When using WooCommerce, you may need to restrict shipping to certain states in the United States. Whether it’s due to shipping costs, regulations, or location issues, there is an easy way to prevent shipping to specific states in WooCommerce.
Using WooCommerce Shipping Zones (Recommended)
The most straightforward approach is configuring Shipping Zones in WooCommerce. This method doesn’t require custom code and works with WooCommerce’s built-in functionality.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Step 1 : Access Shipping Zones
- Navigate to WooCommerce > Settings > Shipping > Shipping zones in your WordPress dashboard
Step 2 : Create a “No Shipping” Zone
- Click “Add zone” to create a new shipping zone
- Name it something like “No Shipping States” or “Restricted States”
Step 3 : Define Restricted States
- In the Zone regions field, select the specific states where you don’t want to offer shipping
- You can select multiple states within the United States
- For example: Alaska, Hawaii, or any other states you want to restrict
Step 4 : Leave Shipping Methods Empty
- Crucially important: Do not add any shipping methods to this zone
- By leaving the “Shipping Methods” section empty, customers in these states will see “No shipping options available”
Step 5 : Set Zone Priority
- Drag your “No Shipping” zone to the TOP of the shipping zones list
- This ensures it’s processed before broader zones
Step 6 : Save Changes
- Click “Save changes” to apply your settings
Why Zone Priority Matters:
WooCommerce processes shipping zones from top to bottom. If you have:
- Zone 1: United States (with shipping methods)
- Zone 2: Alaska, Hawaii (no shipping methods)
A customer from Alaska would match Zone 1 first and see shipping options. The correct setup should be:
- Zone 1: Alaska, Hawaii (no shipping methods)
- Zone 2: United States (with shipping methods)
Advanced Customization Options
While the shipping zones method works well for basic needs, you may want more control over the user experience. For advanced customization, consider using the No Shipping States for WooCommerce plugin.
This plugin allows you to:
- Replace default “No shipping options” messages with your own custom text
- Customize messages for cart and checkout pages separately
- Add inline text with billing state field labels
- Use color pickers to match your store’s branding
- Prevent checkout completion for restricted states
- Clear cart session data to force fresh location entry
- Display dynamic text that appears/disappears based on shipping availability
The shipping zones method is perfect for basic “no shipping” functionality, while the No Shipping States plugin provides advanced customization and better user experience for your customers when you need more control over messaging and user interaction.
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