---
title: "Shipping and delivery"
description: "Calculate live shipping rates, select or override a shipping method, set lift gate and ship/delivery date options, or switch the order to in-store pickup on the create order screen."
doc_type: how-to
audience: merchant
sidebar_position: 4
# Provenance — do not edit by hand; used by re-run diffing and redirects.
confluence_page_id: "4159864887"
confluence_url: "https://ultracart.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/ucdoc/pages/4159864887"
last_updated_in_confluence: "2026-02-18T21:41:36.267Z"
---
After adding items and setting addresses, you configure how the order gets to the customer. UltraCart can calculate live shipping rates, let you override costs, and supports in-store pickup as an alternative to shipping.

## Overview

The shipping section sits below the items table on the create order screen. It has two columns: shipping methods on the left, and order options (coupons, gift certificates, storefront, sales rep) on the right. The order options are covered in [Discounts and credits](./discounts-and-credits.md).

## Calculating shipping estimates

Select **Calculate** to request shipping estimates from UltraCart. The system evaluates the current cart contents, shipping address, and package dimensions against your configured shipping methods and returns all applicable options.

![Shipping methods panel](pathname:///confluence/4159864887/oe-shipping-methods.png)

Results appear in a table showing each method's name, estimated delivery date, and cost. If no methods apply — for example, if the shipping address is incomplete or no methods are configured for the destination — a "Zero applicable shipping methods" message appears.

:::info

Shipping estimates are recalculated automatically when you change the residential flag on the shipping address, since residential vs commercial classification can affect rates.

:::

## Selecting a shipping method

Select the radio button next to a shipping method to apply it to the order. The selected method's cost is added to the order total.

If you recalculate shipping after selecting a method, UltraCart automatically re-selects the same method in the new results when it's still available.

## Overriding shipping cost

You can manually edit the cost field on any shipping method to override the calculated rate. Overridden costs are visually highlighted so you can tell at a glance which methods have been adjusted.

This is useful for offering discounted or free shipping to a customer during a phone order.

## Shipping options

Additional options appear below the shipping method selection when a method is chosen:

-   **Lift gate** — request a lift gate for freight shipments. This is automatically required for residential addresses on methods that support it.
-   **3rd party shipper account** — enter a third-party shipper account number for methods that allow third-party billing.
-   **Exempt from handling charges** — toggle this on to remove handling charges from the order. Changing this triggers a recalculation.
-   **Ship date** — select a specific date for the order to ship (available when your merchant configuration allows ship date selection).
-   **Delivery date** — select a requested delivery date (available when your configuration allows it; Sundays are blocked).

## Packing solution

A **Packing Solution** link is available that opens the UltraCart packing solution page for the current cart. This shows how items will be packed into boxes based on your configured packing rules.

## In-store pickup

You can switch the order from shipping to in-store pickup using the pickup toggle in the shipping address section. When pickup mode is enabled:

1.  The shipping address fields are replaced with pickup-specific selectors.
2.  Select a **pickup location** from your configured locations.
3.  Select a **pickup date** from the available dates for that location.
4.  Select a **pickup time** from the available time slots (if the location uses time-based scheduling).

The pickup selection is saved to the server and replaces the shipping method for the order.

:::info

Switching back from pickup to shipping restores the standard shipping address form and shipping method selection.

:::

## Related pages

-   [Creating an order](./creating-an-order.md)
-   [Items and products](./items-and-products.md)
-   [Discounts and credits](./discounts-and-credits.md)
-   [Payment methods](./payment-methods.md)