> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://shipmagic-docs.speedysquirrelhq.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Percentage of Cart Subtotal

> Charge shipping as a percentage of the order value

Percentage rates scale shipping with the value of the order. They suit high-value or insured goods, where cost tracks price rather than weight or size.

## Setting one up

<Steps>
  <Step title="Add a rate to your zone">
    Inside your rule, click **Add rate** on the shipping zone you want.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the calculation parameter">
    Set **Calculation parameter** to **Percentage of total price**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter the percentage">
    Enter the number only — `10` means 10%, not 0.1.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Decide on rounding">
    Tick **Round up to nearest integer** if you want whole-currency prices. With it on, a calculated \$2.67 becomes \$3.
  </Step>
</Steps>

Percentage rates do **not** ask for a Rate Type — there are no ranges or increments to configure. The price is simply the percentage applied to the cart.

## What the percentage applies to

The percentage is taken from the **total price of the items the rule matched**, not necessarily the whole cart.

This matters when a rule targets a subset of products. If a rule matches only items tagged `fragile`, a 10% rate charges 10% of the fragile items' value — not 10% of the entire order.

<Tip>
  This is what makes percentage rates work well with product conditions: you can charge 10% on artwork and a flat fee on everything else, in two separate rules, and each rate only sees its own products.
</Tip>

## Capping the result

A pure percentage has no ceiling, which on a large order can produce an unreasonable shipping charge. Use [Setting Maximum and Minimum Shipping Rates](/setting-maximum-and-minimum-shipping-rates) to bound it.

<Warning>
  A percentage rate with no maximum is one of the more common causes of complaints about shipping cost at checkout. If you use percentage rates, set a cap.
</Warning>

## Examples

**10% of order value, capped**

```text theme={null}
Rate name: Insured Shipping
Calculation parameter: Percentage of total price
Percentage: 10
Round up to nearest integer: on
```

Then set a maximum on the rule so it never exceeds your ceiling.

**Percentage on artwork only, flat rate on the rest**

```text theme={null}
Rule 1 — Artwork (Priority 10)
Condition 1: Product Type <> Equals <> Artwork
Rate: Percentage of total price, 8%

Rule 2 — Everything else (Priority 20)
Condition 1: Product Type <> Does Not Equal <> Artwork
Rate: Fixed rate, 6.95
```

## Related

<Columns cols={2}>
  <Card title="Maximum and minimum" icon="arrows-up-down" href="/setting-maximum-and-minimum-shipping-rates">
    Put a floor and ceiling on any calculated rate.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Ranged Rates" icon="chart-simple" href="/ranged-rates">
    Price bands instead of a smooth percentage.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Cart Conditions" icon="cart-shopping" href="/cart-subtotal">
    Choose whether to measure before or after discounts.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Rate blending" icon="code-merge" href="/rate-blending">
    Combine a percentage rate with others.
  </Card>
</Columns>


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