How to set Australia remote postcode shipping rates in Shopify
Updated · SMART Shipping Rates (E-TRADE PARTNER)
Australia Post prices parcels by destination postcode zones, not by a single Remote checkbox. SMART Shipping Rates & Rules can turn those postcode ranges into calculated Shopify rates with wildcards (`*`) and numeric ranges (`...`). Calculated rates need Shopify Carrier Service. The ranges below follow published AusPost parcel charging zones (metro N1/V1/Q1/S1/W1 versus mid and north zones). Confirm against the current AusPost guide and your own carrier.
4.9 · SMART Shipping Rates does this with zones, calculated rates, and delivery customizations.
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- Why AU postcode bands matter
- What Shopify can and cannot do natively
- AusPost-style destination bands
- Copy-paste: remote and far-north pack
- Metro starting ranges (for the cheap zone)
- Setup steps in SMART Shipping Rates & Rules
- Worked example: $9 metro, $18 regional, $32 remote
- Tips
- PO Boxes and remote postcodes
- Frequently asked questions
A $12 national AU rate that works for Sydney and Melbourne will not cover a 15 kg carton to Broome, Nhulunbuy, or Mount Isa. The usual fix is three destination groups: metro, regional, and remote. SMART zones can hold the postcode ranges for each group.
AusPost does not publish one official remote list. It publishes charging zones (N1, N2, V1, Q1–Q4, S1, S2, NT1, W1–W3, T1). Merchants treat NT1, W3, Q4, and often Q3, W2, and S2 as the expensive bands. Use those bands as a starting pack, then edit to match how you actually ship.
Why AU postcode bands matter
- They recover north WA, NT, and north QLD cost that a metro flat rate hides.
- They let you keep competitive metro prices without undercharging remote carts.
- They give free-shipping exclusions a clear geography.
- They match how AusPost and many 3PLs already talk about the country.
What Shopify can and cannot do natively
Native Shopify can zone by Australian state. That puts Broome and Perth in the same Western Australia zone. You need postcode ranges inside the state. SMART Target by address on Postal code accepts comma-separated values, `*` wildcards, and `...` numeric ranges (for example `4806...4899`).
| Need | Native Shopify | SMART |
|---|---|---|
| One rate per state | Yes | Yes |
| Metro vs remote inside one state | Awkward | Postal code matches any, ranges and wildcards |
| Hide free shipping for remote postcodes | Limited | Delivery customizations or no free tier on that zone |
| Live AusPost checkout rates | Not this | Not this. SMART returns your calculated price |
AusPost-style destination bands
These ranges follow AusPost parcel charging-zone tables used in current Parcel Post easy guides (Table 3 style). They are destination postcodes, not a SMART built-in pack. Norfolk Island (2899) and Christmas/Cocos (6798–6799) are special services; price them on purpose or exclude them.
| Band | AusPost zone | Postcodes | SMART paste |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Territory | NT1 | 0800–0999 | 0800...0999 |
| North Western Australia | W3 | 6700–6797 | 6700...6797 |
| Mid Western Australia | W2 | 6215–6699 | 6215...6699 |
| North Queensland | Q4 | 4806–4899 | 4806...4899 |
| Mid Queensland | Q3 | 4450–4499, 4700–4805, 9920–9959 | 4450...4499,4700...4805,9920...9959 |
| Other South Australia | S2 | 5200–5749 | 5200...5749 |
| Broken Hill | S2 (charged as SA) | 2880 | 2880 |
| Norfolk Island | NF | 2899 | 2899 |
| Christmas / Cocos | W4 in some guides | 6798–6799 | 6798...6799 |
Copy-paste: remote and far-north pack
Use this as a starting Remote Australia zone (NT, north and mid WA, mid and north QLD, other SA, plus the specials above). Country Australia. Postal code, matches any:
0800...0999,2880,2899,4450...4499,4700...4805,4806...4899,5200...5749,6215...6699,6700...6797,6798...6799,9920...9959
Metro starting ranges (for the cheap zone)
Keep these on a separate Metro zone so they never inherit the remote price. These are the main AusPost metro-style bands. They are not every suburb you might call metro.
| City band | Zone | Postcodes | SMART paste |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney metro | N1 (core) | 1000–2263, 2500–2530, 2555–2574, 2740–2786, 2890 | 1000...2263,2500...2530,2555...2574,2740...2786,2890 |
| Melbourne metro | V1 (core) | 3000–3220, 3335–3341, 3425–3443, 3750–3811, 3910–3920, 3926–3944, 3972–3978, 3980–3983, 8000–8999 | 3000...3220,3335...3341,3425...3443,3750...3811,3910...3920,3926...3944,3972...3978,3980...3983,8000...8999 |
| Brisbane / near QLD | Q1 | 4000–4224, 4226–4299, 4500–4549, 9000–9299, 9400–9596, 9700–9799 | 4000...4224,4226...4299,4500...4549,9000...9299,9400...9596,9700...9799 |
| Adelaide metro | S1 | 5000–5199, 5800–5999 | 5000...5199,5800...5999 |
| Perth metro | W1 | 6000–6214, 6800–6999 | 6000...6214,6800...6999 |
Everything in that state that is not in metro or remote can sit in a Regional zone: either list the leftover ranges, or use a state-wide zone with does not match any on the metro and remote lists. Test the edges (for example 2263 vs 2264 in NSW).
Setup steps in SMART Shipping Rates & Rules
- Open Shipping rates and check the Carrier Service notice if zone creation is disabled.
- Create zone AU Metro. Country Australia. Target by address, Postal code, matches any, paste the metro ranges you actually serve at the cheap price.
- Create zone AU Remote. Country Australia. Paste the remote and far-north pack.
- Optional: create zone AU Regional for the leftover postcodes, or one national zone that uses does not match any on the metro and remote lists.
- Add rates on each zone (flat, weight tiers, or cart-total tiers). Skip free shipping on Remote unless you mean it.
- If a Shopify-native AU method still undercuts Remote, hide it in Delivery customizations when Shipping ZIP/Postal Code matches those remote ranges.
- Test in Checkout simulator with 2000 (Sydney), 4000 (Brisbane), 0870 (Alice Springs), 6725 (Broome), 4825 (Mount Isa), then confirm in real checkout.
Common mistake: one Western Australia zone
Perth (6000) and Broome (6725) are the same native Shopify state. If they share one rate, you are either overcharging Perth or undercharging Broome. Split W1 from W2/W3 with postcode ranges.
Worked example: $9 metro, $18 regional, $32 remote
A homewares store in Sydney wants three prices for parcels under 5 kg.
| Zone | Example postcodes | Rate under 5 kg |
|---|---|---|
| AU Metro | 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000 | $9 |
| AU Regional | 2650, 3550, 4350, 6330 | $18 |
| AU Remote | 0870, 4825, 6725, 2899 | $32, or hide and quote freight |
- Build the three zones with the paste lists above.
- Add a weight-tiered rate on each zone, or a flat rate if every parcel is similar.
- Exclude oversized products from the $9 metro rate with a product-tag condition.
- Use rate blending only if a remote surcharge should sit on top of a base rate as one method name.
Tips
- Lead the postal value with a zero for NT codes (`0800...0999`). Some checkouts send 800, some send 0800. Test both if you ship to Darwin or Alice Springs.
- Broken Hill 2880 is NSW geographically and often charged as SA. Put it in Remote or SA, not NSW metro.
- Download the current AusPost Parcel Post easy guide if you need every exception suburb. This page is a merchant starting pack.
- For UK and NZ geography, see UK Highlands and Islands and New Zealand rural delivery.
- General postal syntax: postcode rates and Shipping rates and zones.
Split AU metro, regional, and remote without a spreadsheet at checkout
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PO Boxes and remote postcodes
A remote postcode and a PO Box are different problems. Postcodes set the price. A PO Box can still be undeliverable at that price. Pair this zone setup with block PO Box shipping if your carrier will not deliver to Locked Bag or GPO Box addresses.
Frequently asked questions
›Can Shopify set different Australia shipping rates by postcode?
Native zones are strong at state level and weak inside a state. SMART can target AU postcode ranges with * wildcards and ... ranges on calculated rates when Carrier Service is available.
›What postcodes are remote in Australia?
There is no single official remote list. A practical starting pack is NT 0800–0999, north WA 6700–6797, mid WA 6215–6699, north QLD 4806–4899, mid QLD 4450–4499 and 4700–4805, other SA 5200–5749, plus 2880, 2899, and 6798–6799. Match your carrier.
›Do AU remote calculated rates need Carrier Service?
Yes, if SMART returns a new price. Hiding an existing cheap method for those postcodes in Delivery customizations does not.
›Is this a live Australia Post rate?
No. SMART returns the calculated price you configure. The postcode bands on this page follow published AusPost charging zones so your zones line up with how parcels are often costed.
›How should I handle 0800 Darwin postcodes?
Use 0800...0999 in the remote or NT zone. Test both 0800 and 800 if you see missed matches, because some address forms drop the leading zero.