In a recent Business Bloomer Club Slack thread, a member asked for clarification on how to handle the weight and dimensions entered in the product settings for shipping.
Specifically, the question was about whether the weight and dimensions should reflect the final product after packaging or just the product’s raw weight and dimensions. This is a common concern for WooCommerce store owners who ship products in various sizes and quantities, so let’s break it down.
What Should the Shipping Weight and Dimensions Represent?
The weight and dimensions entered in Product > Shipping for a simple product typically refer to the product itself in its raw form — that is, the weight and size of the product with no packaging. This means that you should enter the actual product dimensions (length, width, height) and weight, not the size or weight after the item is packaged for shipping.
However, this can vary depending on your shipping setup and the plugins you use to calculate shipping rates.
Handling Multiple Items and Packaging
For those who use the same box for shipping multiple units of a product, things can get a bit tricky when it comes to calculating shipping rates. For example, let’s say you are shipping three 6lb products with dimensions of 6x10x5 inches each. When entering these dimensions and weight in WooCommerce, you might be wondering if you should enter them as 6lbs per product and 6x10x5 inches per product, or if you should adjust them to reflect the total weight and dimensions of the entire package (18lbs and 6x5x10 inches in the case of the three units in one box).
Shipping Calculation Plugins and Their Role
The answer can depend on the shipping calculations and shipping plugins you are using. Some plugins take the product’s weight and dimensions and automatically adjust for packaging, meaning they will calculate the final shipping size based on how many items you are shipping. If the plugin is smart enough, it may combine items into the smallest possible box to reduce shipping costs.
For instance, WooCommerce shipping calculators or third-party plugins can package multiple items together and provide an accurate shipping cost based on the final box dimensions and weight. This feature allows you to enter the raw product weight and dimensions while the plugin handles the calculation of how items will be packaged for shipping.
Example Scenario: Shipping a Table
A practical example of how this works is when shipping large furniture or bulky items. Let’s say you’re shipping a table, and the product dimensions are 2m * 1m * 1m. This is the actual size of the product, not the size of the shipping box. The shipping plugin will use these product dimensions to calculate the final shipping size and weight, but the actual shipping box might be much larger (to accommodate packaging) or different in shape.
If you’re using a shipping plugin that optimizes packaging, the table might end up being shipped in a box with dimensions like 2.1m * 1.1m * 40cm, reflecting the dimensions of the product with packaging included.
To Sum Up
- Product dimensions and weight should generally reflect the actual size and weight of the product itself, not the final packaged product.
- If you use a shipping plugin that accounts for packaging and combines items into the most efficient box, the final shipping cost and box size will be determined by the plugin.
- For single-unit shipments, use the product’s raw weight and dimensions.
- For multiple items in one package, shipping plugins might automatically adjust to combine the products into one package, but this depends on the plugin’s settings.
In short, when setting up products in WooCommerce for shipping, you should enter the true weight and dimensions of the product. Your shipping plugin will help manage how these items are packaged and shipped.
If you’re using a custom shipping plugin or one that optimizes packaging, be sure to check its documentation to ensure it can handle multi-item shipments correctly.
