How to Set Up Shipping on TikTok Shop

Setting up shipping on your TikTok Shop can feel like the final hurdle before you can start making sales. This guide breaks down every step, from choosing your primary shipping method to crafting a great shipping template, so you can start delivering products to your customers smoothly and professionally.

Understanding Your Two Core Shipping Options

Before you get into the settings, you need to make one foundational decision: will you let TikTok handle your shipping, or will you manage it yourself? Both options have their pros and cons, and the right choice depends on your business's size, experience, and needs.

Option 1: Shipped by TikTok (Let TikTok Handle It)

When you choose "Shipped by TikTok," you tap into TikTok's own logistics network. They partner with carriers (like USPS or UPS, depending on your region) to provide shipping labels, which you'll print directly from your Seller Center. TikTok manages the tracking information automatically, sending updates to both you and your customer without you lifting a finger.

Who is this for? This method is fantastic for new sellers, small businesses shipping low volumes, or anyone who wants a straightforward, hands-off process.

Advantages:

• Simplicity: The entire process is integrated into the TikTok Shop Seller Center. You just print the provided label, pack your order, and drop it off. It’s a very clean workflow.
• Potentially Lower Costs: TikTok negotiates rates with its shipping partners, which can sometimes be cheaper than what you could get as a small-business owner at the retail counter.
• Automatic Tracking: Once the carrier scans your package, the tracking info is updated for the customer automatically. This reduces customer service inquiries and builds trust.
• Streamlined Workflow: Since everything lives inside the Seller Center, you don't need to juggle multiple websites or apps to buy postage and track shipments.

Disadvantages:

• Less Control: You have to use TikTok's designated carrier. If you prefer another shipping company or have a business account somewhere else, you can't use it.
• Strict Packaging Rules: You typically need to follow specific guidelines on packaging. This can limit your ability to use custom-branded boxes or mailers that are part of your brand experience.
• Limited Flexibility: You are bound by their timelines and processes. If a unique situation pops up, you have less freedom to handle it your own way.

Option 2: Shipped by Seller (You’re in the Driver’s Seat)

Choosing "Shipped by Seller" means you take full ownership of the fulfillment process. You are responsible for everything, from selecting your carrier (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.) and purchasing postage to getting a tracking number and manually entering it into the TikTok Shop Seller Center for each order.

Who is this for? This option is ideal for established sellers with an existing shipping workflow, businesses with relationships or negotiated rates with carriers, or brands that use custom packaging as a key part of their customer experience.

Advantages:

• Complete Control: You choose the exact carrier and service that works best for each shipment. Have a heavy item? Choose UPS Ground. Have a light one? USPS First-Class is a great fit.
• Freedom to Use Third-Party Tools: You can continue using familiar shipping software like Pirate Ship, Shippo, or the shipping features within your Shopify store to purchase and manage labels.
• Branding Opportunities: You are free to use whatever mailers, boxes, and inserts you like, allowing you to create a memorable unboxing experience for your customers.
• Potential for Better Rates: If you ship in high volumes and have negotiated commercial pricing with a carrier, your rates might be better than what TikTok offers.

Disadvantages:

• More Manual Labor: You're responsible for generating labels and, most importantly, accurately entering the tracking number for every single order back into TikTok Shop. An error here can lead to unhappy customers and account health penalties.
• Stricter Fulfillment Deadlines: TikTok has very clear rules about how quickly you must ship an order and update the tracking information. Failing to meet these deadlines consistently can negatively impact your shop’s standing.
• Increased Responsibility: If a package is lost or a tracking number doesn't work, it's on you to sort it out with both the customer and the carrier.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Set Up Your Shipping Templates

Once you’ve decided how you'll ship, you need to tell TikTok what you'll charge. You do this by creating shipping templates. A shipping template is a set of rules that calculates shipping costs for customers at checkout. You can create different templates for different types of products. For example, you might have one for light items like stickers and another for heavy items like sweatshirts.

1. Navigate to the Shipping Section

It's easy to find. Just log into your TikTok Shop Seller Center. On the left-hand navigation menu, click on Shipping, and from the dropdown, select Shipping Templates.

2. Create Your First Template

Click the "Add new template" button to get started. You'll be presented with a few fields to fill out:

• Template Name: Give it a descriptive name that you'll recognize later. Examples: "Standard Shipping," "Lightweight Apparel," "Free Shipping Over $75," or "Oversized Items."
• Ship From: Make sure your warehouse or shipping origin address is correct. This is used to calculate estimated delivery times.
• Shipping Rule: This is a very important setting that determines how your rates are calculated. You have a few options:

Flat Rate: A single, fixed shipping fee for all orders, no matter how much the customer buys. This is simple, but be careful - a flat rate of $5 might be profitable for a single T-shirt but will lose you money on a bulk order of five hoodies.

Weight-Based: This is the most popular and accurate method. You create weight tiers and set a price for each. For example:

• 0 to 0.99 lbs: $4.95
• 1 to 2.99 lbs: $8.95
• 3 lbs and up: $12.95

This method requires you to have accurate weight information for all your products.

Quantity-Based: You set a shipping charge per item. For example, the base fee is $5, and you add $1 for each additional item. This works well for products that are all roughly the same size and weight, like art prints or baseball caps.

3. Configure Regions and Fees

Next, you’ll define which regions you ship to and set the rates for those locations. For most new sellers in the United States, you will select all the states you are willing to ship to. Then, based on the shipping rule you selected (e.g., weight-based), you'll fill in the specific costs for operating within that region.

This is also where you can add a powerful sales incentive: a free shipping threshold. Look for an option that says something like "Free Shipping Over a Certain Amount." Ticking this box and entering a value (e.g., $50) can dramatically increase your average order value, as customers will often add one more item to their cart to avoid the shipping fee.

Connecting Your Products to Your New Shipping Rules

Creating a template is only half the battle. Now you need to assign it to your products so the system knows what to charge at checkout. If you skip this step, your products won't be calculated correctly.

Assigning Templates to New and Existing Products

When you upload a new product to TikTok Shop, you'll see a field in the logistics section labeled "Shipping Template." Simply select the template you created from the dropdown menu.

To update existing products, go to Products >, Manage Products. From here, you can edit products individually. However, if you need to update many products at once, use the batch tools. Select "Batch Edit" and find the option for updating shipping information. This lets you apply a new shipping template to dozens or hundreds of products at once, which is a massive time-saver for any growing shop.

Don't forget: If your shipping template is weight-based, double-check that every product in your catalog has an accurate weight entered. Getting this wrong can lead to you either overcharging customers (and losing sales) or undercharging (and losing profit).

Managing and Fulfilling Your First Orders

Once a sale comes in, the "Orders" tab in your Seller Center becomes your command center. The process for fulfilling an order differs slightly based on the shipping method you chose.

For "Shipped by TikTok" Users:

1. Go to Orders >, Manage Orders. Find the order you need to fulfill.
2. Select the order and click "Arrange Shipment."
3. The system will generate a shipping label from its partner carrier.
4. Print the label, pack the item securely, and attach the label to the package.
5. Drop the package off with the correct carrier. Tracking will update automatically.

For "Shipped by Seller" Users:

1. Go to Orders >, Manage Orders to see the customer and product details.
2. Switch to your preferred shipping service (like your carrier's website, your Shopify account, or a tool like Pirate Ship) and purchase a label.
3. Copy the tracking number.
4. Return to TikTok Seller Center, find the order, and choose "Arrange Shipment."
5. Select your carrier from the dropdown list and paste the full tracking number into the provided field. Submitting this marks the order as shipped.

Be prompt! TikTok's system monitors how quickly sellers dispatch orders and upload valid tracking. Staying on top of this is essential for maintaining good 'shop health' on the platform.

Final Thoughts

Setting up your TikTok Shop shipping properly from day one removes a major operational headache. The process comes down to choosing your method, building thoughtful shipping templates, and correctly assigning them to your products. Once it’s configured, you create a scalable system that supports your business as it grows.

With your shipping system in place, the real work of consistently creating engaging content to drive sales begins. We know how draining it can be to constantly plan, shoot, edit, and schedule videos for TikTok and every other platform just to stay relevant. That's why we designed Postbase to be a game-changer for video-first creators. Our visual calendar and rock-solid scheduler let you manage all your short-form video content in one place, so you can focus on building your brand without the chaos.