Build rules
Rule priority and conflicts
How ShipRule combines several matching rules, how rule order decides renames and moves, the “first matching rule only” strategy and the safety switch.
When more than one rule matches a checkout, ShipRule combines them in a fixed, predictable way. All your rules run together in ShipRule’s single delivery customization, in priority order.
Rule order
Rules run from top to bottom, in the order shown on Shipping rules. The rule at the top has the highest priority.
- Basic and Growth: rules run in the order you created them. A duplicated rule is placed right below the original.
- Pro: set your own order. In the All tab, with the search box empty, drag a row by its handle or use the ↑ and ↓ arrows in the Priority column. The new order is saved right away.
How matching rules combine
By default, ShipRule uses Apply every matching rule (in Settings → When several rules match):
| Action | When several rules match |
|---|---|
| Hide | Hides add up: a method hidden by any rule stays hidden |
| Show only | A method must be allowed by every matching show-only rule |
| Rename | The rule higher in the list wins |
| Move | The rule higher in the list wins |
Hidden methods aren’t renamed or moved.
Example: Rule 1 renames Standard to Standard (3–5 days). Rule 2, lower in the list, renames Standard to Ground. When both match, buyers see Standard (3–5 days).
Apply only the first matching rule (Pro)
In Settings → When several rules match, choose Apply only the first matching rule and click Save. ShipRule then stops at the highest-priority rule that matches the checkout and ignores the rest — even rules that would hide or rename different methods.
Use it when your rules are alternatives, such as one rule per region where only the first that fits should apply. Put the most specific rules at the top.
The safety switch
Never hide every shipping option (Settings → Safety) is on by default. If your rules would remove every delivery method from a checkout, ShipRule doesn’t hide any of them, so buyers can still choose a method and check out. Renames and moves still apply.
Turn it off only if you intentionally want to prevent orders — for example, to addresses you can’t ship to. Then a rule that hides everything leaves the buyer with no delivery method for that address.
Important: With the safety switch off, a mistake in a rule can stop buyers from checking out. Test carefully in your checkout after every change.
The switch applies to each group of delivery options separately: if a checkout has more than one group, a group whose options would all be hidden keeps all of them, while hides in the other groups still apply.
Tips for complex setups
- Put the rules that must win renames and moves at the top.
- Use show only sparingly: two show-only rules that don’t share a method leave nothing allowed, and the safety switch then keeps every method visible.
- Prefer one rule with condition groups (Pro) over several rules that overlap.
- Check the result in your checkout with carts that match one rule, several rules and none.