add up what a single packed order actually uses.
• Your time: how long it takes to pack and ship. Even a simple 10 minutes has a cost. Decide on an hourly rate for yourself, then convert that to a per‑order packing cost.
• Replacements and damage: if 1 out of 50 orders arrives damaged and you replace it at your expense, that cost should be spread across all 50 orders.

A quick formula:

True shipping cost per order ≈ Postage + Packaging + Packing time + Average replacement cost

Once you know this “all‑in” number, you can see how much room you really have to offer free or discounted shipping without hurting your profit.

Comparing three scenarios: paid shipping, partial, and fully free

Now compare three simple pricing setups using your true shipping cost. Imagine:

• Item base price: 30 dollars
• True shipping cost per order: 8 dollars

1. Paid shipping

• Listing price: 30 dollars
• Buyer pays 8 dollars shipping at checkout
• You receive 38 dollars total, and 8 dollars covers shipping.
• Pros: clear profit per item, easy to track.
• Cons: some buyers bounce when they see shipping added at the end.

2. Partial shipping (you split the cost)

• Listing price: 33 dollars
• Buyer pays 4 dollars shipping
• You still receive 37 dollars total, but you are quietly covering 4 dollars of the shipping cost inside your price.
• Pros: shipping looks smaller, price still reasonable.
• Cons: your margin per item is slightly lower than with full paid shipping.

3. Fully free shipping (you roll it into the price)

• Listing price: 38 dollars with “Free shipping”
• Buyer pays 38 dollars total, no extra fees at checkout.
• Pros: simple, attractive offer; great for search filters and conversion.
• Cons: your item price may look higher next to competitors, and returns or replacements now hurt more because shipping is baked in.

Run these three scenarios with your own numbers. Look at:

• Profit per order in each case
• How your price will look next to similar listings
• How many extra sales you would need with free shipping to earn the same or better total profit

Once you see the math in black and white, the “right” shipping strategy for your Etsy shop becomes much easier to spot.

Smart pricing strategies if you choose free shipping

Rolling shipping costs into your item price without scaring buyers

When you offer free shipping on Etsy, you are really hiding the shipping cost inside your item price. The trick is to roll it in gently so buyers do not feel like the price suddenly jumped.

Start by looking at your average actual shipping cost for that product: postage, packaging, and a small buffer for rate changes. If it costs you around 6 dollars to ship a mug, you might:

• Raise the item price by 3–4 dollars
• Absorb the remaining 2–3 dollars as a business expense

This keeps your price in line with similar listings that do not offer free shipping. Always compare your new “item + free shipping” price with other shops selling similar products. If you end up 20–30 percent higher than everyone else, many shoppers will click away, even if they love the idea of free shipping.

You can also adjust by region. For example, build in the cost for your most common zone (often domestic), then use separate, paid upgrades for faster shipping or more expensive regions. That way your main price still looks fair while heavy or distant orders do not wipe out your profit.

Using order minimums like $35 to make free shipping sustainable

Order minimums are a friendly way to make free shipping work without losing money on every small order. Etsy already highlights free shipping on orders of 35 dollars or more for US buyers when shops opt in, and many sellers use that threshold or something similar.

The idea is simple: you only offer free shipping when the cart total is high enough to comfortably cover postage. A 7 dollar shipping cost hurts a lot on a 12 dollar item, but it is much easier to absorb on a 45 dollar order.

To set a smart minimum:

1. Look at your average order value now.
2. Estimate your average shipping cost per order.
3. Choose a threshold where, if a buyer hits it, your profit margin still feels healthy after shipping.

You can gently encourage shoppers to reach that minimum with bundles, add‑on items, or small discounts on second items. Many buyers are happy to add one more thing to “unlock” free shipping, which raises your revenue and makes the shipping cost feel like a bonus instead of a fee.

Adjusting international shipping so overseas buyers aren’t overcharged

Free shipping for domestic orders does not mean you must offer free shipping worldwide. International postage can be much higher, and simply rolling that full cost into your item price can make your shop look overpriced to everyone.

A common approach is:

• Free shipping for domestic buyers (with costs built into your prices).
• Discounted, but not free, shipping for international buyers, based on real carrier rates.

You can still keep things buyer‑friendly by using clear, flat international rates for regions where you ship often, instead of one huge “everywhere” price. For example, set one rate for Canada, another for Europe, and another for the rest of the world, each based on realistic averages.

If you want to be extra fair, you can slightly reduce your built‑in shipping portion for items that are often bought by international customers, then charge a calculated or flat international fee that covers the rest. This way overseas buyers are not paying twice for shipping, and you are not losing money every time you send a package across the ocean.

Creative middle-ground options between free and paid shipping

Free shipping on certain items only (or lighter products)

You do not have to go “all in” on free shipping across your entire Etsy shop. A very gentle way to start is to offer free shipping only on specific listings, usually lighter or higher-margin products. You can set up separate shipping profiles with a $0 domestic rate for those items, while keeping regular paid shipping on heavier or fragile pieces.

This works especially well for:

• Small jewelry, stickers, patches, keychains
• Digital products that never ship physically
• Lightweight accessories or prints that fit in flat mailers

These listings can act as “entry” products that attract clicks with a free shipping badge, then buyers often add other items that still have standard shipping. You are using free shipping as a hook, not a blanket promise.

Free shipping thresholds, bundles, and multi-item orders

Another middle-ground option is to reward bigger baskets instead of every single order. You can:

• Turn on Etsy’s free shipping guarantee so US buyers get free standard shipping when they spend $35 or more in your shop.
• Create bundles or sets that are priced to comfortably absorb shipping, like “3 candles with free shipping” or “sticker pack – free shipping.”
• Encourage multi-item orders by mentioning in your listing descriptions that shipping is free or heavily discounted once the cart hits your chosen threshold.

Because your packaging and label time are similar for one item or three, these thresholds help you earn more per order while still giving buyers that satisfying “shipping: free” line at checkout.

Limited-time free shipping promos to test the impact

If you are nervous about changing your pricing long term, limited-time free shipping promotions are your friend. In your Sales and Discounts area, you can create a promo code that gives buyers free standard shipping for a set date range and for specific regions, such as US-only.

Run the promo for a short, clear window like a weekend, holiday, or product launch. Watch:

• How many orders used the free shipping code
• Whether your average order value went up
• If the extra sales actually covered the shipping you absorbed

You can repeat what worked, tweak the rules, or turn it off without having to rebuild all your shipping profiles. It is a low-risk way to see how powerful “free shipping” really is for your particular Etsy shop.

What real Etsy sellers say about free shipping

Common situations where free shipping increased sales

Many Etsy sellers report that free shipping works best when it supports how buyers already like to shop. A common pattern is switching from “free on everything” to Etsy’s free shipping guarantee on orders of $35+ to the US. Sellers in handmade, jewelry, stickers, and small gift niches often see fewer tiny one‑item orders and more multi‑item carts once they add the $35 threshold. One seller shared that after rolling an average of about $4 in shipping into item prices and turning on free shipping, their sales roughly doubled over a few weeks and older listings started selling again.

Free shipping also tends to help when:

• Your competitors already offer it and you were one of the few still charging.
• Your items are light and consistent in size, so shipping is easy to predict.
• Your average order value is close to $35 anyway, so the guarantee nudges buyers to add “one more thing.”

In these situations, sellers often describe free shipping as a “visibility boost plus a gentle upsell,” rather than a painful cost.

Real-world examples where free shipping backfired

Other Etsy sellers have very different stories. Some who sell fragile or heavy items say free shipping quickly turned into a money drain. One vintage seller explained that anything over a pound could cost at least around $8 to ship across the country, which ate a big chunk of profit on lower‑priced pieces.

Another seller who tested free shipping on vintage teacups said it was “a fiasco”: sales did not increase, but buyer messages exploded with questions about packaging and breakage. Their shoppers seemed to associate “free shipping” with corners being cut, especially on delicate items, so the seller turned it off after a few months.

Some sellers also found that the $35 free shipping guarantee encouraged buyers to stack several small, heavy, or underpriced items into one order. The combined shipping cost then wiped out most of the profit on the whole cart, especially for shops that had not fully raised prices to cover worst‑case postage.

Lessons learned to help you avoid expensive mistakes

Real Etsy sellers tend to land on a few shared lessons:

1. Run the math first, not after. Sellers who struggled often admitted they turned on free shipping to help search ranking or “because everyone else did,” then realized too late that their margins were too thin for heavy, bulky, or fragile items.

2. Test in a small, controlled way. Many experienced sellers now test free shipping on a single category or a handful of listings, watch results for a month or two, and only then expand. This makes it easier to see whether you are getting more orders, bigger carts, or just lower profit per sale.

3. Adjust prices thoughtfully, not blindly. Successful shops usually raise item prices based on real average shipping costs and competitor pricing, instead of just tacking on a flat amount. Some even avoid listing very heavy items altogether once they see how much free shipping would cost them.

4. Consider your niche’s psychology. In categories like art prints, jewelry, or stickers, free shipping often feels like a nice perk. In niches like antiques, glass, or high‑end collectibles, some buyers actually trust careful, paid shipping more.

5. Remember that “free” is a marketing tool, not a rule. Many long‑time Etsy sellers now treat free shipping as one option in their toolbox. They use it where it clearly helps sales and customer experience, and skip it where it quietly turns good orders into break‑even ones.

Step-by-step: test free shipping in your Etsy shop

Pick a small test group of listings and set a clear goal

Start tiny so the test feels safe, not scary. Choose 3–10 listings that are already getting some views or favorites. It is much easier to see a change on items that already have a bit of traffic.

Aim for a mix that represents your shop: maybe one bestseller, one mid-range item, and one newer listing. Avoid your heaviest or most expensive-to-ship products in this first round, unless those are exactly what you want to test.

Before you switch anything on, write down one clear goal, such as:

• “Increase conversion rate on these listings by 20%.”
• “Get at least 5 more orders per month from these items.”
• “See if higher prices with free shipping still get clicks.”

Set your regular prices, then create a version with free shipping where the item price includes some or all of the shipping cost. Keep notes on what you changed so you can undo or adjust it later.

How long to run your test and what stats to watch

Give your free shipping test enough time to breathe. For most shops, 2–4 weeks is a good starting point, longer if your niche is very seasonal or slow. Try to avoid judging results after just a few days unless you have very high traffic.

During the test, keep an eye on:

• Views: Are more people clicking your listings?
• Favorites: Are shoppers saving your items more often?
• Conversion rate: Of the people who visit, how many actually buy?
• Orders and revenue: Are you making more money overall, not just more sales?

Also watch your average order value. Free shipping can encourage people to add one more item, which can quietly improve your profit even if margins per item are tighter.

Reading your results and deciding what to keep or change

At the end of your test period, compare your “before” and “after” numbers for each listing. Look at revenue and profit, not just sales count. If a listing sold more but your profit per order dropped too far, that version may not be worth keeping.

Ask yourself:

• Did free shipping improve conversion rate enough to cover the shipping cost?
• Did total profit from these listings go up, stay flat, or fall?
• Did you notice more messages, fewer abandoned carts, or happier reviews?

If results are positive, you can slowly roll free shipping out to more items. If they are mixed, keep the winners and tweak the rest: adjust prices, change which items have free shipping, or test a free shipping threshold instead.

If the test clearly hurt your profit or sales, that is useful data too. Turn free shipping off for those listings, note what you learned, and try a different approach, such as lower flat-rate shipping or bundles that ship more efficiently.

Making your final decision: is free shipping right for you?

Key questions to ask yourself before turning it on

Before you flip the switch on free shipping, walk through a few honest questions:

1. Can I cover shipping and still pay myself fairly? Look at your average shipping cost, packaging, and time. If you roll that into your price, are you still hitting your target hourly rate and profit per order?

2. How sensitive are my buyers to price changes? For low-cost or giftable items, a jump from 18 to 26 dollars might feel big. For higher-end or custom work, buyers may care more about quality and reviews than an 8 dollar difference.

3. What do my competitors do? Search similar items. If most top sellers offer free shipping, you may need to match or at least get close. If almost no one does, you have more freedom.

4. How heavy or fragile are my products? Light, small items are easier to absorb. Heavy, bulky, or breakable pieces can make “free” shipping very expensive, especially across the US.

5. What is my average order value and order size? If customers often buy multiples, you can spread shipping across several items. If they usually buy one small thing, you have less room.

6. What is my risk tolerance? Are you comfortable testing for a month and possibly earning a bit less while you gather data, or do you need every order to be maximized right now?

If you can answer these with numbers instead of guesses, you are ready to test free shipping in a calm, strategic way.

How to explain your choice clearly in your listings and shop policies

Whatever you decide, clear communication keeps buyers happy and reduces messages and disputes.

If you offer free shipping, make it obvious but honest:

• Mention it in your listing description: “Free shipping within the US. Shipping cost is already included in the item price for simpler checkout.”
• Add a short note in your FAQ or policies explaining how it works for different regions: “US orders ship free. International orders are charged a discounted, calculated rate based on location.”
• Clarify processing times and carriers so “free” does not get confused with “fast.”

If you do not offer free shipping, frame it as a benefit, not a punishment:

• In your listings: “Shipping is charged separately so you only pay the actual cost for your location and order size.”
• In policies or FAQ: “We keep item prices lower and show shipping as a separate line so you can see exactly what you are paying for.”
• If you use partial discounts, explain them: “Orders over 50 dollars ship at a reduced flat rate; orders over 100 dollars ship free in the US.”

The goal is to show that you have a thought-out shipping strategy, not random numbers.

When and how to revisit your shipping strategy as costs change

Shipping is not a “set it and forget it” part of your shop. Carrier rates, packaging prices, and even your own product line will shift over time, so your free shipping decision should evolve too.

A simple rhythm that works for many sellers:

• Check your numbers at least every 3–6 months. Look at average shipping cost per order, average order value, and profit per order. If your margin has quietly shrunk, it might be time to adjust prices or your free shipping rules.

• Review after any major change. If carriers raise rates, you switch packaging, add much heavier items, or start getting more distant orders (for example, lots of West Coast orders shipping from the East Coast), revisit your math within a few weeks.

• Watch behavior, not just costs. If you turn on free shipping and see higher views and more add‑to‑carts but no real increase in completed orders, something else might be off: photos, descriptions, processing time, or total price.

• Be willing to tweak, not just flip on/off. Instead of jumping from fully free to fully paid, you might:

• Raise your free shipping threshold.

• Limit free shipping to lighter items.

• Offer free shipping only in the US and keep calculated rates abroad.

When you do make changes, update your listings and policies right away, and consider adding a short note like: “Updated shipping as of March 2026 to reflect carrier price increases. We always aim to keep costs fair and transparent.”

Treat shipping as a living part of your business. If you keep checking the numbers and explaining your choices clearly, you can adjust with confidence instead of reacting in a panic when costs jump.