Toast eCommerce: Limit Which Items Can Be Shipped

Last updated: Sep 22, 2026, 2:35 PM

Exclude specific items or categories from shipping in Toast eCommerce so guests can only place shipping orders for items you can actually ship.

Toast eCommerce is currently in limited release with select customers. Check back soon for updates!

 

In this Article:

 

Before You Begin

Applies to: Toast eCommerce

 

Permissions needed:

  • 6.9 Websites Setup

 

What you'll accomplish: Your store accepts shipping orders only for the items you can ship, and guests are stopped at checkout before they order something that cannot be shipped.

 

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Exclude a Category From Shipping

Start with categories when a whole group of items cannot ship, such as a Frozen Foods or Bakery category. This is faster than selecting items one at a time.

 

  1. In your Toast eCommerce site admin, navigate to your shipping settings.
  2. Locate the Item Availability panel.
  3. Find the category you want to exclude from shipping.
  4. Disable shipping for that category. Every item in the category is excluded from shipping.
  5. Select Save.

 

Expected outcome: The category is listed as excluded from shipping, and its items can no longer be ordered for shipping.

 

Note: Menu changes reach your live store through a publish. If your change is not reflected in your store, confirm you have published.

 

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Exclude Individual Items From Shipping

Use individual items when only part of a category cannot ship, or when you need an exception inside a category that otherwise ships.

  1. In your Toast eCommerce site admin, navigate to your shipping settings.
  2. Locate the Item Availability panel.
  3. Search for the item you want to exclude from shipping.
  4. Select the item to exclude it from shipping.
  5. Repeat for any other items that cannot ship.
  6. Select Save.

 

Expected outcome: Each item you selected is listed as excluded from shipping, and guests cannot place a shipping order that includes it.

 

Note: Menu changes reach your live store through a publish. If your change is not reflected in your store, confirm you have published.

 

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What Guests See When an Item Cannot Ship

Excluded items still appear in your store and remain available for your other fulfillment methods, such as pickup. The restriction is applied when a guest tries to check out for shipping.

  • A guest can add an excluded item to their cart.
  • When shipping is selected, the guest sees the message "Some items in your cart are not available for shipping."
  • The order is blocked until the guest removes the excluded item or switches to pickup.

 

Because the order is blocked before it is placed, you do not have to cancel and refund an order for an item you cannot ship.

 

Note: To set expectations earlier, add a line such as "Available for pickup only" to the item's description. Guests then see it before they add the item to their cart, rather than at checkout.

 

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Limitations

  • Your store needs at least one active fulfillment method. You cannot disable every fulfillment method for the store. If you want your store to sell for pickup only, exclude your items from shipping instead.
  • Shipping availability is separate from store visibility. Excluding an item from shipping does not remove it from your store. Whether an item appears in your store is controlled by menu visibility, which is set at the menu level. To learn more, see Manage Your Menu Visibility Settings.
  • Alcohol is controlled separately. Alcohol shipping has its own settings, including restricting shipment by state. Do not rely on item availability to manage alcohol shipping. If you wish to disable alcohol shipping or adjust the states where shipping is allowed, you can do so by navigating to eCommerce > Shipping Settings > Shipping Restrictions and adjusting your Allow alcohol shipping settings as needed.
  • Shipping rates depend on item weights and dimensions. Items you allow to ship need weights and dimensions entered in Toast Web so shipping rates can be calculated.

 

If you need help with any of this, contact Toast Customer Care.

 

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