Key takeaways
- Shipping text in the checkout flow is edited via Online Store > Themes > Edit languages.
- Your shipping policy page text lives in Settings > Policies.
- Shipping rate names (what customers see in checkout) are set in Settings > Shipping and delivery.
- All three areas serve different purposes - make sure you’re editing the right one.
“Shipping” text in Shopify lives in three separate places. Understanding which one does what saves a lot of time when you’re trying to make a specific change.
Why you can trust us
We’ve helped hundreds of Shopify merchants set up and customise their shipping information. We also built Fudge — an AI storefront editor with a 5.0 rating on the Shopify App Store.
The three types of shipping text in Shopify
1. Checkout shipping labels - the UI text in the checkout flow (“Shipping method”, “Choose shipping”, “Estimated delivery”). Edited in the language file.
2. Shipping policy - your written policy text (“We ship within 1-3 business days…”). Edited in Settings > Policies. Displays in checkout and footer.
3. Shipping rate names - what customers see when choosing a shipping option (“Standard Shipping”, “Express”, “Free Shipping”). Edited in Settings > Shipping and delivery.
How to edit shipping checkout labels
These are the UI strings that appear throughout the checkout steps:
Step 1. Go to Online Store > Themes > Edit languages.
Step 2. Search for shipping in the search box.
Step 3. You’ll see strings like:
- “Shipping method” (the section heading)
- “Continue to payment” (button after selecting shipping)
- “Estimated delivery” label
- “Free” (appears next to free shipping rates)
Step 4. Edit the strings you want to update.
Step 5. Save.
How to edit your Shopify shipping policy
Your shipping policy is a text document that Shopify links to in the checkout and in your footer.
Step 1. Go to Settings in Shopify Admin.
Step 2. Click Policies.
Step 3. Find Shipping policy and click Edit.
Step 4. Write or update your shipping policy content. Cover: processing times, shipping methods, estimated delivery, international shipping, what happens if a parcel is lost.
Step 5. Save.
The policy automatically appears as a link in your checkout footer (“Shipping policy”) and can be linked in your theme footer navigation.
How to change shipping rate names
The names customers see when selecting a shipping method in checkout (“Standard Shipping”, “Express”, “Free Shipping”) are controlled by your shipping rate settings.
Step 1. Go to Settings > Shipping and delivery.
Step 2. Under Shipping > your shipping zones > click Edit rate next to the rate you want to rename.
Step 3. Update the Rate name field. This is exactly what customers will see.
Step 4. Save.
Examples of clear rate names:
- “Standard Shipping (3-5 business days)”
- “Express Shipping (1-2 business days)”
- “Free Standard Shipping”
- “Next Day Delivery”
Including the delivery estimate in the rate name reduces customer service queries about when orders will arrive.
Adding shipping information on product pages
Many stores benefit from showing estimated delivery or shipping information directly on the product page - before customers reach checkout.
Options:
Theme Editor block: Some themes have a “Shipping info” or “Delivery estimate” block for the product page. Check the Theme Editor > Main product section > Add block.
Custom text block: Add a rich text block with your shipping message manually. Less dynamic but functional.
Fudge: For a shipping information section that shows estimated delivery dates or free shipping threshold information dynamically, describe it to Fudge.
Example: “Add a shipping estimate row below the Add to Cart button on all product pages. Show ‘Free shipping on orders over $50’ and ‘Estimated delivery: 3-5 business days’.”
Free shipping threshold messaging
A powerful conversion tactic: showing how much more a customer needs to spend to qualify for free shipping. This lives in the cart drawer or cart page - not in the checkout shipping settings.
For cart drawer free shipping messaging, see the Fudge approach in the free shipping progress bar guide - the principle is the same.
