When setting up a post code–restricted rate in the Better Shipping app for Australian addresses, you can choose to include or exclude certain post codes. This is optional—if you don’t enable post code restrictions, your shipping rate will appear for any customer within the selected Shopify shipping zone in your Shopify Admin > Settings > Shipping > GeneralProfile > ManageRates settings.
If you do want to restrict who sees your shipping rate, using the post code restrictions gives you detailed control. You can specify exact post codes (e.g., 2000, 3000
) or match any that start with certain digits (e.g., 2
for all 2xxx post codes).
Including Post Codes
Using the “include post codes” field ensures only the customers inside the listed post codes (or post codes that start with your entries) see the shipping rate.
-
Exact match example
2000, 2601, 3000
Only those specific post codes will see the rate. -
Starts with example
2
Any post code that starts with2
(e.g.,2000
,2599
, etc.) will see the rate. All others won’t.
Excluding Post Codes
Using the “exclude post codes” field ensures customers outside those post codes can see the rate, and those in the excluded area won’t see it.
-
Exact match example
2000, 2001
Anyone in2000
or2001
will be blocked. All other post codes in your shipping zone will see the rate. -
Starts with example
7
This would exclude post codes in Tasmania (which start with7xxx
). All other states/territories in your shipping zone would see the rate.
Combining Includes and Excludes
You can also mix both fields. The Better Shipping app checks the “include” field first, then excludes anything in your “exclude” list.
For example:
- Include:
2
- Exclude:
2000
In this scenario, anyone with a post code that starts with 2
will be included, except for those specifically in 2000
, because it’s excluded.
How Australian Post Codes Work
Australian post codes are four digits, usually linked to a state or territory. If you want to block or allow an entire region, you can simply use its first digit (or the first two digits for more precise targeting).
Note: Some states/territories share the same initial digit. For example,
0
can appear in both ACT (e.g.,2601
) and NT (0800
). If you need precise control, consider using two or three digits (e.g.,260
for Canberra,080
for Darwin) rather than just2
or0
.
State/Territory “Starts With” Digits
Here is a quick reference you can copy and paste into your “includes” or “excludes” field to cover each state or territory:
-
ACT (Australian Capital Territory)
Commonly:02xx
or260x–263x
and290x–2920
- If you want all ACT, you might use
260, 261, 290, 291, 292
.
- If you want all ACT, you might use
-
NSW (New South Wales)
Typically:1xxx
and2xxx
(except some 26xx for ACT)- Broad includes:
1, 2
(but be mindful of overlap with ACT if you use2
)
- Broad includes:
-
VIC (Victoria)
Typically:3xxx
and8xxx
- If you want all Victoria, you might do
3, 8
.
- If you want all Victoria, you might do
-
QLD (Queensland)
Typically:4xxx
and9xxx
- If you want all Queensland, you might do
4, 9
.
- If you want all Queensland, you might do
-
SA (South Australia)
Typically:5xxx
- For all SA:
5
.
- For all SA:
-
WA (Western Australia)
Typically:6xxx
- For all WA:
6
.
- For all WA:
-
TAS (Tasmania)
Typically:7xxx
- For all TAS:
7
.
- For all TAS:
-
NT (Northern Territory)
Typically:08xx
and09xx
- For broad NT coverage, you might do
08, 09
(or just0
if you’re OK overlapping with some ACT post codes; otherwise be more specific with080, 081, 082…
).
- For broad NT coverage, you might do
Tips
- Exact Matches vs. Starts With: If you only ship to a very specific suburb, use exact matches like
2000, 2601
. If you want an entire state, use “starts with” digits (e.g.,2
for most of NSW, plus disclaimers for ACT). - Formatting: Separate multiple post codes or starts-with entries by commas:
2000, 2601
or2, 3, 8
for broader coverage. - Combining: You can combine exact codes and starts-with in the same field. For instance, if you want all NSW except for one area you don’t service, use
Include: 1, 2
thenExclude: 2000
(to block just that one post code).
Example: Restrict to Only Queensland
To show a rate only for Queensland post codes:
- Turn on post code restrictions.
- In the Include field, enter
4, 9
. - Save.
Now, customers with a post code that starts with 4xxx or 9xxx will see your shipping rate. No other Australian addresses in your shipping zone will see it.
That’s it! You now have a quick reference for handling Australian post code restrictions in the Better Shipping app. If you have further questions or require more specific breakdowns, please contact our support team.