Best way/plugin for Weight Based Shipping

Hi! Happy to help.

There are indeed API based rate calculation extensions that you can use. Here’s the Fedex extension, and here is UPS.

Both of these extensions will pull live rates automatically for these carriers, based on the weight and dimensions of the products that you’ve configured.

Here’s information on configuring the weights and dimensions: https://docs.woocommerce.com/document/adding-dimensions-and-weights-to-products-for-shipping/

I hope that’s helpful!

Ok cool, thank you.

Quick question since both of those are paid plugins and don’t seem to have a demo:

This will allow for accurate shipping rates without having to set up shipping zones and classes?

Also, with the 150-pound limit that is set by UPS, what happens when someone completes an order that is over 150 pounds? Specifically, curious how WooCommerce deals with this. Will it indicate that the order will be shipped in separate orders?

Thanks for your help!!

Hello again!

In regard to the 150 pound limit, yes, the products would need to be shipped in several boxes. The box packing calculations would come into play here.

You also asked:

This will allow for accurate shipping rates without having to set up shipping zones and classes?

Yes, as long as your packages have dimensions and weight and the plugin is configured correctly in terms of box sizes, then all the calculation is automatic. However, you would still need at least one shipping zone with the UPS method (for instance) added to that zone, so that WooCommerce knows where to look when the customer adds their address (and to take into account using different carriers when shipping internationally, for instance).

If you regularly have big and heavy items to ship, or need to use freight for some items, you can control the split of the package using the extension WooCommerce Advanced Shipping Packages.

Although they don’t have a demo as such, if you want to try the extension, please note we have a 30-day refund policy.

If the product doesn’t work the way you need or you think another product would work better, we are more than happy to offer a full refund. You can read more about our refund policy on our website here: https://woocommerce.com/refund-policy/

I’m going to mark this as resolved, but if you have any further questions, please feel free to start a new thread!