---
title: "How to offer free shipping on standard shipping only, not express"
description: "Make Standard free while Express and overnight stay full price, including with live carrier rates."
url: https://rmewfqxya.us.gleap.help/en/articles/26-how-to-offer-free-shipping-on-standard-shipping-only-not-express
collection: "Guides"
updated: 2026-10-30
language: en
---

# How to offer free shipping on standard shipping only, not express

Make Standard free while Express and overnight stay full price, including with live carrier rates.

_Updated October 2026_

**Short answer:** Shopify's free shipping discount makes every rate free, express included. To make only your standard rate free, you need a shipping discount that targets rates by name. In RM: Advanced Free Shipping, choose **Choose specific rates**, select your standard rate, and express stays full price.

## Why Shopify's built-in options fall short

-   **The free shipping discount** (**Discounts → Create discount → Free shipping**) makes every rate free when it applies. Its only rate control is **Exclude shipping rates over a certain amount**, which filters by price, not by name.
    
-   **Excluding rates over an amount** only works while express always costs more than standard. Live carrier rates change with weight and distance, so a heavy order's standard rate can cost more than a light order's express rate.
    
-   **A free rate in Shipping and delivery** ("Offer free shipping" above a minimum order amount) works when the offer is the same for everyone that rate covers. It can't be limited to a discount code, a group of customers, dates or what's in the cart.
    

## How to set it up

1.  In the app, click **Create Shipping Discount** and choose **Automatic discount** or **Discount code**.
    
2.  Under **Conditions**, add **Cart total** **Is at least** 100, or your own threshold. Leave Conditions empty to make standard shipping free on every order.
    
3.  Under **Discount setup**, choose **Shipping**, then **Choose specific rates**, and select your standard rate from the list.
    
4.  Set **Discount value** to **Free**, then click **Create discount**.
    

![Discount setup in RM: Advanced Free Shipping with Choose specific rates, the Standard rate selected, and Discount value Free](https://staticfiles.us.gleap.ai/p6ad4251a43e13d5e6030fd91/uTOwm0p6vT0xkvPMdFjFOgZZZLdiSqP4wHNasBwdBsZ59u6JmG5sBgDVdBJSp2AyHYE4x51XzkI.png)

Express, overnight and every rate you didn't select stay full price.

## When the rate name changes at checkout

Carrier rates often show a slightly different name at checkout, such as "UPS® Ground" or "Standard (3–5 business days)". Type a keyword like "Ground" or "Standard" and choose **Add "Standard" (wildcard match)**. It matches every rate whose name contains that word, ignoring upper and lower case. See [Choose which rates to discount](https://rmewfqxya.us.gleap.help/en/articles/6-choose-which-rates-to-discount.md).

![Typing a rate name shows matching rates plus an Add (wildcard match) option](https://staticfiles.us.gleap.ai/p6ad4251a43e13d5e6030fd91/FoPPTCceM2U0em8q5J2yXI12wN3BrVBt78KcDdwK5Ax3zaUJL0S93FZ2bh2W9YOpoiibxI80f36.png)

## Variations

-   **Free standard and $10 off express**: in the **⋯** menu on Discount setup, choose **Add delivery discount**, select your express rate and set **Fixed Amount Off** 10.
    
-   **Free on whichever rate is cheapest**: choose **Cheapest shipping rate** instead. The cheapest rate is worked out at checkout, so this works with live carrier rates.
    
-   **Only with a code**, for example in a welcome email: choose **Discount code** and use that code in the email.
    
-   **Only in some countries or states**: add **Shipping country** or **Province / State** conditions. See [Free shipping by state, ZIP code or postcode](https://rmewfqxya.us.gleap.help/en/articles/31-free-shipping-by-state-zip-code-or-postcode.md).
    

## Good to know

-   Discounts apply to whole rates. Customers who choose express pay its full price.
    
-   If a $0 rate already shows (for example a free rate from your shipping settings), there's nothing left to discount, and **Cheapest shipping rate** picks that $0 rate.
    
-   Try it before customers see it with [Test mode](https://rmewfqxya.us.gleap.help/en/articles/3-test-a-discount-before-going-live.md).
    

## Common questions

**Can I make standard shipping free with a discount code instead?**  
Yes. Choose **Discount code** when you create the discount. The code then makes only the rates you selected free.

**Does it work with USPS, UPS, FedEx, Australia Post or Canada Post rates?**  
Yes. Live carrier rates can be targeted by name like any other rate. If the name varies at checkout, use a wildcard keyword such as "Ground".

**Will customers still see express shipping?**  
Yes, at its normal price. The app discounts rates and never hides them.

**What if standard sometimes costs more than express?**  
Targeting by name ignores price, so standard stays free and express stays full price whatever each one costs.