# How to Hide Shipping Fields in WooCommerce: A Beginner’s Guide
WooCommerce is a fantastic platform, but sometimes its default settings need a little tweaking. One common request is hiding shipping fields. This might seem strange at first – why hide shipping information? But there are several legitimate reasons why you might want to do this. Let’s explore them and then dive into the *how*.
Why Hide Shipping Fields?
There are a few scenarios where hiding shipping fields makes perfect sense:
- Digital Products: If you sell only digital products (like ebooks, software, or online courses), shipping information is irrelevant. Displaying shipping fields is just unnecessary clutter on your checkout page.
- Specific Product Types: You might have *some* physical products that require shipping and *others* that don’t (e.g., gift cards alongside t-shirts). Hiding the fields for those non-physical products streamlines the checkout process.
- Free Shipping: If you offer free shipping on all orders, the shipping fields might seem redundant. Explore this article on How To Delete All Woocommerce Customers While customers might still want to select a delivery method, this can be easily handled in other ways (discussed later).
- Custom Shipping Calculations: You may use a custom plugin for calculating shipping costs that doesn’t integrate well with the default WooCommerce fields. In this case, temporarily hiding fields gives you control.
Think of it like this: if a bakery only sells cakes, they wouldn’t ask customers about their milk preferences at checkout! The same logic applies to your online store. Avoid unnecessary information for a smoother user experience.
Methods to Hide Shipping Fields
There are several ways to achieve this, from simple plugins to custom code. We’ll start with the easiest and most beginner-friendly option.
Method 1: Using a Plugin (Recommended for Beginners)
The simplest method is using a WooCommerce plugin designed for this purpose. Several plugins offer the functionality to hide or customize shipping fields. Searching the WooCommerce plugin directory for “hide shipping fields” will reveal several options. These plugins often provide a user-friendly interface, eliminating the need for code modification. This is highly recommended for beginners as it avoids potential issues with your theme or WooCommerce core files.
Method 2: Using a Snippet of Code (For Developers)
This method requires adding custom code to your WooCommerce installation. Proceed with caution, as incorrect code can break your website. Always back up your website before making code changes.
This method involves adding a function to your theme’s `functions.php` file or a custom plugin. Here’s an example code snippet that removes the shipping fields completely:
add_action( 'woocommerce_before_checkout_form', 'hide_shipping_fields' ); function hide_shipping_fields() { if ( ! is_cart() ) return; // Only hide on checkout page remove_action( 'woocommerce_checkout_shipping', 'woocommerce_checkout_shipping_fields' ); }
Explanation:
- `add_action( ‘woocommerce_before_checkout_form’, ‘hide_shipping_fields’ );`: This line adds our custom function `hide_shipping_fields` to the `woocommerce_before_checkout_form` action hook. This ensures the function runs before the checkout form is displayed.
- `remove_action( ‘woocommerce_checkout_shipping’, ‘woocommerce_checkout_shipping_fields’ );`: This line removes the action that displays the standard shipping fields.
Important Note: This code completely removes the shipping fields. If you need more control (like only hiding certain fields), you’ll need a more sophisticated code solution. Consider engaging a developer if you are unsure.
Check out this post: How To Bundle Woocommerce Shipping
Method 3: Conditional Logic (For Targeted Hiding)
If you want to hide shipping fields only for specific products or product categories, you’ll need to incorporate conditional logic into your code. This method requires a good understanding of PHP and WooCommerce functions.
Choosing the Right Method
- For beginners with no coding experience, using a plugin is the safest and easiest way.
- For those comfortable with PHP, custom code offers greater flexibility and control. However, be aware of the risks.
- If you only need to hide the fields for certain products, use conditional logic within your code.
Remember to always test your changes thoroughly after implementing any method. Check your checkout page on different devices and browsers to ensure everything functions correctly. Hiding shipping fields is a powerful tool, but use it responsibly and strategically to optimize your WooCommerce store’s user experience.
