The verdict in three sentences
A single flat delivery fee is almost always wrong: too expensive for buyers on Lagos Island, it scares off your nearby customers; too cheap for Ikorodu, it bleeds your margin on every far order. The right 2026 approach is zone-based pricing by area with a base and a per-kilometer cost, plus a free-delivery threshold that pushes average basket size up. Calibrated well, you keep a positive net margin on every ride, even the last-mile ones.
Zones by area: the 2026 grid
The principle: each Lagos area is placed in a tier based on average distance from your warehouse and access difficulty. You apply a fixed base plus a per-kilometer cost computed by GPS at order time. 2026 order of magnitude for a store based in Yaba.
| Zone | Areas | Base | Cost / km | Typical fee | Delay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | Yaba, Surulere, Ebute Metta | 1,000 FCFA | 150 FCFA | 1,000-1,500 FCFA | Same day |
| Zone 2 | Ikeja, Maryland, Gbagada | 1,500 FCFA | 200 FCFA | 1,800-2,500 FCFA | Same day |
| Zone 3 | Lekki Phase 1, Victoria Island, Apapa | 2,000 FCFA | 250 FCFA | 2,500-3,500 FCFA | 24 h |
| Zone 4 | Ajah, Ikorodu, Festac | 3,000 FCFA | 300 FCFA | 3,500-5,000 FCFA | 24-48 h |
| Outskirts | Epe, Badagry, Mowe | 3,000 FCFA | 350 FCFA | 5,000-8,000 FCFA | 48 h |
| Pickup | Relay point / store | 0 FCFA | 0 FCFA | 0 FCFA | Immediate |
Add a same-day surcharge of 1,000-1,500 FCFA for urgent orders validated before noon, and a 500 FCFA surcharge for evening drops after 7 p.m.
The free-delivery threshold that lifts the basket
Free delivery isn't a gift: it's an average-basket lever. You set a threshold slightly above your median basket and absorb the rider cost on orders that cross it, funded by the additional margin.
| Free threshold | Avg basket before | Avg basket after | Rider cost absorbed | Net margin / order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No threshold | 12,000 FCFA | 12,000 FCFA | 0 FCFA | 2,400 FCFA |
| 15,000 FCFA | 12,000 FCFA | 16,500 FCFA | 1,500 FCFA | 1,800 FCFA |
| 20,000 FCFA | 12,000 FCFA | 19,000 FCFA | 2,000 FCFA | 1,800 FCFA |
| 25,000 FCFA | 12,000 FCFA | 21,000 FCFA | 2,500 FCFA | 1,700 FCFA |
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The right threshold is where the basket increase exceeds the rider cost absorbed. Here, a 20,000 FCFA threshold lifts the basket by 58% at a controlled cost.
Mini case study
Adjoua runs a cosmetics store in Yaba. Before, she charged 2,000 FCFA delivery everywhere: her Lekki customers found it expensive and bought from competitors, while her rides to Ikorodu cost her 4,500 FCFA of rider for 2,000 FCFA collected, a 2,500 FCFA loss per far order. Switching to a zone grid plus a free threshold at 20,000 FCFA, her average basket rose from 12,000 to 19,000 FCFA. Across 180 orders a month, that's 1,260,000 FCFA of added revenue, and her far rides are now covered. Net logistics margin: from -80,000 FCFA to +290,000 FCFA per month.
FAQ
How do you calculate exact distance at order time? The site geolocates the delivery address and computes the road distance from the warehouse via a mapping API. The fee shows in real time at checkout, before mobile-money payment, avoiding nasty surprises and abandonments.
Is a pickup point worth it? Yes, it's often your best margin. In-store or relay pickup costs 0 FCFA of rider and converts very well: 15-25% of customers choose pickup when it's offered free, which lightens your logistics.
Should fees show before checkout? Show a zone grid on a dedicated page and an estimator right from the cart. 60-70% of cart abandonments in 2026 are tied to shipping fees discovered too late. Transparency raises final conversion.
How do you handle fuel price hikes? Index your per-kilometer cost and review it quarterly. A spreadsheet linked to your back office is enough: you adjust the base and cost/km without touching code, and the site recomputes automatically.
Let's talk about your project. We configure your zones, GPS calculation and thresholds inside a mobile-optimized store with mobile-money payment. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
