WooCommerce: Set Default Billing State / Country @ Checkout

This is a simple PGP snippet that I successfully used on a bunch of websites in order to set the default Billing country or state. This is a great way to save the user some time during checkout (and therefore increase your conversion rate) in case you almost exclusively sell to customers located in a given country or state. Nothing else to say, just… enjoy!

WooCommerce: set the default billing country on the checkout

PHP snippet: Set Default Billing Country or State @ WooCommerce Checkout Page


/**
 * @snippet       Set Default Billing Country @ WooCommerce Checkout Page
 * @how-to        businessbloomer.com/woocommerce-customization
 * @source        https://businessbloomer.com/?p=601
 * @author        Rodolfo Melogli, Business Bloomer
 * @compatible    Woo 3.5.4
 * @community     https://businessbloomer.com/club/
 */

// Example 1: default state to OREGON

add_filter( 'default_checkout_billing_state', 'bbloomer_change_default_checkout_state' );
 
function bbloomer_change_default_checkout_state() {
  return 'OR'; // state code
}

// Example 2: default country to United States

add_filter( 'default_checkout_billing_country', 'bbloomer_change_default_checkout_country' );

function bbloomer_change_default_checkout_country() {
  return 'US'; 
}

Where to add custom code?

You should place custom PHP in functions.php and custom CSS in style.css of your child theme: where to place WooCommerce customization?

This code still works, unless you report otherwise. To exclude conflicts, temporarily switch to the Storefront theme, disable all plugins except WooCommerce, and test the snippet again: WooCommerce troubleshooting 101

Related content

Rodolfo Melogli

Business Bloomer Founder

Author, WooCommerce expert and WordCamp speaker, Rodolfo has worked as an independent WooCommerce freelancer since 2011. His goal is to help entrepreneurs and developers overcome their WooCommerce nightmares. Rodolfo loves travelling, chasing tennis & soccer balls and, of course, wood fired oven pizza. Follow @rmelogli

25 thoughts on “WooCommerce: Set Default Billing State / Country @ Checkout

  1. Can this snippet be generalized to set the default country when customers add new shipping or billing addresses? I have a plug-in that allows a customer to have multiple shipping addresses for WooCommerce. Whenever a customer creates a new address, I’d like to have the form default to the US. Is this easily done (assuming the plug-in is using the usual WooCommerce tables)?

    Thanks!

    1. Yes, but pretty much it depends on how the plugin is coded. Ask their support team

  2. when im using this, Warning: call_user_func_array() expects parameter 1 to be a valid callback, function ‘change_default_checkout_state’ not found or invalid function name in C:\xampp\htdocs\wordpress\wp-includes\class-wp-hook.php on line 289 , i set this filter in checkout page in plugin. i create plugin for override function woocommerce

    1. function __construct()
        {
          //filter to empty checkout country and checkout state
          add_filter('default_checkout_billing_country', 'change_default_checkout_country');
          add_filter('default_checkout_billing_state', 'change_default_checkout_state');
        }

      for initiate filter in plugin file checkout

      this is for function

       function change_default_checkout_country()
        {
          return null;
        }
      
         /*
          Add Destination's ID to POST parameter
          @filter default_checkout_billing_state
          @return mixed
        */
        function change_default_checkout_state()
        {
          return null;
        }
      
      1. Thanks

  3. Thanks, works for me, just what I was looking for.

    1. Great!

  4. Hello, that dont work for me, i use this code directly on function.php ang default country dont change, can i have help ?

    1. What code did you use?

  5. Hello, can we set default state for countrys that woocomerce doesnt have stored state codes like Greece?

    1. Hi Chris, thanks so much for your comment! Yes, this is definitely possible, but I’m afraid it’s custom work. If you’d like to get a quote, feel free to contact me here. Thanks a lot for your understanding!

  6. Sorry but just can’t get this to work at all. We have a website where the default country is Sweden, but we need to be able to set the checkout country to another. I used this code ‘as is’ to try and force it to the US, as an example, but the default country is still Sweden. Any ideas?

    1. Hey James, thanks for your comment! Maybe you have geolocation enabled from the WooCommerce settings?

  7. i can set default country if i not go to page chechout.
    Example: i set default country “US” on page cart, and i get billing country on page cart, i not change

    1. Hello Cheng, thanks for your comment. Unfortunately I don’t understand it fully, so maybe you could provide a screenshot? Thank you

  8. Hi, do you how to set default city?

    It’s not working for me. Tried

    
    function default_checkout_city(){
    return 'x'; // state code
    }//add_filter( 'woocommerce_countries_base_city', 'default_checkout_city' );
    
    add_filter( 'woocommerce_countries_base_city' , 'set_woocommerce_countries_base_city' );
    function set_woocommerce_countries_base_city() {
    // Replace with your store town/city
    return 'x';
    }
    
    
    1. Hey there Jhonson, thanks for your comment! See, the city field behaves differently from the state ad country ones: it’s an input text field and not a select box. Today I felt generous though – here’s my brand new post which gives you the solution: https://businessbloomer.com/woocommerce-set-default-city-values-checkout πŸ™‚ Thanks so much!

  9. how to remove the default selected country i need to show ‘select country’, thanks

    1. Hey Satish, thanks for your comment. I think you have something wrong in the WooCommerce settings πŸ™‚ Can you send me a screenshot of your WooCommerce/Settings/General page? Cheers. ~R

      1. thanks Rodolfo,

        I found a solution by in this way,

        add_filter( ‘default_checkout_country’, ‘change_default_checkout_country’ );

        function change_default_checkout_country() {
        return ”;
        }

  10. This is a great snippet, thanks.

    1. Thanks so much for your feedback Debbie!

  11. where about do you insert this code?

    1. Hello Doug, you can do so in your active theme’s function.php file, or use Code Snippets free plugin. Hope this helps!

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