Manage your shipping settings

Carrier shipping [carrier_shipping]

The carrier shipping [carrier_shipping] attribute lets you provide shipping speed and cost for a product based on a carrier service. Shipping cost and speed will be calculated based on the origin location and the customer’s location.

Use this attribute when the account shipping settings for your product are not defined in Merchant Center or when you need to override the shipping settings that you set up in Merchant Center. You need to submit shipping weight [shipping_weight] and preferably add shipping dimensions to use carrier based shipping cost.

In this article

When to use

Optional Optional

Carrier cost and speeds provide more accurate shipping cost and speed for customers as their location is used to determine the shipping cost and transit time. Instead of providing cost and transit time directly, you can provide the carrier service you use and where you deliver from. For example, “I ship with US Mail carrier service from my warehouse in 94043”.

Sub-attributes

The carrier shipping [carrier_shipping] attribute uses sub-attributes to define country, delivery area, service, price, handling time, and transit time.

These are the various sub-attributes:

  • Country [country] (Required)
    The country that the product can be delivered to. Submit an ISO 3166-1 country code (for example: CH).
  • Delivery area (Optional)
    To specify where your product can be delivered, submit one (and only one) of the following:
    1. Region [region] (Optional)
      Submit a region, state, territory, or prefecture. This is supported for Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, India, Japan, New Zealand, and the United States. Submit a subdivision code from the ISO 3166-2 code tables (AU, BR, FR DE, IN, JP, NZ, US) without country prefix (for example, NSW, RJ, ARA, BE, AP, 03, AUK, NY).
    2. Postal code [postal_code] (Optional)
      Submit a postal code range. This is supported for Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, New Zealand, and the United States.
      • Use a ZIP or postal code (for example, 94043 for US and 2009 for Australia).
      • Use a range of postal codes (for example, 94002-95460 for US and 2009-3000 Australia).
      • Use a range of postal codes using a prefix with a wildcard ( * ) (for example, 94*).
      • Use a range of postal codes using 2 prefixes with wildcards ( * ) (for example, 94*-95*).
  • Origin Postal code [origin_postal_code] (Required)
    The Origin Postal code [origin_postal_code] is the domestic ZIP or postal code of the country that’s added in the Country [country] sub-attribute and from where the order is being shipped. For example, 94043 for US and 2009 for Australia.
  • Shipping price (Required to provide shipping speed overrides, otherwise optional)
    To specify shipping cost, submit one (and only one) of the following:
    1. Manual Price [flat_price]

      1. Submit a fixed shipping cost, and use a period [.] as the decimal separator (for example: 3.00 USD). Avoid commas [,] to ensure that the price is interpreted correctly.

    2. Carrier price [carrier_price]

      1. Indicate which carrier service the price should be derived from. In the table below, identify the carrier service, and input the Enumeration Value into the sub-attribute (view examples below).

If you submit the manual price [flat_price] or carrier price [carrier_price] sub-attributes of the carrier shipping [carrier_shipping] attribute, the account shipping service settings (including shipping service delivery times and minimum order value) will be ignored for the matching location for that product.
  • Carrier price adjustment (Optional)
    To indicate that the applied carrier rate should have a modification on them. This can be used for a discount or additional fees. Submit one (and only one) of the following:
    • Flat price adjustment [carrier_price_flat_adjustment]
      • Submit a fixed shipping cost, and use a period [.] as the decimal separator. For example: 3.00 USD. Avoid commas [,] to ensure that the price is interpreted correctly.
    • Percentage price adjustment [carrier_price_percentage_adjustment]
      • Submit either a positive or negative number that represents a percentage, for example, -25 for 25% off.
  • Handling time (Optional)
    To specify how long a product may spend in handling submit the following sub-attributes:

You may also use the standalone handling time attributes instead of the shipping handling time sub-attributes. If both are present then the shipping sub-attributes will be used.

Refrain from using both the carrier shipping [carrier_shipping] sub-attributes for handling time and the standalone attributes for handling time. If both sets of attributes are provided for a product, the carrier shipping sub-attributes will override standalone handling time attributes.

Use business days. For example, if a customer orders on Tuesday and the shipment leaves the warehouse on Friday at the latest, the maximum handling time is 3 days.

  • Transit time (Optional)
    To specify how long a product may spend in transit, submit one of the following options. Note that when the minimum and maximum transit time and carrier transit time are provided, carrier shipping will use the carrier transit time:
    • Manual transit time
      For a defined transit time, submit the following sub-attributes:
      • Minimum transit time [fixed_min_transit_time]
        This is the minimum number of days between when a product is handed off to a shipping carrier and when it's delivered to the customer.
      • Maximum transit time [fixed_max_transit_time]
        This is the maximum number of days between when a product is handed off to a shipping carrier and when it's delivered to the customer.
    • Carrier transit time [carrier_transit_time]
      To indicate transit time based on the carrier handling the delivery, in the table below, identify the carrier service, and input the Enumeration Value into the sub-attribute (view examples below). When selecting this option, the transit time will take into consideration both the shipping location specified in [origin_postal_code], as well as the user's destination when looking at the offer or product.
Note: For Google to calculate shipping speed, you must provide:
  • Values for the maximum handling time [max_handling_time], either the sub-attribute of carrier shipping [carrier_shipping] or the standalone attribute.
  • The transit time, either manually with the fixed max transit time [fixed_max_transit_time] sub-attribute or selecting a carrier in the carrier transit time [carrier_transit_time] sub-attribute of the carrier shipping [carrier_shipping] attribute.
  • A value for the price, either by manually inputting flat price [flat_price] or selecting carrier in the carrier price [carrier_price] sub-attribute of the carrier shipping [carrier_shipping] attribute.

These are required for the handling time and transit time to be considered valid. Multiple carriers and different shipping locations will require multiple shipping attributes.

Format

Follow these formatting guidelines to make sure Google understands the data you're submitting.

Type Unicode characters (Recommended: ASCII only)
Repeated field
(What’s this?)

Submit the shipping [carrier_shipping] attribute up to 10 times per product.

You can submit up to 100 [shipping] and [carrier_shipping] attributes in total
File format Example entry
Text feeds

Format the name by including which sub-attributes you’re submitting. Include carrier shipping [carrier_shipping], and then, in parentheses, add the names of the sub-attributes that you want to submit separated by a colon ( : ). For example, to submit country, origin postal code, carrier price, handling time, and transit time:

Name carrier_shipping(country:origin_postal_code:
carrier_price:min_handling_time:max_handling_time:
carrier_transit_time)

If you name the sub-attributes you're using, you can give them to us in any order. However, if you provide sub-attribute values but do not name them, we’ll assume that your attribute values include sub-attributes in this order:

  1. Country [country]
  2. Origin Postal code [origin_postal_code]
  3. Carrier Price [carrier_price]
  4. Max Handling Time [max_handling_time]
  5. Carrier transit time [carrier_transit_time]

Format the value by submitting the value of each sub-attribute listed in the same order as in the name and separated with a colon ( : ). Don’t use quotation marks. For example:

Name carrier_shipping(country:origin_postal_code:carrier_price:
min_handling_time:max_handling_time:fixed_min_transit_time:
fixed_max_transit_time)
Possible value US:80302:USPS_MEDIA_MAIL:1:3:2:5

To submit multiple locations, submit the attribute (with the same name) multiple times. For example:

Name carrier_shipping(country:region:carrier_price:min_handling_time:
max_handling_time:fixed_min_transit_time:fixed_max_transit_time)
Possible value US:CA:USPS_MEDIA_MAIL:1:3:2:5

Name carrier_shipping(country:region:carrier_price)
Possible value US:NY:USPS_PRIORITY_MAIL

If you don’t want to provide an optional sub-attribute for a particular product, then still add a colon ( : ), but leave the text blank. For example:

Name carrier_shipping
Possible value US:::USPS_MEDIA_MAIL

Name carrier_shipping(country:region:carrier_price)
Possible value US::USPS_MEDIA_MAIL
XML feeds

Include the optional sub-attributes if you need them. To specify a shipping cost for different delivery locations, submit the carrier shipping [carrier_shipping] attribute multiple times including the relevant sub-attributes for each.

<g:carrier_shipping>
<g:country>US</g:country>
<g:region>MA</g:region>
<g:carrier_price>USPS_PRIORITY_MAIL</g:carrier_price>
<g:min_handling_time>1</g:min_handling_time>
<g:max_handling_time>3</g:max_handling_time>
<g:fixed_min_transit_time>2</g:fixed_min_transit_time>
<g:fixed_max_transit_time>5</g:fixed_max_transit_time>
</g:carrier_shipping>
<g:carrier_shipping>
<g:country>US</g:country>
<g:region>WA</g:region>
<g:carrier_price>USPS_MEDIA_MAIL</g:carrier_price>
<g:min_handling_time>1</g:min_handling_time>
<g:max_handling_time>3</g:max_handling_time>
<g:carrier_transit_time>USPS_MEDIA_MAIL</g:carrier_transit_time>
</g:carrier_shipping>

An example of using a carrier for both price and transit time.

File format Example entry
Text (TSV)

Name carrier_shipping(country:origin_postal_code:carrier_price:
carrier_price_percentage_adjustment:max_handling_time:carrier_transit_time)
Possible value US:94043:USPS_MEDIA_MAIL:-25:2:USPS_MEDIA_MAIL
XML (Feeds)

<g:carrier_shipping>
<g:country>US</g:country>
<g:origin_postal_code>94043</g:origin_postal_code>
<g:carrier_price>USPS_MEDIA_MAIL</g:carrier_price>
<g:max_handling_time>2</g:max_handling_time>
<g:carrier_transit_time>USPS_MEDIA_MAIL</g:carrier_min_transit_time>
</g:carrier_shipping>

An example of using a carrier for transit time with manual shipping price.

File format Example entry
Text (TSV)

Name carrier_shipping(country:origin_postal_code:flat_price:max_handling_time:
carrier_transit_time)
Possible value US:94043:10.00 USD:2:USPS_MEDIA_MAIL
XML (Feeds)

<g:carrier_shipping>
<g:country>US</g:country>
<g:origin_postal_code>94043</g:origin_postal_code>
<g:flat_price>10.00 USD</g:flat_price>
<g:max_handling_time>2</g:max_handling_time>
<g:carrier_transit_time>USPS_MEDIA_MAIL</g:carrier_min_transit_time>
</g:carrier_shipping>

An example of manual transit time with carrier-based shipping price.

File format Example entry
Text (TSV)

Name carrier_shipping(country:origin_postal_code:carrier_price:max_handling_time:
fixed_max_transit_time)
Possible value US:94043:USPS_MEDIA_MAIL:2:5
XML (Feeds)

<g:carrier_shipping>
<g:country>US</g:country>
<g:origin_postal_code>94043</g:origin_postal_code>
<g:carrier_price>USPS_MEDIA_MAIL</g:carrier_price>
<g:max_handling_time>2</g:max_handling_time>
<g:fixed_max_transit_time>5</g:fixed_max_transit_time>
</g:carrier_shipping>

To format your data for Content API, check the Content API for Shopping resource.

Supported carrier services

Note: Multiple carriers and different shipping locations will require multiple shipping attributes.

Minimum requirements

These are the requirements you'll need to meet to show your product. If you don't follow these requirements, we'll disapprove your product and let you know in your Merchant Center account.

  • Submit complete and correct shipping information, including speed and costs.
  • To properly use carrier-based shipping cost it is also required to include the following attributes:
    • shipping weight [shipping_weight]
    • shipping length [shipping_length]
    • shipping width [shipping_width]
    • shipping height [shipping_height]
  • Shipping speed and cost are 2 of the most common reasons why shoppers abandon a product, so be sure that your shipping settings are accurate and up to date to make your ads and listings effective.
    • Include all relevant shipping charges. Include all charges for a purchase that include the words "shipping", "delivery", "handling", "logistics", or "carrier".
    • Overestimate if you can’t provide an accurate shipping cost. Match or overestimate the cost users would pay.Note that overestimating excessively may negatively impact your product performance.
  • Use the rate for shipping directly to an individual. Don’t use other rates such as the rate for shipping to a store or a rate that requires a membership to be applicable.
  • Display product details on your landing page to all users. Ensure when a user clicks your ad, can view details about your product, even if you don’t ship to the user’s location.
  • Comply with local laws when submitting shipping information.
  • Provide the country sub-attribute. Always provide the country [country] sub-attribute of the carrier shipping [carrier_shipping] attribute to ensure your products ship correctly.

Best practices

These best practices can help you go beyond the basic requirements to optimize your product data for performance.

  • Use account shipping settings in Merchant Center. With these settings you can create simple flat rates or complex, custom models. Use the carrier shipping [carrier_shipping] attribute as a last resort to override the settings you create in Merchant Center.
  • When selecting a carrier for shipping price, ensure the selected carrier is correctly written as the enumeration value listed.
  • When submitting a shipping price manually, ensure that it can be represented in your target country's currency (according to ISO 4217). For example, instead of 1.0012 USD, submit 1.01 USD. If your price can’t be represented in your target country's currency, then we’ll round it to a value that can.
  • When selecting a carrier for shipping transit time, ensure the selected carrier is correctly written as the enumeration value listed.
  • Use the shipping handling business days [shipping_handling_business_days] attribute if your handling business days aren’t the default Monday to Saturday. Customize this attribute when needed to help provide customers with accurate estimated delivery times.
  • Use the shipping transit business days [shipping_transit_business_days] attribute if your transit business days aren’t the default Monday to Saturday and if you manually enter your transit times using the minimum transit time [fixed_min_transit_time] and maximum transit time [fixed_max_transit_time] sub-attributes. Enter these attributes when needed to give accurate delivery times to customers.
Shipping configuration Transit time source Shipping_transit_business_days application Notes
Shipping attribute Merchant-defined Applies The merchant explicitly sets the transit time.
Carrier shipping attribute carrier_transit_time Doesn't apply Carrier-provided transit times are used.
Carrier shipping attribute fixed_transit_time Applies The merchant explicitly sets the transit time.
  • If you submit the attribute multiple times, avoid submitting conflicting information. For example, don’t submit 2 different prices for the same region.
  • Submit shipping promotions through the promotions feed. For example, if you're offering free shipping for a 2 week summer sale, upload a shipping promotion in the merchant promotion feed and enter the dates that it is valid for. Using the code will give consumers free shipping when they check out on the website.
  • Prominently state all additional charges that aren't related to shipping but relevant for the purchase during checkout. For example, list import duties, recycling fees, payment information, and service charges. Don’t submit this information as part of the tax or price attributes, instead bundle them with the Merchant Center shipping cost in the shipping attribute, or using the Merchant Center shipping services.
  • Submit shipping costs for any region you ship to. If you don’t submit a shipping cost for a region that you ship to, either in your product data or through your account shipping settings, your product or account could be disapproved.
  • Align your Shopping campaigns in Google Ads with your shipping settings and the availability of your product.
  • Do not include government-imposed fees such as import duties, recycling fees, copyright fees, or state-specific retail delivery fees in the carrier_shipping cost.
Note: If your primary data feed is for a country where shipping is mandatory, and you also sell in a country where it’s not (and have therefore not submitted shipping information), your product may still display a “price + shipping charges” annotation when shown on the Shopping tab in the country for which you did not provide shipping information. To avoid a “price + shipping charges” annotation, ensure that you're only selling in countries where shipping is not mandatory.

Examples

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