How to Configure Cash on Delivery in Magento

Cash on Delivery (COD) is a popular payment option for online stores, especially when customers prefer to pay after receiving their orders. Magento includes a built-in Cash on Delivery payment method that can be enabled and configured directly from the Admin Panel.

With COD, customers place an order online and pay the delivery agent when the package arrives. Store administrators can control where COD is available, set order-value limits, add payment instructions, and determine how the method appears during checkout.

In this guide, you will learn how to configure Cash on Delivery in Magento step by step.

What Is Cash on Delivery?

Cash on Delivery is a payment method where the customer does not pay online during checkout. Instead, payment is collected when the order is delivered.

A typical COD workflow looks like this:

Customer Places Order
        ↓
COD Selected at Checkout
        ↓
Magento Creates Order
        ↓
Store Processes Order
        ↓
Order Is Shipped
        ↓
Customer Pays on Delivery

The exact order and payment status behavior can vary depending on your Magento configuration and shipping or fulfillment workflow.

Benefits of Cash on Delivery

Offering COD can be useful because it:

• Gives customers an alternative to online payments.
• Can increase trust among customers who are hesitant to pay online.
• Supports customers without access to certain online payment methods.
• Is useful in markets where COD is widely used.
• Can complement card, wallet, and bank payment options.

However, COD orders can also involve higher cancellation or return risks, so businesses should establish appropriate order and delivery policies.

Before Enabling COD

Before configuring Cash on Delivery, check the following:

1. Your Magento store is properly configured.
2. Shipping methods are available.
3. Your business supports COD deliveries.
4. Your delivery partners accept COD orders.
5. You know the countries or regions where COD should be available.
6. You have decided whether to impose minimum or maximum order values.

Step 1: Log in to Magento Admin

Log in to your Magento Admin Panel using an administrator account.

After logging in, open the Magento dashboard.

Step 2: Open Payment Methods

From the Admin Panel, go to:

Stores → Configuration

Then select:

Sales → Payment Methods

Magento will display the available payment methods configured for your store.

If your store has multiple websites or store views, select the appropriate configuration scope before changing the payment settings.

Step 3: Locate Cash on Delivery

Find the section named:

Cash On Delivery Payment

Expand the section to display its configuration options.

The available settings may vary slightly depending on your Magento or Adobe Commerce version.

Step 4: Enable Cash on Delivery

Locate:

Enabled

Set it to:

Yes

This makes Cash on Delivery available to customers when the other configuration requirements are satisfied.

Step 5: Set the Payment Title

The Title determines how the payment method appears to customers during checkout.

For example:

Cash on Delivery

You can also use a customer-friendly title such as:

Pay on Delivery

Keep the title short and easy to understand.

Step 6: Configure the New Order Status

Magento allows you to select the status assigned when an order is placed using COD.

Depending on your Magento version, you may have options such as:

• Pending
• Processing
• Other configured statuses

Choose a status that matches your fulfillment workflow.

For COD orders, many stores prefer a status that clearly indicates that the order still needs to be processed and payment has not yet been collected.

Step 7: Configure Payment From Applicable Countries

Magento allows you to control where COD can be used.

Look for:

Payment from Applicable Countries

You may see options such as:

• All Allowed Countries
• Specific Countries

All Allowed Countries

Choose this option if you want COD to be available wherever your store accepts orders, subject to the other payment restrictions.

Specific Countries

Choose this option if COD is available only in selected countries.

For example, you may want to offer COD only in regions where your logistics provider supports cash collection.

Step 8: Select Specific Countries

If you select Specific Countries, Magento will provide a list of countries.

Select the countries where COD should be available.

For example:

India

or multiple countries supported by your delivery operation.

Make sure the selected countries are consistent with your shipping and COD policies.

Step 9: Add COD Instructions

The Instructions field allows you to provide additional information to customers.

For example:

Please keep the exact amount ready when your order is delivered.

Another example is:

Cash on Delivery is available for eligible delivery locations. Payment must be made to the delivery agent when the order arrives.

Keep the instructions clear and concise.

Step 10: Set Minimum Order Total

Magento can allow you to specify a minimum order value for COD.

For example:

Minimum Order Total: 500

With this type of restriction, customers whose order total is below the configured amount may not see COD as an available payment option.

This can help reduce the operational cost associated with processing low-value COD orders.

Step 11: Set Maximum Order Total

You can also configure a maximum order value.

For example:

Maximum Order Total: 50,000

This can be useful if your business does not want to accept high-value COD orders.

If you do not want a maximum limit, leave the field configured according to Magento’s default behavior.

Step 12: Configure Sort Order

The Sort Order determines where Cash on Delivery appears in relation to other payment methods.

For example:

1. Credit/Debit Card
2. UPI
3. Cash on Delivery
4. Bank Transfer

A lower sort-order value generally places the method higher in the checkout payment list.

Choose an order that makes sense for your customers.

Step 13: Save the Configuration

After configuring the COD settings, click:

Save Config

Magento will save the payment configuration.

If the changes do not immediately appear on the storefront, check the configuration scope and refresh the relevant Magento cache.

Step 14: Test Cash on Delivery

Testing is important before making COD available to customers.

Open your storefront and:

1. Add a product to the cart.
2. Proceed to checkout.
3. Enter a delivery address in an eligible location.
4. Continue to the payment section.
5. Select Cash on Delivery.
6. Place the order.
7. Open Sales → Orders in Magento Admin.
8. Verify the new order and its status.

Check that the COD instructions are displayed correctly.

Step 15: Verify the Order

After placing the test order, open it from:

Sales → Orders

Review:

• Customer information
• Shipping address
• Products
• Order total
• Payment method
• Order status
• Shipping information

Confirm that Magento identifies the payment method as Cash on Delivery.

Managing COD Orders

Once COD orders start arriving, your team should have a consistent fulfillment process.

A basic workflow can be:

COD Order Received
       ↓
Verify Order
       ↓
Confirm Inventory
       ↓
Pack Product
       ↓
Ship Order
       ↓
Collect Payment
       ↓
Complete Order

Depending on your logistics provider, payment collection and order-status updates may be handled automatically or manually.

How to Disable Cash on Delivery

If you no longer want to accept COD payments:

1. Go to Stores → Configuration.
2. Open Sales → Payment Methods.
3. Expand Cash On Delivery Payment.
4. Set Enabled to No.
5. Click Save Config.
6. Clear or refresh the relevant cache if necessary.
7. Test checkout to confirm that COD is no longer displayed.

Common Cash on Delivery Problems

COD Does Not Appear at Checkout

Check:

• COD is enabled.
• The correct configuration scope is selected.
• The customer’s country is allowed.
• The order total falls within the configured limits.
• A compatible shipping method is available.
• Magento cache has been refreshed.

COD Appears for the Wrong Countries

Review:

Payment from Applicable Countries

If Specific Countries is selected, verify the country list carefully.

COD Is Not Available for Small Orders

Check the Minimum Order Total setting.

If the customer’s order is below the configured minimum, Magento may hide the COD option.

COD Is Not Available for Expensive Orders

Check the Maximum Order Total setting.

If the order exceeds the configured maximum, COD may not be offered.

Customers Do Not Understand How COD Works

Review the Instructions field and provide clear information about when and how payment is collected.

Best Practices for Cash on Delivery

Follow these practices when offering COD:

• Clearly explain COD availability during checkout.
• Set appropriate minimum and maximum order limits.
• Restrict COD to supported delivery locations.
• Verify high-value COD orders when appropriate.
• Use reliable shipping partners.
• Clearly communicate whether exact cash is required.
• Monitor COD cancellations and refused deliveries.
• Track successful and failed COD deliveries.
• Keep order statuses accurate.
• Consider additional verification for suspicious or unusually large orders.

COD and Shipping Restrictions

COD availability should match your shipping network.

For example, if a delivery partner supports COD only in selected postal areas, your store should avoid offering COD outside those locations.

Magento’s standard configuration can restrict payment methods by country and order value. More detailed location-based restrictions may require additional configuration or a compatible extension.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Magento support Cash on Delivery?

Yes. Magento includes a built-in Cash on Delivery payment method.

Where do I configure COD?

Go to:

Stores → Configuration → Sales → Payment Methods → Cash On Delivery Payment

Can I restrict COD to specific countries?

Yes. Magento provides an Applicable Countries setting that can be used to limit where COD is available.

Can I set a minimum COD order value?

Yes. You can configure a minimum order total when supported by the COD configuration.

Can I set a maximum COD order value?

Yes. You can configure a maximum order total to prevent COD from being offered for orders above a specified value.

Can I add instructions for customers?

Yes. The COD configuration includes an instructions field where you can explain how payment will be collected.

Can I disable COD later?

Yes. Set the COD payment method to Disabled in the Payment Methods configuration and save the changes.

Conclusion

Cash on Delivery is a useful Magento payment option for businesses that want to accept payment when products are delivered. Magento’s built-in COD configuration lets you control availability, applicable countries, order-value limits, customer instructions, and checkout display order.

Before enabling COD for all customers, test the complete checkout and fulfillment process. Make sure your shipping partners support COD in the locations where you offer it, and establish clear procedures for verifying, shipping, and completing COD orders.