Postcode rules in shipping ratesUpdated 10 days ago
How postcode rules work in Zonal
In Zonal, postcode rules are added at the Shipping Rate level, not on the courier itself. You add them when creating or editing a rate from Shipping Rates by opening the Add Shipping Rate popup.
Use Blacklisted Postcodes to stop a rate from being offered in specific areas. Use Whitelisted Postcodes to make a rate available only in specific areas.
INFO
You can enter postcodes as a full postcode or as a partial postcode with a wildcard.
Where to add postcode rules
1. Open Shipping Rates - In Zonal, go to Shipping Rates.
2. Add or edit a rate - Click Add Shipping Rate, or open an existing rate you want to update.
3. Open the rate popup - In the Shipping Rates section, use the rate popup where you set Min. Weight (g), Max. Weight (g), Min. Order Value, Max. Order Value, and Price.
4. Enter postcode rules - Add your entries in Blacklisted Postcodes or Whitelisted Postcodes. Enter multiple values separated by commas.
5. Save the rate - Click Add Rate to save the postcode rule as part of that shipping rate.
Supported postcode formats
Full postcode
Enter the whole postcode with no spaces.
Example: NE61AA
This matches that exact postcode only.
Partial postcode with wildcard
Add an asterisk at the end of the partial postcode to match any postcode that starts with that value.
Example: NE6*
This matches any postcode beginning with NE6.
TIP
If you want a broad area match, use a wildcard. If you want a precise match, use the full postcode without spaces.
How wildcard matching affects scope
Wildcard rules are prefix matches. This means Zonal checks whether the customer's postcode starts with the characters you entered before the *.
For example, if you add NE6*, the rate can apply to postcodes such as:
NE61AANE62BBNE63CC
Because those postcodes all begin with NE6, they are all treated as matches.
WARNING
A wildcard can cover more postcodes than you expect. If a rate is appearing for a wider area than intended, the postcode pattern is usually too broad.
Example: when a rule is too broad
If you want to allow postage to NE1 but not to NE61, using NE6* will not work.
That is because NE6* also matches longer postcodes that begin with NE6.
In this situation, the rule needs to be more specific. For example:
NE61A*
A more specific wildcard narrows the match so the rate applies only to postcodes starting with that longer prefix.
Choosing between blacklist and whitelist
Use Whitelisted Postcodes when
the rate should be available only in defined areas
you are setting up a local, regional, or limited-delivery service
you want tighter control over where the rate appears
Use Blacklisted Postcodes when
the rate should be available in most areas except a few exclusions
you need to block surcharge areas or unsupported destinations
you already have a broad rate and only need to remove certain postcode ranges
NOTE
If you add Whitelisted Postcodes, the rate becomes restricted to matching postcodes only. If you use Blacklisted Postcodes, matching postcodes are excluded from that rate.
Best practices for accurate postcode rules
Remove spaces from full postcode entries.
Use full postcodes when you want an exact match.
Use wildcards only when you are confident the broader prefix is correct.
Make wildcard rules as specific as possible if nearby postcode ranges must behave differently.
Review other conditions on the same rate, including weight, order value, and destination, so you understand the full scope of the rule.
Troubleshooting postcode matches
Q. Why is my shipping rate showing for more postcodes than expected?
A. The most common reason is a wildcard that is too broad. For example, NE6* matches every postcode that starts with NE6, including longer values such as NE61. Make the rule more specific if you only want a smaller range.
Q. Why is my shipping rate not appearing for a postcode I expected to match?
A. Check whether the postcode is entered in the correct field, whether the entry is too specific, and whether another rule on the same rate is preventing it from applying. Also review the selected Shipping Zone or Single Country, weight limits, and order value limits.
Q. Should I use spaces in postcode entries?
A. No. For postcode rules in the Add Shipping Rate popup, enter full postcodes without spaces, such as NE61AA.
Q. Can I add multiple postcode rules to one rate?
A. Yes. Enter multiple values separated by commas in Blacklisted Postcodes or Whitelisted Postcodes.