Free shipping threshold calculator
Compute the minimum free-shipping threshold (free shipping from X €) so your target contribution% is not undercut by shipping costs — incl. scenario without/with AOV uplift and traffic light.
Note: results are not made indexable via URL parameters. Canonical: https://tools.snapsoft.de/en/tools/versand-freigrenze
Who is this for?
- D2C/shop teams setting a free-shipping threshold without killing contribution
- Performance marketing teams grounding promos/free shipping in economics
- Finance/controlling as a quick unit-economics check
Free shipping from X €: profitable, not gut-feel
“Free shipping from …” can lift conversion and AOV — but it also adds real per-order euros. Without a guardrail, free shipping quickly eats contribution margin.
This calculator gives you a simple lower bound: at which order value can you absorb shipping cost without dropping below your target contribution% (incl. realism check vs AOV).
Calculator
Max 6 inputs, clear outputs. Everything runs locally in your browser.
Inputs
Advanced options
Tip: If you already know contribution % (before shipping), set “Total fees” to 0%.
Result
How it works
Model: (contribution\% = margin\% − fees\% − shipping / V\), where (V\) is the order value.
Minimum threshold (T\): (T = shipping / (margin − fees − target)\). Requirement: (margin − fees > target\).
Scenario: AOV uplift does not change (T\), it only affects the realism check (traffic light). Traffic light: green up to (1.3\times AOV\), yellow up to (1.6\times AOV\), else red.
Quick conclusion
- Use the threshold as a hard lower bound: below it, free shipping is a contribution risk.
- If the threshold feels “too high”, AOV uplift and shipping cost are your two strongest levers.
- More headroom (margin↑/fees↓) directly lowers the required threshold.
Sources & notes
Disclaimer: assumptions, fees and policies can vary and change. Always verify critical values in official sources (marketplace, supplier, payment provider).
FAQ
What does “margin/contribution%” mean in this calculator?
It’s the margin / contribution *before shipping cost* (and usually before fixed costs). If you already know contribution% before shipping, set fees = 0% and enter that contribution% into the margin field.
Why doesn’t the threshold directly depend on AOV?
The threshold is driven by shipping cost and DB headroom (margin − fees − target). AOV is used for the realism check: if the needed threshold is close to current AOV, it’s more achievable.
What if margin − fees ≤ target contribution?
Then the target is mathematically unreachable — even at very high order values. You need higher margin (price/COGS), lower fees, or a lower target contribution%.
How should I interpret the traffic light?
It’s a realism check: we compare the threshold to your AOV (without/with uplift). Green up to 1.3×AOV, yellow up to 1.6×AOV, else red. It’s a heuristic — not a conversion guarantee.
Do you store inputs?
No. Everything runs locally in your browser.
Turn it into a repricing rule in SnapTrade
If you want free-shipping thresholds to become persistent promo/pricing guardrails: SnapTrade can document and monitor such rules.