How to Fix WooCommerce Shipping Cost Not Updating in Cart

Running a WooCommerce store comes with many responsibilities. One of the most important is making sure your shipping system works correctly. But sometimes, you may notice a frustrating issue — the WooCommerce shipping cost is not updating in the cart.

This problem can confuse your customers. It may show an incorrect shipping cost or no cost at all. When this happens, customers may leave your store without completing their order. That means lost sales and a poor shopping experience.

Shipping costs are a key part of the buying process. Customers want to know exactly what they will pay before checking out. That includes product prices and shipping fees.

In WooCommerce, shipping costs are designed to update in real-time. This means any change made by the customer should reflect immediately in the cart.

Here are the main actions that should trigger a shipping cost update:

1. When a customer changes their shipping address

WooCommerce should detect the new address and update shipping rates. For example, shipping from New York to California will likely cost more. If the cost stays the same, it creates confusion and may look untrustworthy. Customers need to see accurate costs before they pay.

2. When products are added or removed from the cart

Shipping fees often depend on product weight or size. If a customer adds more items, shipping should increase. If items are removed, shipping should drop or even become free. Failing to update creates a false total, which may lead to cart abandonment.

3. When a different shipping method is selected

WooCommerce lets you offer multiple shipping options:

• Free shipping
• Flat rate
• Local pickup
• Express delivery

If a customer switches from free shipping to express, the cart must update. Otherwise, they may pay the wrong amount or get the wrong service.

What Happens When Shipping Costs Don’t Update

You might see one of the following issues:

• The cart shows the old shipping price
• Shipping cost does not change after changing the address
• Checkout page loads with outdated or no shipping details
• Customer sees no shipping methods available

These errors can cause frustration. They also make your store look unprofessional.

Many WooCommerce store owners face the same problem. The shipping cost does not update correctly in the cart or checkout. This issue might not show any errors but can cause major confusion. Let’s explore the most common situations where this happens.

1. Customer Changes Their Shipping Address

Customers often update their address during checkout. They may switch states, countries, or zip codes. WooCommerce should detect this and refresh the shipping options. But sometimes it doesn’t.

For example:

• A customer enters a New York address. The cart shows flat-rate shipping.
• They change it to California, but the shipping cost stays the same.
• Even after clicking “Update,” no new shipping rates appear.

This creates doubt. Customers may wonder if they’ll get the correct delivery rate.

2. Adding or Removing Products from the Cart

Every time a customer changes their cart, the shipping should adjust too. If it doesn’t, the total may become incorrect.

For example:

• A customer adds three heavy items to the cart.
• The weight increases, but the shipping price doesn’t.
• Or, they remove all large items, but shipping still shows a high fee.

This leads to confusion and can result in abandoned carts.

3. Shipping Options Don’t Refresh at Checkout

Sometimes the cart looks fine, but problems appear during checkout.

Common signs include:

• The shipping method doesn’t change when the address changes.
• No shipping methods appear even when they should.
• The old shipping cost remains, even after updates.

These issues may seem small but can stop a sale from going through.

Understanding why the shipping cost is not updating is the first step. WooCommerce is powerful, but several factors can break the shipping calculation. These causes often work silently in the background. Let’s explore the most common reasons why this happens.

1. Caching Issues

Caching is great for speeding up websites. But it can block real-time changes. If your site uses a caching plugin, it may save an old version of the cart page. This prevents WooCommerce from refreshing the shipping rates.

Types of caching that affect shipping:

• Browser cache – stores old page data locally
• Plugin cache – created by tools like WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache
• Server-side cache – added by your hosting provider automatically

If any of these are not set correctly, your cart may not show updated costs.

2. JavaScript or AJAX Not Working Properly

WooCommerce uses AJAX to update shipping without reloading the page. If this process fails, the shipping data does not refresh.

Common reasons:

• A JavaScript error from your theme or plugin
• AJAX calls being blocked or returning errors
• Conflict with custom scripts on the cart or checkout page

If AJAX is broken, the cart will not update dynamically.

3. Plugin or Theme Conflicts

Not all themes and plugins work perfectly with WooCommerce. Some may interfere with cart functions.

You might face issues when:

• A third-party plugin overrides cart behavior
• A theme disables WooCommerce scripts
• A poorly coded add-on changes how totals are calculated

These conflicts are hard to notice unless you test with default themes.

4. Outdated WooCommerce or WordPress Versions

Running outdated software often leads to bugs. WooCommerce updates regularly to fix issues, including shipping problems.

Older versions may:

• Miss key shipping features
• Fail to trigger cart refresh events
• Be incompatible with your theme or plugins

Always keep your WooCommerce and WordPress up to date to avoid these problems.

5. Incomplete or Incorrect Shipping Zone Settings

Shipping zones control which rates apply to which locations. If these settings are wrong, WooCommerce cannot calculate the right cost.

Common mistakes include:

• Missing shipping methods in a zone
• Overlapping or misconfigured zones
• No fallback method for unmatched regions

Without proper zones, WooCommerce may fail to show or update any shipping cost.

Now that we understand the possible causes, it’s time to fix them. WooCommerce shipping issues can be frustrating, but most are easy to solve. In this section, we’ll walk you through practical, step-by-step solutions to get your cart working correctly again.

You don’t need to be a developer. Just follow each step carefully.

1. Clear Site and Browser Cache

Caching is one of the most common reasons shipping costs don’t update. What you should do:

Clear browser cache

Your browser may store old versions of your cart page. To clear it:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + R on Windows
• Press Cmd + Shift + R on Mac
• Or clear cache manually in browser settings

Clear WordPress plugin cache

If you’re using caching plugins like WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache, or LiteSpeed Cache:

• Go to the plugin settings in your WordPress dashboard
• Click “Purge All Caches” or “Clear Cache”

Clear server-side cache

Many hosting providers use server-level caching. If you see cache settings in your hosting dashboard:

• Find the option for cache control
• Clear or disable caching temporarily

Once done, refresh your cart page and test again.

2. Enable AJAX for Cart Updates

WooCommerce uses AJAX to update cart contents and shipping rates. If this feature is off, updates may not happen in real time.

Steps to enable it:

1. Go to your WordPress dashboard
2. Navigate to WooCommerce → Settings → Products → General
3. Find the option “Enable AJAX add to cart buttons on archives”
4. Make sure it is checked

This helps trigger real-time updates when customers change their cart.

Also, ensure your theme supports AJAX. Some themes may override this feature.

3. Check and Correct Shipping Zones

If your shipping zones are incomplete or misconfigured, WooCommerce may fail to update.

Steps to review your zones:

1. Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Shipping → Shipping Zones
2. Check each zone for:
   • Correct countries or regions
   • At least one shipping method (flat rate, free shipping, etc.)

Common problems to fix:

• No shipping methods assigned to a zone
• Overlapping zones with conflicting settings
• Zones missing certain states or postal codes

If a customer’s location doesn’t match any zone, shipping won’t display or update.

Bonus Tip: Add a fallback zone for “Rest of the World” with basic shipping rules. This ensures there’s always a shipping method available.

4. Test for Plugin and Theme Conflicts

A theme or plugin might be blocking cart updates. To check this, you need to test your site without them temporarily.

Steps to test safely:

Use the “Health Check & Troubleshooting” plugin:

1. Install the plugin from the WordPress plugin repository
2. Go to Tools → Site Health → Troubleshooting Mode
3. Enable troubleshooting mode — this disables all plugins for your view only
4. Activate only:
   • WooCommerce
   • A default theme (like Storefront or Twenty Twenty-Four)

Test if shipping updates work now.

If it works in troubleshooting mode, the issue is with another plugin or theme.

Start enabling one plugin at a time to find the one causing the issue.

5. Update WooCommerce, WordPress, and Plugins

Outdated software often leads to bugs, including shipping problems.

What to do:

• Update WooCommerce to the latest version
• Update WordPress core
• Update all active plugins and your theme

To update safely:

1. Backup your website first
2. Use a staging site if possible
3. Go to Dashboard → Updates
4. Install all available updates

After updating, test your cart and checkout process again.

6. Check for JavaScript or AJAX Errors

JavaScript problems can silently block cart updates. You can check for errors using your browser.

How to do it:

1. Open your website in Chrome
2. Right-click anywhere on the page → Click Inspect
3. Go to the Console tab
4. Look for any red error messages

Common signs:

• AJAX requests failing
• JavaScript conflicts with other plugins
• Missing WooCommerce scripts

If you see errors, disable recently added plugins or custom code and check again. You may also share the error with a developer for help.

7. Use “Update Totals” Button at Checkout

Sometimes, WooCommerce doesn’t recalculate shipping automatically. In this case, a manual update may work.

How to enable and use it:

• Make sure the “Update Totals” button is visible at checkout
• Ask customers to click it after updating their address

While not ideal, this is a temporary workaround that helps in many cases.

8. Review Custom Code or Functions

If you or a developer added custom code, it might affect cart behavior. Look for functions that alter:

• Cart totals
• Shipping logic
• AJAX responses

Go to Appearance → Theme File Editor or check your functions.php file. Disable custom snippets temporarily and test shipping again.

Pro Tip: Always test custom changes in a staging environment first.

Sometimes, basic troubleshooting is not enough. Even after clearing cache and checking settings, your WooCommerce shipping cost may still not update. In such cases, you may need to apply custom code to force the cart to refresh correctly.

These advanced solutions are ideal if:

• You’re comfortable editing PHP files
• You have access to your theme’s functions
• You’ve already tried all basic fixes without success

Always create a backup before editing your site’s code.

1. Force Shipping Recalculation on Cart Update

WooCommerce uses hooks to calculate shipping totals. But sometimes, they don’t trigger correctly. You can use a code snippet to force WooCommerce to recalculate.

Step-by-step:

1. Go to your WordPress dashboard
2. Navigate to Appearance → Theme File Editor
3. Open the functions.php file of your active theme
4. Add the following code:

add_action(‘woocommerce_before_calculate_totals’, ‘force_recalculate_shipping’);

function force_recalculate_shipping($cart) {

if (is_admin() && !defined(‘DOING_AJAX’)) return;

$cart->calculate_totals();

}

What this code does:

• It tells WooCommerce to recalculate totals before displaying the cart
• This ensures any address or product change triggers the correct shipping update

2. Disable Cart Fragments (Only If Necessary)

WooCommerce uses cart fragments to update the cart with AJAX. Sometimes, it causes issues on some hosts or themes. You can disable it to test improvements.

Warning: This may break live cart updates in some themes.

Add this to functions.php:

add_action( ‘wp_enqueue_scripts’, ‘disable_cart_fragments’, 11 );

function disable_cart_fragments() {

wp_dequeue_script( ‘wc-cart-fragments’ );

}

Only use this fix if you’ve tested it on a staging site.

Advanced fixes can solve tricky issues, but they should be used with caution. If you’re not confident editing code, consult a developer or WooCommerce expert.

Fixing the shipping issue is important. But it’s even better to prevent it from happening again. A stable and reliable checkout process builds trust with your customers. Below are simple yet powerful ways to make sure your WooCommerce shipping system keeps working properly.

1. Keep Everything Updated

Running outdated versions of plugins or WordPress can cause many problems. Shipping issues are often fixed in new releases.

Make sure to:

• Regularly update WooCommerce to the latest version
• Keep WordPress core up to date
• Update your active theme and plugins

Check for updates weekly. Use a staging site to test major changes first.

2. Use Reliable Themes and Plugins

Poorly coded themes or plugins can break shipping updates. Always choose tools that are fully compatible with WooCommerce.

Choose:

• Themes built for WooCommerce (like Storefront or Astra)
• Trusted plugins with good reviews and regular updates

Avoid using too many plugins. More plugins can cause more conflicts.

3. Test Your Checkout Regularly

Don’t wait for customers to report problems. Test your cart and checkout process every few weeks.

What to test:

• Add and remove products
• Change shipping addresses
• Try different shipping methods
• Complete test orders

This helps you catch issues early and fix them quickly.

4. Set Up a Fallback Shipping Method

Sometimes, a customer’s location won’t match any zone. To avoid “No shipping available” errors, add a fallback option.

How to set it:

• Go to WooCommerce → Settings → Shipping
• Add a zone for “Rest of the World”
• Assign a basic flat rate or free shipping

This ensures shipping always appears, even for unknown locations.

Shipping costs that fail to update can quietly damage your store’s success. Customers rely on accurate pricing, especially during checkout. If WooCommerce doesn’t update dynamically, it can lead to cart abandonment and lost trust. Don’t let a technical issue hurt your sales.

If you’re still facing problems or need expert help, visit 24x7WPSupport.com. Our team can quickly diagnose and fix WooCommerce issues, so your store runs smoothly again. Whether you need technical support, plugin troubleshooting, or full WooCommerce optimization — we’re here 24/7.

Let your business grow without the stress of errors holding you back.

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