# Schedule free shipping in Shopify with start and end dates

To schedule free shipping, set the **Start date** and **Start time** under **Active dates**, tick **Set end date**, and enter the **End date** and **End time**. The discount starts and stops on its own, in your store's timezone. Shopify's own [free shipping discount](https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/discounts/discount-types/free-shipping) can be scheduled too, but it always makes every eligible rate free. [RM: Advanced Free Shipping](https://apps.shopify.com/better-free-shipping) schedules any shipping discount it makes, such as free Standard only, 50% off Express, or free shipping over $50 to one country. The app is $9.90 USD every 30 days, with a 7-day free trial, billed by Shopify.

## What the customer gets

In this example the offer is a free shipping weekend on Standard, from Friday 12:00 AM to Sunday 11:59 PM. Standard is $8.90 and Express is $24.90.

- **Qualifies.** A $60 cart on Saturday. Standard shows $8.90 crossed out and free. The customer pays $60.
- **Doesn't qualify.** The same $60 cart on Monday, after the end time. The customer pays $60 + $8.90 = $68.90.
- **Not included.** On Saturday, a customer who picks Express pays $60 + $24.90 = $84.90, because only Standard is free.

## Set it up

1. In the app, click **Create Shipping Discount**.
2. Under **Discount method**, choose **Automatic discount**. New discounts start on **Discount code**, and the method can't be changed later. Enter a **Title** such as "Free shipping weekend".
3. Leave **Conditions** empty so every order qualifies, or add a threshold such as **Cart total** **Is at least** 50.
4. In **Discount setup**, set **Delivery type** to **Shipping**, **Which rates** to **Choose specific rates**, select Standard, and set **Discount value** to **Free**.
5. Under **Active dates**, set the **Start date** and **Start time**. Times use your store's timezone, shown next to the time fields.
6. Tick **Set end date** and enter the **End date** and **End time**. The end must be after the start.
7. Click **Create discount**.

![The app dashboard listing five sample shipping discounts, including $5 express over $50 marked Scheduled and SUMMER50 marked Expired](/images/dashboard.png)

On the dashboard, the discount shows **Scheduled** until it starts, **Active** while it runs, and **Expired** after it ends.

## Variations

- **Black Friday to Cyber Monday:** start Friday at 12:00 AM and end Monday at 11:59 PM, with **All shipping rates** and **Free**.
- **A holiday code:** choose **Discount code**, such as `SHIPFREE`, and set the same dates. The code stops working at the end time.
- **Half-price shipping for a week:** set **Discount value** to **Percentage** and enter 50. Standard becomes $4.45.
- **A threshold that drops for the sale:** keep your everyday "free over $100" discount, and schedule a second one for "free over $50". During the sale, a $60 cart ships free. After it, the $50 discount expires.
- **Runs until you stop it:** leave **Set end date** unticked.

## Good to know

- **To test a promotion before it starts,** create it with **Test mode** on and the start set to now. Test it with `ABC123` as the shipping first name, then change the dates to your promotion and switch Test mode off. Shopify doesn't run a discount before its start date. See [test a shipping discount](/guides/test-a-shipping-discount.md).
- **To stay under Shopify's limit,** remember scheduled automatic discounts count toward the 25 active automatic discounts. Set end dates on old promotions or delete ones you no longer use.
- **To match a free shipping banner,** set your theme or bar app to the same dates and threshold. The app applies the discount at checkout. It doesn't show a banner.
- **To stop a sale early,** switch on **Test mode**. Customers stop seeing it, and the discount stays saved.

## Related

- [Free shipping code or automatic discount](/guides/free-shipping-code-or-automatic.md)
- [Test a shipping discount](/guides/test-a-shipping-discount.md)
- [Tiered shipping discounts](/guides/tiered-shipping-discounts.md)
- [Conditional free shipping on Shopify](/conditional-free-shipping.md)

[Install RM: Advanced Free Shipping from the Shopify App Store](https://apps.shopify.com/better-free-shipping).