Shipping Calculator Documentation
Shipping Calculator
Learn how to configure live Australia Post shipping rates for your Shopify store.
Live Australia Post shipping rates with smart packing and pricing controls.
IntroductionCopy link
Shipping Calculator returns live Australia Post rates during Shopify checkout and lets you control how those rates are packed, marked up, capped, and presented to customers.
Merchants typically use the app to replace hand-maintained flat-rate tables with live parcel pricing while still protecting margin and keeping checkout predictable.
What the app controls
Checkout rate availability, carton selection, rate markups, service limits, fallback pricing, diagnostics, and reporting.
How it worksCopy link
The app receives Shopify carrier callbacks, packs the order into cartons using your Smart Packing rules, requests rates from Australia Post, then applies your pricing controls before sending checkout-ready services back to Shopify.
Getting StartedCopy link
Use this sequence when you first install the app or when you are setting up a new Shopify store.
Activation checklistCopy link
- Open the app inside Shopify Admin and activate billing.
- Confirm the app carrier rate is added to the correct Shopify shipping zone.
- Go to
Settingsand verify the origin postcode. - Review your default carton sizes in
Packages. - Run a few sample checkouts in
Preview Rates.
Launch sequenceCopy link
Once billing is active and live rates are enabled, Shopify can request rates from the app during checkout. Keep your test carts realistic so weights, dimensions, and rate rules reflect production orders.
Launch tip
Validate one lightweight order, one bulky order, and one high-value order before enabling live rates for all customers.
SettingsCopy link
The Settings area controls the base shipping behaviour used across the store.
Core controlsCopy link
- Enable or disable live checkout rates.
- Set the origin postcode used for Australia Post rate requests.
- Choose the checkout packing mode used to build parcels.
- Limit how many shipping options customers see at checkout.
Fallback behaviourCopy link
Configure fallback pricing for cases where a live carrier response cannot be returned. Save changes after each section so the preview and live checkout logic stay aligned with the current configuration.
Fallback rates
Treat fallback pricing as a safety net. If fallback prices are too low, checkout can undercharge when carrier services are temporarily unavailable.
Packages (Smart Packing)Copy link
Smart Packing determines how cart items are grouped into parcels before the rate request is sent.
Carton setupCopy link
- Create and reorder carton sizes used for parcel selection.
- Keep at least one valid carton enabled at all times.
- Review carton dimensions whenever packaging changes.
Packing rulesCopy link
- Optionally respect products marked
Ship separately. - Optionally use product-specific assigned package sizes.
- Parcels over 22kg are split automatically to stay inside carrier limits.
Accurate package sizes are the main input that improves pricing accuracy at checkout.
RatesCopy link
The Rates area controls how live carrier prices are adjusted before customers see them.
Markup controlsCopy link
- Apply a global percentage markup or a fixed order markup.
- Set minimum and maximum final checkout prices.
- Use min and max guards to avoid undercharging or outlier prices.
Service controlsCopy link
- Create service-specific overrides for selected Australia Post services.
- Control free shipping and flat-rate thresholds.
- Choose how many rate options should be shown to customers.
Use rate limits and thresholds carefully so your store still returns enough valid options for typical carts.
Preview RatesCopy link
Preview Rates lets you test the same carrier callback logic used by live checkout, without placing a real order.
Test inputsCopy link
- Enter a destination postcode and optional order value.
- Add sample items with weights, quantities, and optional dimensions.
- Use realistic order contents so packing logic mirrors live checkout.
Simulator resultsCopy link
Review the returned services and checkout pricing before enabling the app. Preview testing is the fastest way to verify that product weights, carton sizes, and pricing rules are producing sensible checkout results.
Rate BreakdownCopy link
Rate Breakdown shows how a returned checkout rate was built from the underlying carrier price and your configured pricing rules.
- Base carrier rate
- Applied markup or override
- Minimum or maximum price guardrails
- Threshold logic such as flat-rate or free-shipping overrides
- Final customer-facing checkout price
Example rate calculationCopy link
Base rate: $10.30
Markup: +20%
Final rate: $12.36ReportsCopy link
Reports capture the decisions returned from live carrier callbacks so you can review what the app actually sent back to Shopify.
Decision historyCopy link
- Filter recent callback history.
- Inspect returned services and checkout totals.
- Review pricing outcomes when live rates or fallback rates were used.
Reporting workflowCopy link
Use the data to compare shipping charged versus shipping cost. This view is especially useful when you need to understand how a real checkout was priced after the fact.
Activity LogCopy link
Activity Log records operational events and configuration changes made inside the app.
Audit eventsCopy link
- Track when settings changed and what was changed.
- Review audit entries for billing-required or blocked-rate events.
- Use timestamps to line up merchant actions with checkout behaviour.
When troubleshooting a pricing issue, check Activity Log together with Reports to see both the settings change and the rate result.
BillingCopy link
Billing must be active before live rates can be enabled for checkout.
Subscription flowCopy link
- Select
Enable live ratesto start the Shopify billing flow. - Approve the subscription inside Shopify Admin.
- Return to the app and confirm the subscription status shows as active.
- Enable live checkout rates once billing is active.
Billing gate
If billing is inactive, the app can remain installed but live checkout rates should be treated as blocked until billing is reactivated.
TroubleshootingCopy link
If live rates are missing or look incorrect, work through the following checks in order.
Missing rates checklistCopy link
- Confirm billing is active and live rates are enabled.
- Confirm the app carrier rate is added to the correct Shopify shipping zone.
- Review carton sizes, product weights, and assigned package dimensions.
- Review fallback settings if live Australia Post services are unavailable.
Billing active: yes
Live rates enabled: yes
Carrier-app rate added to shipping zone: yes
Product weights and carton sizes configured: yesDiagnostic pathCopy link
Use Preview Rates to reproduce the cart with a known postcode, then compare the result with Reports and Activity Log. This narrows down whether the problem is data entry, packing, pricing, or billing.
SupportCopy link
If you need help, contact the Shipping Calculator support team.
Contact supportCopy link
- Email:
[email protected] - Include your Shopify store domain.
- Include the destination postcode and sample cart details.
- Include screenshots from Preview Rates, Reports, or Activity Log when possible.
- Include the approximate time the issue occurred.
Support response quality
The more detail you provide, the faster a checkout or pricing issue can be reproduced and resolved.