“We deliver within 5 km” is a clear promise. WooCommerce has no radius setting of its own, but you can add one with a shipping method that measures the distance from your shop to the customer’s address.
Straight line or driving distance?
| Straight-line radius | Driving distance | |
|---|---|---|
| Measured | As the crow flies, from the shop | Along the roads, by car or by bike |
| Google APIs | Geocoding API | Routes API (or the legacy Directions API) |
| Fits | Compact areas without rivers or highways in the way | Areas where the road distance differs a lot from the straight line |
| Shipping Zones by Drawing | Free and Premium | Premium |
Set up a radius with the free Shipping Zones by Drawing
- Install Shipping Zones by Drawing and add your Google Maps API keys in its settings.
- Set your store location on the settings page.
- In WooCommerce → Settings → Shipping, add the method Shipping Zones by Drawing to a zone that covers your country.
- Under Restrict by Zone, choose By Radius and set the Maximum radius in km or miles.
- Set the price. Addresses further away cannot choose the method.
Two prices, for example $3 within 3 km and $6 within 6 km? Add two methods. A customer within 3 km qualifies for both, so turn on Show only lowest cost shipping method (Premium), or draw the outer area as a ring instead.
A fixed price inside the radius, then per km
With Premium, one method can do both. Choose fixed rate + straight-line distance charge beyond included radius. Example: fixed rate 0, included radius 1 km and 1 per km gives free delivery within 1 km and then $1 per km. The distance is charged exactly, not rounded. See it set up step by step: free within 1 km, then $1 per km →
Limit by driving distance or time
If a river or a highway makes the road trip much longer than the straight line, use driving distance. Premium can limit a method to a maximum driving distance or a maximum driving time in minutes, by car or by bike, and price it per km or mile. The distance can also start from another shop or warehouse.
Show the radius to customers
Put the [szbd] shortcode on a page to show your delivery zones and radius circles on a map. Customers can also check their own address with Check My Address.
Questions
Can I set a delivery radius without a plugin?
Not as a distance. WooCommerce only matches countries, states and postcodes. You can list the postcodes inside your radius, but the edge will follow postcode borders.
Do I need a Google Maps API key?
Yes. Shipping Zones by Drawing uses Google to find the address and measure the distance. Google Maps Platform needs a billing account.
Is the radius free?
Yes. Radius zones are in the free version. The fixed price plus a price per km beyond the radius, and driving distance, are in Premium, from $39 a year.
Next: See Shipping Zones by Drawing · Local delivery guide · Documentation