Setting up delivery zones is the part of a delivery system that makes or breaks the client experience. Get it wrong, and your client either charges too little for far deliveries or too much for nearby ones — both leading to lost orders or lost money.
If you’re a developer or agency setting up delivery for a local business on WordPress, this guide walks you through the four delivery zone models available in MyD Delivery and when to use each one — including the new MyD Maps service for distance-based calculations without Google Maps API.
The Four Delivery Zone Models
MyD Delivery supports four distinct ways to calculate delivery pricing. Each fits a different business scenario. Here’s how to choose.
1. Price by Neighborhood (Locations)
How it works: You define specific neighborhoods or locations and assign a fixed delivery price to each one. The customer selects their neighborhood during checkout, and the delivery fee is applied automatically.
Best for: Urban businesses with well-known neighborhood boundaries. Restaurants in cities where customers identify by neighborhood name (e.g., “I’m in Vila Madalena” or “I’m in Williamsburg”).
Setup logic:
- List each neighborhood the business delivers to
- Assign a delivery price to each (closer neighborhoods = lower price)
- Optionally, group neighborhoods into tiers (e.g., Tier 1: $3, Tier 2: $5, Tier 3: $8)
Why developers like it: It’s the simplest model to explain to clients. The business owner knows their delivery area by neighborhood names, so the configuration maps directly to how they think. No zipcode lookups, no distance calculations.
Tip for agencies: When onboarding a new restaurant client, ask them to list the neighborhoods they currently deliver to and what they charge for each. You can configure this in under 10 minutes.
2. Price by Zipcode
How it works: You define zipcode ranges and assign a delivery price to each range. The customer enters their zipcode during checkout, and the system matches it to the configured range.
Best for: Businesses that cover a wide area where neighborhoods aren’t precise enough. Also works well for businesses that already think in terms of zipcode-based logistics (e.g., they know they deliver to zipcodes 90001-90015 but not 90016+).
Setup logic:
- Define zipcode ranges (start and end)
- Assign a price to each range
- Non-covered zipcodes get a “delivery not available” message
Why developers like it: Zipcode-based pricing is precise and unambiguous. There’s no “is this customer in my delivery area or not?” — the zipcode either falls in a range or it doesn’t.
Tip for agencies: This model works especially well for businesses that serve both nearby and distant areas with different pricing. For example, a bakery that delivers within 5 km at $3 and up to 15 km at $8 can map this to zipcode ranges.
3. Fixed Price (Limited by Zipcode or Neighborhood)
How it works: Every delivery costs the same flat fee. But the system limits orders to specific zipcodes or neighborhoods — so the business doesn’t receive orders from areas they can’t serve.
Best for: Businesses that want simple, transparent pricing (“delivery is $5, period”) but still need to control their coverage area.
Setup logic:
- Set a single delivery price
- Define the allowed zipcodes or neighborhoods
- Orders outside the allowed area are rejected
Why developers like it: Minimum configuration. One price, one boundary. The client never has to think about pricing tiers.
Tip for agencies: This is the fastest model to deploy. If the client says “I charge $5 for delivery anywhere I deliver,” this is your go-to. You can always upgrade to per-zone pricing later if the business grows.
4. Price by Distance (in Kilometers) — Powered by MyD Maps
How it works: The system calculates the real distance between the business and the customer’s address, then applies a per-kilometer rate. You define a base price and a per-km fee. The distance calculations are handled by MyD Maps, a dedicated service built specifically for MyD Delivery.
What is MyD Maps? It’s a distance calculation service with fixed, predictable pricing — no Google Maps API key needed, no surprise bills from Google. MyD Maps uses real route data and intelligent straight-line distance to ensure accuracy for urban delivery, all at a flat monthly rate starting at R$19.90/month for 1,000 calculations.
Best for: Businesses in areas where neighborhoods and zipcodes don’t map well to delivery effort — rural areas, suburban sprawl, or cities with uneven zipcode coverage. Also ideal for businesses that want truly fair pricing based on actual distance.
Setup logic:
- Enable MyD Maps in your MyD Delivery settings
- Set a base delivery price (e.g., $2 for the first 3 km)
- Set a per-km rate (e.g., $1.50 per additional km)
- Set a maximum delivery distance (e.g., 15 km)
Why developers like it: It’s the most accurate model — the price reflects the actual delivery effort. No need to manage a Google Maps API key or worry about unpredictable API costs. MyD Maps handles the calculation with fixed monthly pricing, so you know exactly what it costs. It also handles edge cases where a customer is technically in a covered neighborhood but far from the business.
Tip for agencies: Distance-based pricing requires the customer to enter a full address (not just a neighborhood or zipcode). Make sure the client’s customer base is comfortable with that. In some markets, customers prefer selecting a neighborhood from a dropdown rather than typing a full address. That said, for businesses with large or irregular delivery areas, distance-based is the most professional option — and MyD Maps makes it simple to offer.
How to Choose the Right Model
Here’s a quick decision framework you can use when talking to a client:
“My customers are all in known neighborhoods” → Neighborhood-based pricing. Simple, familiar, fast to set up.
“I deliver to a wide area and need precise boundaries” → Zipcode-based pricing. Clear, unambiguous, scalable.
“I charge the same for everyone in my area” → Fixed price with zipcode or neighborhood limits. Simplest possible setup.
“My delivery area is irregular or very spread out” → Distance-based pricing with MyD Maps. Most accurate, handles edge cases, no Google API needed.
Most urban restaurants start with neighborhood-based pricing. If the business grows or the delivery area expands, you can switch to zipcode or distance-based models without changing anything else in the system.
Setting It Up in MyD Delivery
Regardless of which model you choose, the configuration lives in the MyD Delivery settings panel. Here’s the general workflow:
- Go to MyD Delivery settings in your dashboard
- Navigate to the delivery area configuration
- Select your pricing model (neighborhood, zipcode, fixed, or distance via MyD Maps)
- Enter the zones, prices, and limits
- Save and test with a sample order
The delivery fee is calculated and displayed to the customer in real-time on the order page. No surprises at checkout.
Combining Delivery Zones With Other Features
Delivery zones don’t exist in isolation. Here’s how they interact with other MyD Delivery features:
Business hours: Even if a customer is in a valid delivery zone, they can’t place an order if the store is closed. The system checks both zone and hours.
WhatsApp orders: The delivery fee, zone, and customer address are all included in the WhatsApp message. The business owner sees exactly where the delivery is going and how much was charged.
Order printing: Printed orders include the delivery zone and fee — useful for the delivery person or kitchen staff.
Payment integration: If online payment is enabled, the delivery fee is included in the total charge. The customer pays for products + delivery in one transaction.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Don’t set up too many zones at launch. Start with the zones your client actively delivers to today. You can always add more later.
Don’t mix models without reason. Pick one model per site. Mixing neighborhood-based and distance-based pricing on the same site creates confusion for both the business owner and the customer.
Test the edge cases. Place a test order from the farthest delivery boundary. Make sure the price is correct and the order goes through. Then try an address just outside the boundary — make sure it’s properly rejected.
Document the zones for your client. Create a simple list: “Neighborhood X = $3, Neighborhood Y = $5, Neighborhood Z = $8.” This becomes the client’s reference when they want to adjust pricing later.
Bottom Line
Delivery zone configuration is one of the highest-impact settings in any delivery system. The right model reduces support questions, prevents pricing disputes, and gives the business owner confidence that every order is profitable.
As a developer or agency, your job is to match the client’s real-world delivery logic to the right zone model. With four options — neighborhood, zipcode, fixed, and distance via MyD Maps — there’s a fit for every local business.
Set it up once, document it, and move on to the next client.
MyD Delivery is a free WordPress delivery plugin with four delivery zone models — neighborhood, zipcode, fixed price, and distance-based powered by MyD Maps. Get it free or see the demo.