Configure WooCommerce delivery rules

Updated September 20, 2026

WooCommerce delivery rules let Delivery Dates adjust the store baseline for particular goods, destinations and services. Rules are deterministic, so the same product, customer context and calculation time produce the same estimate.

WooCommerce delivery rules use live store data#

Shipping class, shipping zone and shipping method choices are loaded from the current WooCommerce configuration. The Applies to field is an enhanced multiple selector: open it, search or browse the available services, and keep the selected choices as removable chips. This avoids the large native scrolling list used by older builds.

If a previously imported reference is unavailable on this site, it remains visibly selected as unavailable so it can be corrected without being silently lost. Each shipping-rule card can be collapsed, and its open or closed state is remembered in that browser.

Shipping class, zone and method rules#

• Shipping class rules: all matching enabled rules add their days. Their excluded delivery weekdays merge, and the earliest applicable cut-off is used. You can also target products with no shipping class.
• Shipping zone rules: normal exports use WooCommerce’s stable numeric zone IDs. A purpose-built migration file can explicitly ask Delivery Dates to match an exact zone name on the importing site.
• Shipping method rules: the first matching enabled rule wins. Method instances are identified as method_id:instance_id, so two Flat Rate instances can have different delivery calendars.

Use custom wording for a shipping method#

A shipping method can replace the normal delivery message shown beneath that rate in cart and checkout. This is useful for a guaranteed service while ordinary services continue using the placement or global wording.

1. Open WooCommerce > Delivery Dates > Shipping rules.
2. Open Shipping method rules and find or add the relevant service.
3. Enable Use custom delivery wording for this shipping method. The wording field appears only while the option is enabled.
4. Enter a message such as Guaranteed Delivery: {date}. You can also use {date_from} and {date_to} for ranges.
5. Save the tab and check the cart with that shipping method available.

The method-specific message has priority over the package placement wording and the global plain or styled wording. It changes the label only. The shipping method’s calculated date, added days, carrier calendar and excluded delivery weekdays still come from the matched rule.

Saturday delivery by shipping method#

Store processing days, carrier operating days and customer delivery days are separate controls. Do not exclude Saturday globally if only some services do not deliver then. Keep Saturday available in the default carrier calendar where appropriate, then create a shipping-method rule for each service that does or does not deliver on Saturday. Use Carrier works on and No delivery on in that method rule, then verify representative services in Diagnostics.

WooCommerce delivery rules and calculation order#

The calculation begins with global preparation and carrier days. It then applies cut-offs, matching shipping rules, backorder delay, one targeted product delay, working calendars and holidays. The final date is moved away from excluded delivery weekdays.

Configure WooCommerce zones before creating zone and method rules. WooCommerce assigns a customer to the first matching zone, so ordering and coverage matter. See the WooCommerce shipping zones guide.

Product, category and tag delays#

A product can match several targeted delay rules, but only one applies. A specific product or variation rule takes precedence over a category rule, and a category rule takes precedence over a tag rule. Within the winning scope, the lowest priority number wins. The largest delay resolves a priority tie.

1. Open Product delays.
2. Select Add delay rule, add a label and choose Product, Category or Tag.
3. Search for one or more targets instead of loading the whole catalogue.
4. Enter additional working days and a numeric priority.
5. Optionally choose an availability date and a stock condition.
6. Save, then verify the product in Diagnostics.

If no targeted delay is needed, leave the list empty. Removing the final rule removes the card completely rather than leaving an enabled blank rule.

Set availability dates and stock conditions#

Available for preparation from is useful for incoming stock, pre-orders and seasonal products. When the date is in the future, preparation begins from that date and the rule’s additional preparation days are then counted using the store working calendar. A past date no longer delays the estimate.

Stock condition limits a targeted rule to any stock state, in-stock items, items actually backordered for the requested quantity, or out-of-stock items. An Out of stock only rule explicitly allows Delivery Dates to show an estimate for its matching targets. Use it only where the availability date or other business information makes that promise reliable.

Backorders, variations and multiple packages#

The global backorder delay is added once when the actual simple product or selected variation is on backorder. Variation stock and shipping class values are used where available. In a cart, Delivery Dates calculates each item and package separately. A package estimate uses its latest item date, and the overall order estimate uses the latest package date so it represents when the complete order is expected to have arrived.