Shipping Options
Configure how each product is measured, weighed, and packaged for shipping. These settings feed smart packaging and carrier rate shopping, so accurate values here mean accurate shipping quotes at checkout.
Availability: Commerce and up (paid plans). Shipping and Carrier Services (rate shopping, booking and labels) unlock at Commerce. On Free, products have no shipping configuration.
Overview
Each product in your catalog can have its own shipping configuration that tells TimberCloud:
- How it ships — Assembled or as separate parts
- What dimensions to use — Line items, product options, or auto-detection
- What it weighs — Direct values or density-based calculations
- How to package it — Box, pallet, or automatic selection
Shipping Mode
The most important shipping decision: does your product ship as a single assembled unit or as separate unassembled parts?
Ships Assembled (Default)
When enabled, the product ships as a complete unit:
- Overall product dimensions are used for packaging
- Dimension fields map directly to shipping dimensions
- Best for finished goods and assembled furniture
Example: A cabinet door ships fully assembled in a single box.
Ships Unassembled
When enabled, the product ships as separate components:
- Each part is extracted and packaged individually
- Parts can be consolidated or packaged separately
- Best for large furniture, kits, or flat-pack products
Example: A dining table ships with the tabletop on a pallet and legs in a separate box.
| Mode | Use Case | Dimension Source |
|---|---|---|
| Assembled | Finished products, small items | Line items or product options |
| Unassembled | Large furniture, kits | Individual part dimensions |
When Ships Unassembled is selected, you'll see a summary of configured parts. If no parts are defined, you'll be prompted to add them in the Parts section.
Package Type
Control how the packaging algorithm handles this product:
| Type | Behavior | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Generate | Algorithm determines optimal packaging | Most products (recommended) |
| Box | Always package in boxes | Parcel-shippable items |
| Pallet | Always ship on pallets | Heavy or oversized items |
Auto Generate (Recommended)
The algorithm checks product dimensions against carrier limits:
- Max single dimension: 108" → Pallet
- Length + girth: > 165" → Pallet
- Max weight: > 150 lbs → Pallet
- Otherwise → Box
See Smart Packaging for detailed algorithm behavior.
Freight Class
For LTL (freight) shipments, freight class determines shipping cost based on density and handling characteristics.
| Class | Density (lbs/ft³) | Typical Products |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50+ | Heavy steel, cement |
| 55-70 | 22.5-50 | Dense hardwood, stone |
| 77.5-100 | 9-15 | Furniture, cabinets |
| 110-150 | 6-9 | Assembled furniture |
| 175-250 | 3-6 | Particle board, thin panels |
| 300-500 | < 3 | Lightweight materials |
Lower class = lower cost. Dense, stackable products get better freight rates.
When to Set Freight Class
- Products that often ship freight — Set for accurate LTL rates
- Mixed shipping methods — Auto mode uses this when products go to pallets
- Consistent product density — Set once, applies to all orders
If left empty, the system uses a default density when calculating weights for parts in Auto weight mode.
Dimension Mapping
When shipping assembled, you must tell TimberCloud which fields represent the shipping dimensions. The system can auto-detect common field names or you can map explicitly.
Mappable Fields
For each dimension (width, length, height, weight), you can map to:
| Source | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-detect | Matches common field names | width, height, depth, length |
| Line Items | Fields from your line item groups | thickness, board_width, panel_height |
| Product Options | Values from selected attributes | Wood Type → thickness, Size → width |
Line Item Mapping
Map shipping dimensions to fields customers enter during ordering:
Width → width (line item)
Length → height (line item)
Height → thickness (line item)
Weight → weight (line item)
Product Option Mapping
Map dimensions to attribute selections that carry dimension values:
Width → Size.width
Length → Size.length
Height → Material.thickness
This is useful when product options like "Material" or "Size" include dimension-affecting values.
Auto-Detection
When set to "Auto-detect", the system looks for these field names:
| Dimension | Recognized Names |
|---|---|
| Width | width, w, panel_width |
| Length | length, l, height, h |
| Height | depth, d, thickness, t |
| Weight | weight, wt, lbs |
Unit Configuration
Specify what units your dimension and weight fields use.
Dimension Units
| Unit | Abbreviation | Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| Inches | in | Base unit |
| Feet | ft | × 12 to inches |
| Centimeters | cm | × 0.3937 to inches |
| Meters | m | × 39.37 to inches |
| Millimeters | mm | × 0.03937 to inches |
Weight Units
Actual Weight:
| Unit | Abbreviation |
|---|---|
| Pounds | lbs |
| Ounces | oz |
| Kilograms | kg |
| Grams | g |
Density-Based Weight:
| Unit | Description |
|---|---|
| lb/ft³ | Pounds per cubic foot |
| lb/in³ | Pounds per cubic inch |
| kg/m³ | Kilograms per cubic meter |
| lb/ft² | Pounds per square foot (sheet goods) |
| lb/in² | Pounds per square inch |
| kg/m² | Kilograms per square meter |
| lb/bf | Pounds per board foot (lumber) |
Density-Based Weight Calculation
When using density units, the system calculates actual weight from dimensions:
Volume × Density = Weight
Example (lb/ft³):
24" × 36" × 0.75" = 648 cubic inches
648 ÷ 1728 = 0.375 cubic feet
0.375 ft³ × 35 lb/ft³ = 13.125 lbs
This is ideal when your weight varies predictably with size, like lumber or sheet goods.
Complete Example
Cabinet Door (Ships Assembled)
Shipping Mode: Ships Assembled ✓
Package Type: Auto Generate
Freight Class: 100 (furniture density)
Dimension Mapping:
Width → width (line item)
Length → height (line item)
Height → thickness (line item)
Weight → Auto-detect
Units:
Dimensions: Inches
Weight: lb/ft³ (density-based)
Result: When a customer orders a 24" × 36" × 0.75" door, shipping calculations use those exact dimensions and calculate weight from density.
Dining Table (Ships Unassembled)
Shipping Mode: Ships Unassembled ✓
Package Type: Auto Generate
Freight Class: 85
Parts: (configured in Parts section)
- Tabletop: 72" × 42" × 2", package separately
- Legs (4): 4" × 4" × 29", stackable
- Apron (2): 3" × 60" × 4", stackable
Result: The tabletop ships on its own pallet, while legs and aprons consolidate into boxes. See Parts for configuration details.
Saving Configuration
All shipping options are saved together with a single Save Configuration button. Changes include:
- Shipping mode (assembled/unassembled)
- Package type
- Freight class
- Dimension field mappings
- Unit settings
A Reset button restores the last saved configuration.
Integration with Other Features
Parts & Components
When using Ships Unassembled, the system pulls part definitions from the Parts section:
- Each part becomes a separate item for packaging
- Parts can have their own dimension formulas
- Parts marked "Package Separately" get individual packages
Shipping Rates
These settings directly affect Rate Shopping:
- Dimensions determine package sizes
- Weight affects carrier rates
- Freight class affects LTL pricing
- Package type influences carrier selection
Smart Packaging
The Packaging Algorithm uses these settings to:
- Extract dimensions from orders
- Calculate weights
- Determine box vs pallet
- Group items efficiently
Best Practices
- Set units first — Ensure your dimension fields match the configured units
- Use density for variable products — More accurate than fixed weights
- Test with sample orders — Verify dimensions calculate correctly
- Set freight class for heavy items — Improves LTL rate accuracy
- Use Parts for complex products — Better packaging optimization
Troubleshooting
Shipping Rates Seem Wrong
- Verify dimension mappings are correct
- Check that units match your field values
- Ensure freight class is set for heavy items
- Test with manual package editing
Dimensions Not Calculating
- Confirm field names match exactly (case-sensitive)
- Verify the mapped fields exist on the product
- Check that line items have the expected fields
Weight Issues
- For density mode: verify dimensions are valid
- Check density value is reasonable (wood is 30-50 lb/ft³)
- Ensure weight unit matches your data
Unassembled Products Shipping as One Package
- Verify Ships Unassembled is selected (not assembled)
- Check that parts are defined in the Parts section
- Ensure parts have valid dimensions
Next Steps
- Parts & Components — Define individual product components
- Smart Packaging — How the packaging algorithm works
- Rate Shopping — Compare carrier rates
- Configuration — Company-wide shipping settings