How to Set Up Shopify Local Delivery

Local delivery gives Shopify merchants a competitive edge over pure-play online retailers. Customers get their orders the same day or next day, and you build loyalty with a genuinely personal service. Shopify's built-in local delivery tools are underused — here's how to set them up properly.

Enabling Local Delivery in Shopify

Go to Settings > Shipping and delivery > Local delivery. You'll need a physical location set up in Shopify first. Once enabled for that location, you can define a delivery zone by distance radius or by specific postal codes. The postal code approach is more precise — particularly useful in dense urban areas where a 5-mile radius crosses into very different delivery-time realities.

Setting Delivery Zones

• Use postcodes rather than radius for urban stores
• Set a minimum order value to make delivery financially viable
• Create separate zones for same-day vs next-day if needed
• Exclude postcodes with access issues or that fall outside your driver's route

Configuring Delivery Days and Instructions

Shopify lets you specify which days you offer local delivery and include instructions for customers. Use the instructions field to set order cut-off times — for example, 'Order before 12pm for same-day delivery'. This sets expectations clearly and reduces support queries about timing.

Managing Local Delivery Orders

Orders eligible for local delivery appear in your Shopify admin with a 'Local delivery' badge. The Shopify Local Delivery app (free) lets you create delivery manifests, assign orders to drivers, and send customers live SMS tracking. For high-volume local delivery, it's worth integrating a dedicated route optimisation tool like Circuit or Onfleet.

Driver Workflows

Drivers can use the Shopify Local Delivery app on their phones to view their route, mark orders as delivered, and capture proof of delivery. The app also sends automated notifications to customers when an order is out for delivery — an important touchpoint that reduces failed deliveries.

Pricing Local Delivery

You can offer local delivery for free above a basket threshold, charge a flat fee, or combine both — free over £40, £3.95 under. Test pricing carefully. In most cases, free local delivery above a moderate threshold increases AOV noticeably as customers top up their basket to qualify.

“Local delivery isn't just a logistics option — it's a differentiator. A customer who gets their order the same day is far more likely to come back.”