TL;DR

A parcel is a saved package size (length x width x height, weight). Shipit sends these dimensions to carriers when calculating prices. Without them, quotes may be inaccurate or unavailable.

What is a parcel?

A parcel is a saved template for a physical box or envelope you use when shipping orders. It stores the dimensions and weight of the packaging itself so Shipit can pass that information to carriers when requesting delivery prices.

Think of it like a box profile in your warehouse — you might have "the small flat-rate box", "the large fragile box", and "the padded envelope". Each one has a consistent size, and you use different ones depending on what you are shipping.

Parcels belong to a checkout setup and are linked to one or more shipping options within that setup.

Fields

Note: Parcel weights are always in kilograms. If you use pricing tiers, those weight brackets are in grams — these are two separate settings that use different units. Double-check which unit you are entering before saving.

Why parcels matter

Carriers do not calculate delivery prices based on order value alone. They also use the physical size of the package — a concept called volumetric weight (an estimated weight based on how much space a package takes up, regardless of how heavy it actually is).

If Shipit does not know your box dimensions:

• Some carriers will reject the quote request entirely
• Other carriers may return an inaccurate price
• Your customers may see incorrect shipping costs at checkout

Linking parcels to your shipping options ensures Shipit always has the right dimensions to send when requesting quotes.

Linking parcels to shipping options

A parcel only has an effect when it is linked to a shipping option. The relationship works like this:

• A shipping option can be linked to multiple parcels — for example, if you pack orders in either a small or a large box depending on the order size.
• A parcel can be linked to multiple shipping options — if the same box is used for several different carrier services.
• If a shipping option has no parcel linked, Shipit uses whatever dimensions are passed with the order from your store at the time of checkout.

Warning: Creating a parcel but not linking it to any shipping option has no effect. An unlinked parcel is essentially unused. Always check that you have assigned the parcel to the relevant options after creating it.

When to use "Overwrites order weight"

By default, Shipit uses the total weight of the customer's order items when requesting a carrier quote. When Overwrites order weight is turned on for a parcel, Shipit uses that parcel's weight value instead and ignores the actual item weights.

Use this setting when:

Warning: If "Overwrites order weight" is on and your actual orders vary significantly in weight, your carrier quotes will be wrong. Carriers will price based on the fixed parcel weight, not the real order weight. Only use this setting if your fulfilment process is genuinely fixed-weight.

Managing your parcels list

Searching and filtering

Use the search bar at the top of the Parcels list to find parcels by name, type, or notes. You can also narrow the list using two filters:

• Type filter — Show only parcels of a specific type (e.g., only pallets, only parcels).
• Checkout Setup filter — Show only parcels belonging to a specific checkout setup.

Duplicating a parcel

Every parcel in the list has a Duplicate option. This creates a copy of the parcel with all the same settings and redirects you to the edit form so you can adjust the name and dimensions. Useful when you need a new parcel that is very similar to an existing one.

Reordering parcels

Parcels can be dragged into a custom order using the position handles on the left side of each row. However, drag-to-reorder is only available when:

• The search field is empty
• No type filter is active
• No checkout setup filter is active

If any of those filters are in use, the drag handles are disabled. Clear all filters first if you need to reorder.

Importing parcels from CSV

If you need to create many parcels at once, you can import them in bulk using a CSV file. This works the same way as importing shipping options. See Import shipping options from CSV for instructions and example files.

Dimension presets by type

When you select a parcel type in the form, Shipit automatically fills in standard starting dimensions for that type. These are not enforced values — you can change them to match your actual packaging. They are simply a convenience to save you looking up standard pallet or trolley dimensions.

Tip: Always confirm the pre-filled values match your actual physical packaging before saving. The presets are a starting point, not a specification.

Common mistakes