The average online shopper spends $73 per year on shipping fees alone. That’s $73 you could be pocketing instead. Here’s exactly how to slash those shipping costs to zero starting with your next online order.
Shipping fees are the number one reason shoppers abandon their carts and retailers know it. That’s why they’ve created dozens of loopholes and workarounds to offer free shipping without advertising it. Once you know these insider tricks, you’ll never pay for shipping again. Best part? Most of these strategies take less than 5 minutes to set up.
1. Stack Free Shipping Codes Like a Pro
Most online stores offer free shipping codes, you just need to know where to look. Retailers email these codes to their subscribers or post them on social media, but if you’re not in the loop, you’ll miss out.
The hack: Use browser extensions like Honey, RetailMeNot’s browser tool, or Capital One Shopping. These tools automatically scan for and apply the best free shipping codes at checkout. No searching, no copying codes, it happens in the background while you shop.
Expected savings: $5-15 per order. If you shop online twice a month, that’s $120-360 per year.
Action step: Install Honey or Capital One Shopping right now. It takes 30 seconds and works automatically on your next purchase. You can also manually check RetailMeNot.com and FreeShipping.org before checkout.
2. Hit the Free Shipping Minimum (Without Buying Junk)
Over 80% of major retailers offer free shipping if you spend a certain amount, usually $35-50. The trick is reaching that minimum without buying stuff you don’t need.
The hack: Bundle your shopping trips. Instead of ordering from three different stores, consolidate your purchases at one retailer to hit the minimum. Planning to buy socks, a phone charger, and a birthday gift? Get them all from Target or Walmart in one order.
Even smarter: Stock up on household essentials you’ll use anyway; toilet paper, cleaning supplies, and pantry staples. These items never go to waste and help you reach the free shipping threshold fast.
Expected savings: $7-12 per order, or $84-288 annually for frequent shoppers.
Action step: Before checking out, browse for one or two items you’ll need within the next month. Coffee, batteries, shampoo, whatever gets you to that $35-50 mark.
3. Ship to Store and Pick It Up for Free
Big retailers like Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Kohl’s let you order online and pick up in-store completely free. No minimum purchase required. Your order is usually ready within a few hours, and you can grab it on your lunch break or after work.
The bonus: Many stores offer curbside pickup, so you don’t even have to go inside. Pull up, pop your trunk, and they’ll load your items. Total time investment? Less than 5 minutes.
Expected savings: $5-10 per order. If you’re near a store anyway, this is the easiest free shipping hack.
Action step: Next time you shop online, select “Pick up in store” or “Curbside pickup” at checkout. Schedule a pickup time that works with your routine.
4. Join a Free Shipping Membership (If You Shop Often)
If you order online 2-3 times per month or more, a free shipping membership can pay for itself fast. Amazon Prime ($139/year), Walmart+ ($98/year), and ShopRunner ($79/year after the first year free) all offer unlimited free shipping.
Do the math: If you’d normally pay $8 for shipping on 15 orders per year, that’s $120 in shipping fees. A Walmart+ membership at $98 saves you $22 annually, plus you get extras like gas discounts and streaming services.
The best part: Most offer free trials (30 days for Amazon Prime and Walmart+). Use the trial period, decide if it’s worth it, and cancel before you’re charged if it’s not for you.
Expected savings: $100-300 per year for frequent shoppers, depending on how often you order.
Action step: Track how many times you shop online in a month. If it’s more than twice, sign up for a free trial of Walmart+ or Amazon Prime and test it out.
5. Mark Your Calendar for Free Shipping Day
Every December, hundreds of retailers participate in Free Shipping Day, a coordinated event where you get free shipping with no minimum purchase and guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve. In 2024, over 600 stores joined, including major names like Cabela’s, DSW, and Lord & Taylor.
But that’s not the only free shipping event. Many retailers also waive shipping fees during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Mother’s Day week, and their anniversary sales. Sign up for email alerts from your favorite stores to catch these promotions.
Expected savings: Unlimited. No matter how small your order, shipping is free.
Action step: Visit FreeShippingDay.com to see this year’s participating retailers. Set a calendar reminder for mid-December and bookmark the site now.
6. Just Ask for Free Shipping (Seriously)
This sounds too simple, but it works more often than you’d think. Retailers want your business, and if you’re a repeat customer or placing a large order, customer service reps often have the power to waive shipping fees on the spot.
The script: Use the live chat feature (faster than calling) and say, “I’m about to place a $XX order, but the shipping fee is making me hesitate. Is there any way you can waive the shipping cost?” Be polite but direct. Even if they say no, they might offer a discount code or other perk.
Expected savings: $5-15 per order when it works. Success rate? About 30-40%, based on shopper reports.
Action step: Before clicking “Buy,” open the live chat and ask. Worst case? They say no and you decide if the purchase is still worth it. Best case? Free shipping wins.
7. Compare Prices, Including Shipping Costs
Here’s the counterintuitive truth: Sometimes “free shipping” isn’t actually the cheapest option. Some retailers inflate product prices to cover free shipping costs. A store charging $50 for jeans with free shipping might not beat a competitor selling the same jeans for $40 with $5 shipping.
The hack: Use price comparison tools like Google Shopping or PriceGrabber. Enter the item you want and compare the total cost (product price + shipping) across multiple retailers. The store with the lowest total wins even if shipping isn’t free.
Expected savings: $5-20 per purchase by finding the true lowest price.
Action step: Before finalizing any purchase, open Google Shopping in a new tab. Search for the exact product and sort by “Price: Low to High,” including shipping. Buy from whoever has the best total deal.
Quick Wins Summary
| Category | Details | Annual Savings |
| Total Potential Savings | Combine all 7 strategies | $200-500+ |
| Time Investment | 5-15 minutes initial setup | One-time |
| Difficulty Level | Beginner-friendly | Easy |
| Best For | All online shoppers especially families and budget-conscious buyers | Everyone |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this actually legit, or are there hidden catches?
100% legit. These are official retailer programs and tools designed to attract customers. The only “catch” with memberships is remembering to cancel free trials if you don’t want to continue, and with shipping minimums, you need to actually spend that amount. No hidden fees or scams.
How much time does this actually take?
Initial setup (installing browser extensions, signing up for free trials) takes 10-15 minutes total. After that, most strategies are automatic or add just 1-2 minutes to your checkout process. The time investment pays off immediately; $73 saved per year for 15 minutes of work is a pretty good hourly rate.
Do I need any special tools or apps?
Nope, everything is free. Browser extensions like Honey and Capital One Shopping are free to download and use. The retailer memberships we mentioned all offer free trials, and you can cancel before being charged. The only “tool” you need is a web browser.
How quickly will I see results?
Immediately. Install a browser extension right now, make your next online purchase, and watch it automatically apply a free shipping code at checkout. That’s instant savings. The compound effect builds over time; save $10 here, $8 there and before you know it, you’ve pocketed hundreds of dollars.
Will free shipping memberships actually save me money?
Only if you shop online frequently. If you order items 2-3 times per month or more, yes memberships like Walmart+ or Amazon Prime will pay for themselves. If you shop online just once a month or less, stick with the other strategies (codes, store pickup, Free Shipping Day) and skip the membership.
Your Next Move: Start Winning Today
You just learned how to eliminate shipping fees for good. Now it’s time to put these strategies into action. Here’s your game plan:
- Install Honey or Capital One Shopping right now (2 minutes)
- Sign up for a free trial of Walmart+ or Amazon Prime if you shop frequently (3 minutes)
- Bookmark FreeShippingDay.com and RetailMeNot.com for future shopping trips (1 minute)
- Track your shipping savings over the next month and watch the wins stack up
That’s it. You’re now part of the 10,000+ smart shoppers who’ve stopped throwing money away on shipping. Welcome to the free shipping club; your wallet will thank you.
Which strategy will you try first? Start today and join the free shipping revolution.
