What are shipping zones.

The basics

Zones group destinations by distance from your origin ZIP. Zone 1 is local; the number climbs as distance grows, commonly through Zone 8 and beyond.

How carriers use them

Rate cards are organized by zone and weight. The same package costs more the higher its zone, so distance is priced directly into every shipment.

Why your origin matters

Zones are measured from where you ship. A single warehouse means high zones to the far side of the country on every order, which is why placement matters so much.