add_shipping_info

The add_shipping_info event fires when a user completes the shipping step of checkout — when they’ve selected a shipping method and continued to the next step. The shipping_tier parameter captures which shipping option they chose, giving you data on how shipping preferences affect checkout completion.

When to fire

Fire add_shipping_info when:

• The user selects a shipping method and clicks “Continue” to proceed to payment
• The shipping step is completed in a single-page checkout flow
• The user confirms their shipping address and method

Do not fire it when the user merely loads the shipping step — fire when they complete it and advance.

Complete dataLayer push

// Always clear previous ecommerce data first
dataLayer.push({ ecommerce: null });

dataLayer.push({
  event: 'add_shipping_info',
  ecommerce: {
    currency: 'USD',
    value: 174.47,
    coupon: 'SUMMER15',
    shipping_tier: 'Standard Shipping',   // the selected shipping method
    items: [
      {
        item_id: 'SKU-001-BLK-L',
        item_name: 'Classic Leather Jacket',
        item_brand: 'Heritage Co.',
        item_category: 'Apparel',
        item_category2: 'Outerwear',
        item_variant: 'Black / Large',
        price: 89.99,
        quantity: 1,
        coupon: 'SUMMER15',
        discount: 13.50,
        affiliation: 'Online Store'
      },
      {
        item_id: 'SKU-047-WHT-M',
        item_name: 'Cotton Crew T-Shirt',
        item_brand: 'Heritage Co.',
        item_category: 'Apparel',
        item_category2: 'Tops',
        item_variant: 'White / Medium',
        price: 24.99,
        quantity: 2,
        coupon: '',
        discount: 0,
        affiliation: 'Online Store'
      },
      {
        item_id: 'SKU-112-TAN-34',
        item_name: 'Woven Leather Belt',
        item_brand: 'Heritage Co.',
        item_category: 'Accessories',
        item_category2: 'Belts',
        item_variant: 'Tan / 34',
        price: 34.50,
        quantity: 1,
        coupon: '',
        discount: 0,
        affiliation: 'Online Store'
      }
    ]
  }
});

Event schema

Event Schema add_shipping_info

Parameter	Type	Required	Description
event	string	Required	Must be "add_shipping_info"
ecommerce.currency	string	Required	ISO 4217 currency code.
ecommerce.value	number	Required	Cart subtotal (before shipping cost is added).
ecommerce.coupon	string	Optional	Order-level coupon code if applied.
ecommerce.shipping_tier	string	Optional	The selected shipping method. Use your display labels: "Standard Shipping", "Express", "Next Day Delivery".
ecommerce.items[]	Array<Item>	Required	All items in the cart.
items[].item_id	string	Required	SKU or variant-level product identifier.
items[].item_name	string	Required	Product name.
items[].item_brand	string	Optional	Brand.
items[].item_category	string	Optional	Primary category.
items[].item_variant	string	Optional	Selected variant.
items[].price	number	Optional	Unit price.
items[].quantity	number	Optional	Quantity.
items[].coupon	string	Optional	Item-level coupon.
items[].discount	number	Optional	Item-level discount.

Shipping tier values

The shipping_tier parameter is a free-form string. Use human-readable labels that match what users see in the checkout UI. Be consistent across your implementation — the same shipping option should always have the same shipping_tier value.

// ✅ Consistent, readable
shipping_tier: 'Standard Shipping'   // 5-7 business days
shipping_tier: 'Express Shipping'    // 2-3 business days
shipping_tier: 'Next Day Delivery'
shipping_tier: 'Store Pickup'
shipping_tier: 'Same Day Delivery'

// ❌ Inconsistent or cryptic
shipping_tier: 'standard'
shipping_tier: 'std_ship_5d'
shipping_tier: '2'    // an internal code

GTM configuration

1. Create a Custom Event trigger. Event name: add_shipping_info. Name it CE - add_shipping_info.

2. Create Data Layer Variables for ecommerce.currency, ecommerce.value, ecommerce.coupon, ecommerce.shipping_tier, and ecommerce.items.

3. Create the GA4 Event tag. Event name: add_shipping_info. Enable Send Ecommerce data. Add currency, value, coupon, and shipping_tier as explicit event parameters.

4. Test in Preview mode. Navigate through the shipping step, select a method, and continue. Confirm shipping_tier shows the selected method label.

Common mistakes

Firing when the shipping step loads, not when it’s completed. If you fire on step entry, users who see the shipping options and go back are counted as if they completed the step. Fire on “Continue to Payment” click or equivalent step completion action.

Hardcoding a default shipping tier. If you always push shipping_tier: 'Standard' regardless of what the user selected, your shipping preference analysis is meaningless. Dynamically set this value from the checkout form state.

begin_checkout The preceding checkout step.

add_payment_info The following checkout step — payment method selection.

purchase The final checkout event — order confirmation.