--- title: "How to Offer Free Shipping Over an Order Amount with Weight-Based Rates" description: "Charge by weight below an order amount and ship free above it, using the Free Shipping Cart Total Threshold in Weight-Based Shipping." url: "https://wpfactory.com/docs/weight-based-shipping-free-over-amount/" updated: "2026-10-05" category: How to --- # How to Offer Free Shipping Over an Order Amount with Weight-Based Rates To offer free shipping over an order amount while charging by weight below it, open [Weight-Based Shipping for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/weight-based-shipping-for-woocommerce/) at **WPFactory > Weight-Based Shipping** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > Shipping**), edit the method in your zone, and enter the amount in **Free Shipping Cart Total Threshold**. ## How the free shipping threshold works When the package's goods total is **at or above** the **Free Shipping Cart Total Threshold**, Weight-Based Shipping skips the tier table, charges 0.00 and appends `(Free)` to the method title at checkout. Below the threshold, the normal weight-based tier cost (plus any handling fee) applies. The threshold is included in every install; it is not a Pro feature. The goods total is the value of the products in the shipping package, before tax and after coupon discounts. Shipping and taxes are not included. ![checkout showing the Weight-Based Shipping rate labeled "(Free)" once the cart passes the threshold](https://wpfactory.com/wp-content/uploads/weight-based-shipping-free-over-amount-1.png) ## Set up free shipping over an amount 1. Go to **WPFactory > Weight-Based Shipping** (also reachable at **WooCommerce > Settings > Shipping**). 2. Open the zone and click to edit the **Weight-Based Shipping** method. 3. Make sure your weight tiers are set; they still price every order below the threshold. 4. In **Free Shipping Cart Total Threshold**, enter the amount, for example `100`. 5. Save the method, then test with a cart just below and just above the amount. ## Options | Label | Option ID | Default | Behavior | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Free Shipping Cart Total Threshold | `free_shipping_amount` | Empty (off) | Free when the goods total is at or above this amount. | | Free Shipping Weight Threshold | `free_shipping_weight` | Empty (off) | Free when the cart weight is at or above this weight. | If you set both, either one is enough to make shipping free. There is no way to require both. ## Worked example Tiers: 0 to 5 costs 8.00, 5 and up costs 15.00. Free Shipping Cart Total Threshold: 100. Handling fee: fixed 2. - Cart of 60.00, weighing 3 kg: 8.00 tier cost plus 2.00 fee, so shipping is **10.00**. - Cart of 120.00, weighing 7 kg: over the threshold, so shipping is **0.00**, labeled `(Free)`. The handling fee is not added to a free rate. ## Other free shipping patterns - **Free for heavy orders.** Use **Free Shipping Weight Threshold**. Note the direction: it makes carts at or above the weight free. - **Free for light orders.** Add a first tier with a cost of 0, for example 0 to 1 at 0.00. See [set up your weight tiers](https://wpfactory.com/docs/weight-based-shipping-tiers/). - **Free only in one zone.** Set the threshold on that zone's instance only. See [how to set different weight-based rates per zone or country](https://wpfactory.com/docs/weight-based-shipping-rates-per-zone/). ## Use cases - Raise the average order value with a "free shipping over 100" offer. - Keep weight-based pricing for small orders so heavy, low-value carts still cover their cost. ## Troubleshooting - **The cart total is over the amount but shipping is not free.** The threshold compares the goods total before tax and after coupons, not the order total. A 105.00 order total can be under 100 once tax is removed. - **A heavy cart is over the threshold but gets no rate.** The **Maximum Weight Limit** is checked first. An over-limit cart gets no rate from this method, even if it would ship free. - **A free shipping coupon does not make this method free.** In WooCommerce, free shipping coupons unlock the built-in Free Shipping method. Use the thresholds here for this method. ### Get Weight-Based Shipping Every setting covered here is included in [Weight-Based Shipping for WooCommerce](https://wpfactory.com/item/weight-based-shipping-for-woocommerce/), with no locked Pro options. [Get Weight-Based Shipping](https://wpfactory.com/item/weight-based-shipping-for-woocommerce/). Need a hand? Our team answers every ticket on the [Weight-Based Shipping support forum](https://wpfactory.com/support/). Related articles - [How to Offer Economy and Express Weight-Based Shipping Options](https://wpfactory.com/docs/weight-based-shipping-economy-express/) - [How Weight-Based Shipping Calculates the Shipping Cost](https://wpfactory.com/docs/weight-based-shipping-cost-calculation/) - [Weight-Based Shipping Developer Reference](https://wpfactory.com/docs/weight-based-shipping-developers/) - [Weight-Based Shipping Settings Reference](https://wpfactory.com/docs/weight-based-shipping-settings/) - [Weight-Based Shipping FAQ and Troubleshooting](https://wpfactory.com/docs/weight-based-shipping-faq/)