Flat Shipping Rates
Best Practices in Selected Countries
Based on our experience, high shipping fees are the main barrier to successful conversions. We recommend that merchants implement low shipping fees, and, if necessary add 5-10% to the product price to compensate for higher shipping prices. You can add the extra margin using our Country Coefficient tool.
It is always advisable to have two viable shipping options, one which is faster and more expensive and one which is slower and cheaper.
Global‑e also recommends that merchants set free shipping thresholds slightly higher than the current AOV to increase basket value.
We do not advise using mail for goods over £200/$250.
The following table shows the best practices according to a customer’s region.
Note that this is a general recommendation that does not consider additional factors such as your vertical or AOV. These are considered during the onboarding process and are reflected in the initial proposition we configure for you. For more information, see Setting Up Flat Shipping rates.
Area | Standard | Express |
|---|---|---|
Central Europe | < EUR 5 | < EUR 10 |
Other European countries | < EUR 7 | < EUR 12 |
USA | USD 5 | USD 10 |
Australia | AUD 10 | AUD 20 |
NZ | NZD 10 | NZD 20 |
Canada | CAD 7 | CAD 12 |
Asia | GBP 8* | GBP 12* |
Middle East | GBP 5* | GBP 12* |
ROW | GBP 10* | GBP 12* |
(*) Local currency equivalent
Note
We have found that offering a similar shipping rate throughout Europe is beneficial while main markets such as Ireland, Germany, and France may be slightly cheaper.
In China, this may be slightly lower as they have price-sensitive shoppers.
Communicating the checkout proposition throughout the customer journey increases customer trust; letting customers know that all taxes and duties can be paid before delivery and clearly outlining the shipping costs enables customers to avoid unwelcome surprises.