Shopify international shipping: How to sell worldwide in 2025

Shipping rate strategies

When setting up international shipping, try implementing different strategies such as:

• Free shipping. A common marketing practice and a great way to attract customers. To offset the cost, add conditions, like offering free shipping on orders over $150.
• Flat-rate shipping. If you sell products that are similar in size and weight, consider setting a flat rate within a specific shipping zone.
  This way, customers will know what shipping costs to expect, simplifying the order process.
• Carrier-calculated shipping. These are determined at the checkout by a third-party carrier, providing real-time pricing.
  It’s a great option for businesses and their customers. Note that it’s only available for certain carriers, such as USPS, DHL Express, and UPS in the United States, Canada Post, and Sendle in Australia.

Carriers

When choosing a carrier, carefully consider their rates. International shipping rates may vary depending on the type of service, destination, and package weight.

Some affordable postal carriers may not provide speedy delivery, so express services can come in handy – although more expensive. 

In addition to regular international delivery, express shipping options are available on Shopify. 

Check these express carriers and their delivery times:

• DHL Express Worldwide delivers overseas to over 220 countries and territories in one to three business days.
• USPS Priority Mail Express International ships to 190 countries. It takes approximately three to five business days and provides a money-back guarantee to specific destinations.
• Canada Post Xpresspost™ International is the carrier’s fastest shipping option, delivering to more than 70 countries in four to seven business days.

Take a look at other Shopify shipping carriers to find the right one for your online store. Each carrier has different international and domestic shipping costs, policies, and requirements.

Shipping cost

To make a profit, you have to calculate the shipping cost to price the products correctly and charge the right amount for delivery. By failing to do so, you can lose potential customers due to unreasonably high shipping costs or suffer lower profits.

If you’re in the US, use the Shopify Shipping Calculator to see how much it will cost to ship internationally.

Also, consider the following aspects to set a shipping cost that brings profit and is appealing to customers.

Packaging

Add the cost of packaging, including cushioning, to your total product price and reduce shipping costs by choosing inexpensive and lightweight materials.

Sourcing free packaging materials from shipping companies is a great way to save money. For example, if you use USPS as a business, you can order free shipping supplies.

Handling fee

Worldwide delivery requires more care and time. In addition to packaging costs, consider adding a handling fee.

For example, calculate the handling fee by determining the minimum hourly wage when preparing shipments ($12) and the time required to prepare and ship the order (eight minutes).

(Eight minutes / 60 minutes) x $12 = $1.60

Adding a handling fee is optional, but it’s a great way to increase profit and provide quality to customers.

Taxes and duties

Each country has different rules and regulations, so it’s vital to research beforehand and factor them into your pricing strategy.

Disclaimer: We strongly recommend consulting a licensed specialist to ensure everything is set up correctly.

By default, your customer may have to pay the destination country’s customs charges, duties, or taxes. This is called delivered duty unpaid (DDU). If you choose this route, clearly state this in your shipping policy.

Or, choose a customer-friendly approach and cover these costs with delivered duty paid (DDP). You’ll need to collect these upfront, which you can do by adding them to your shipping rates for zones where you ship internationally.

With Shopify Shipping, you can buy the appropriate shipping labels from them directly. They’ll also provide the correct customs forms and documentation required to fulfill international shipments.

1. Ship products to yourself

While Shopify has multiple carriers, they may not be available in your location, or their international parcel delivery costs might not be as competitive as you’d like.

In these cases, consider shipping products to yourself and arrange international shipping through different shipping carriers.

This option allows you to check the products before sending them to customers, so you can make sure they’re in good order.

2. Expand your market

With international shipping, slow and steady wins the race – start small, but aim high. After you successfully enter one international market, consider expanding to other countries.

Before doing so, research the following:

• Market demand
• Cultural nuances
• Customs regulations
• Carriers
• Shipping costs

Enter international markets independently or partner with other businesses who may help with providing useful information, saving you time and effort.

3. Set up shipping zones

Optimize international shipping by setting up a customized shipping zone. This is a group of countries or regions with the same or similar shipping rates.

For example, say you’ve partnered with a manufacturer in the Netherlands that can easily ship anywhere in the European Union. Create a shipping zone including all the member states, charging the same shipping rate.

You can also create a zone with free shipping to your local Shopify customers.

4. Be transparent with your shipping

If you’re offering international delivery, write a clear shipping policy. It’s a must-have for all eCommerce businesses.

You should state:

• How and where you ship
• Who pays import duties and taxes
• Whether order tracking is available
• How long does regular or shipping express take
• Process for returns and refunds

It’s the right place to cover any additional fees your customers might have to pay. This way, you save time and avoid misunderstandings for both you and your customers.

5. Target ads to shipping destination countries

An important part of any international shipping strategy is marketing. Reach potential customers quickly and effectively by targeting ads to a specific country, region, state, or province.

Check these popular advertising options:

• Meta Ads. Market your business by advertising directly on Facebook and Instagram.
• Google Ads. Place ads on Google’s search results, apps, videos, and non-search websites.
• TikTok Ads. Reach a wide audience with an app that has more than one billion active users worldwide.

Additionally, offer special deals, limited-time offers, and product bundles at discounted prices to attract more customers and increase sales.

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