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Activating calculated shipping with UPS

You can display your negotiated UPS shipping rates in your checkout after you set up your UPS account, and then connect it to your Shopify admin.

If your store is based in the United States, then you can also complete the following tasks:

On this page

Plan requirements for third-party carrier-calculated shipping

To use third-party carrier-calculated shipping, your store must be on the Advanced Shopify or Shopify Plus plan. If your store is on the Grow plan, then you can do one of the following to add third-party carrier-calculated shipping to your store:

  • Switch to yearly billing. When your store is billed yearly, third-party carrier-calculated shipping is automatically activated for stores on the Grow plan.
  • Pay a monthly fee to add third-party carrier-calculated shipping to your store. Contact Shopify Support to set up third-party carrier-calculated shipping by paying a monthly fee.

Third-party carrier-calculated shipping isn't available on the Basic Shopify or Shopify Starter plans.

Requirements for activating calculated shipping with UPS

To activate calculated shipping with UPS, you need to meet the following requirements:

  • You need to have a UPS account that has an account number, sometimes referred to as a Shipper Number.
  • Your store needs to be on the Advanced or Plus plan. If you're on the Grow plan, then you can add this feature for a monthly fee or switch from monthly to yearly billing. For more information, contact Shopify Support.

Step 1: Register for an account with UPS

If you don't already have a UPS account, then you can register for one.

Steps:

  1. Visit the UPS website.
  2. Sign up for an account by using one of the affiliate sites, or by filling in the form as required.
  3. Accept the UPS Technology Agreement, then click Sign Up.
  4. Confirm your email address to complete the registration process.

Step 2: Get your UPS account number

Depending on when and how you created your UPS account, it might not have an account number, sometimes referred to as a Shipper Number, associated with it yet. You can check if your account already has an account number or register for one.

Find your account number

If you already have an account number, then you can find it by logging in to your UPS account. If you don't have an account number, then you can register for one online.

Steps:

  1. Log in to your account at the UPS website.
  2. From the account menu in the top-right corner of the page, select Accounts & Payments.

Under My payment methods, your account number is displayed in the Number column (your account number is in a format similar to 123AB4). If an account number isn't displayed here, then you need to register for one online.

Register for an account number with UPS

If your UPS account doesn't have an account number associated with it yet, then you need to register for one.

Steps:

  1. Log in to your account at the UPS website.
  2. From the account menu in the top-right corner of the page, select Payment Options.
  3. From the Add a payment method menu, select Add new account, and then click Add.
  4. Select the address that you want to register with, and then click Next.
  5. Enter your answers for the questions about your shipping profile.

You can now enter your account number to connect your UPS account.

Step 3: Connect your UPS account

You need to register for a UPS account before you can connect your UPS account to Shopify.

After you connect your account, your Shopify store uses shipping rates that your business has negotiated with UPS. It can take up to three business days before the negotiated rates are displayed in your checkout. If they don't display after three business days, then contact Shopify Support for assistance.

Steps:

Desktop

  1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Shipping and delivery.

  2. In the Shipping section, click Carrier accounts, and then click plus Connect account.

  3. Click UPS.

  4. After you're redirected to UPS, log in to your UPS account.

  5. After logging in, you're redirected back to your Shopify admin. In the Account/Shipper number field, enter your UPS account number, then click Submit.

Mobile

  1. From the Shopify app, tap Menu, and then tap Settings Settings.

  2. In the Store settings section, tap Shipping and delivery .

  3. In the Shipping section, tap Carrier accounts, and then tap plus Connect account.

  4. Tap UPS.

  5. After you're redirected to UPS, log in to your UPS account.

  6. After logging in, you're redirected back to your Shopify admin. In the Account/Shipper number field, enter your UPS account number, then tap Submit.

After you connect your UPS account to Shopify, a new entry is added to the Additional Users section of your account page in your UPS account. This is the Shopify account that is connected to UPS, which includes an account ID and the email address that's associated with your Shopify account.

This additional user entry is required. If you remove it, then your UPS and Shopify accounts are no longer connected. If this entry is removed, then you need to contact Shopify Support to resolve the issue.

Step 4: Test your carrier-calculated shipping rates

After you connect your third-party shipping carrier to your Shopify admin, you can test your account integration and preview calculated shipping rates for specific package types, sizes, and destinations within the Shopify admin.

The shipping rates that are displayed during testing are sample rates and might be different from the shipping rates displayed to your customers at checkout.

Desktop

Steps:

  1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Shipping and delivery.

  2. In the Carrier accounts section, click Horizontal menu next to the carrier that you want to test, and then click Calculate rates.

  3. Select the package type, and then enter the size and weight.

  4. Adjust your origin and destination addresses. The Ship From and Ship To fields use your default location information.

  5. Click Test rates to view sample rates.

  6. Optional: Click the Details tab to enter different package details.

  7. Click Close.

Mobile

Steps:

  1. From the Shopify app, tap Menu, and then tap Settings Settings.

  2. In the Store settings section, tap Shipping and delivery .

  3. In the Carrier accounts section, tap Horizontal menu next to the carrier that you want to test, and then tap Calculate rates.

  4. Select the package type, and then enter the size and weight.

  5. Adjust your origin and destination addresses. The Ship From and Ship To fields use your default location information.

  6. Tap Test rates to view sample rates.

  7. Optional: Tap the Details tab to enter different package details.

  8. Tap Close.

Step 5: Set up carrier-calculated shipping rates

Set up your shipping rates calculated by UPS to display them to your customers at checkout.

Desktop

  1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Shipping and delivery.

  2. In the Shipping section, click the shipping profile that you want to add carrier-calculated rates to.

  3. Optional: To add a new shipping zone, complete the following steps:

    1. In the Shipping zones section, click Add zone.
    2. In the Zone name field, enter a name for your shipping zone.
    3. In the Regions section, select the countries and regions that are part of the zone, and then click Done.

  4. For the shipping zone where you want to add a shipping option, click Add shipping option, and then add shipping rates:

    1. Optional: To add delivery details for your shipping option, such as Tracked shipping, click Add delivery details, and then enter the details. Delivery details are displayed to your customers at checkout.
    2. From the Rate type drop-down menu, select Carrier or app calculated.
    3. Click Choose carrier and apps, and then complete the following steps:
      1. From the Carrier or app drop-down menu, select a shipping carrier or app.
      2. Select the shipping services that you want to display to your customers at checkout. If no services are available to select, then rates are displayed automatically by the carrier or app.
      3. Optional: To automatically include new shipping services when they become available, select Automatically include new services when they become available.
      4. Optional: In the Handling fee section, enter a percentage or a fixed amount to add to the carrier rate. You can use this to account for packaging and handling costs.
      5. Click Done.
    4. Optional: To offer free shipping, select Offer free shipping, and then enter the minimum amount for an order to qualify for free shipping.

  5. Click Done.

  6. Click Save.

Mobile

  1. From the Shopify app, tap Menu, and then tap Settings Settings.

  2. In the Store settings section, tap Shipping and delivery .

  3. In the Shipping section, tap the shipping profile that you want to add carrier-calculated rates to.

  4. Optional: To add a new shipping zone, complete the following steps:

    1. In the Shipping zones section, tap Add zone.
    2. In the Zone name field, enter a name for your shipping zone.
    3. In the Regions section, select the countries and regions that are part of the zone, and then tap Done.

  5. For the shipping zone where you want to add a shipping option, tap Add shipping option, and then add shipping rates:

    1. Optional: To add delivery details for your shipping option, such as Tracked shipping, tap Add delivery details, and then enter the details. Delivery details are displayed to your customers at checkout.
    2. From the Rate type drop-down menu, select Carrier or app calculated.
    3. Tap Choose carrier and apps, and then complete the following steps:
      1. From the Carrier or app drop-down menu, select a shipping carrier or app.
      2. Select the shipping services that you want to display to your customers at checkout. If no services are available to select, then rates are displayed automatically by the carrier or app.
      3. Optional: To automatically include new shipping services when they become available, select Automatically include new services when they become available.
      4. Optional: In the Handling fee section, enter a percentage or a fixed amount to add to the carrier rate. You can use this to account for packaging and handling costs.
      5. Tap Done.
    4. Optional: To offer free shipping, select Offer free shipping, and then enter the minimum amount for an order to qualify for free shipping.

  6. Tap Done.

  7. Tap Tap Save or ✓.

Purchasing labels using your UPS account

After you have connected your UPS account to your Shopify admin, you can purchase shipping labels from your order pages using your own UPS negotiated rates if you're fulfilling from a location based in the United States, including locations in Hawaii or Alaska.

The cost of labels purchased using your own account will display on your UPS invoice which can be viewed by signing in to your UPS account. Due to variances between label purchase and invoice, the cost displayed when purchasing labels might be slightly different than what is displayed on your UPS invoice.

Getting support

If you're having issues with your UPS account setup, then you can visit the UPS Help and Support Center or contact UPS customer support:

Getting support for UPS account setup
CountryContact number
United States1-800-742-5877
Canada1-800-742-5877
United Kingdom03457 877 877

For help connecting your UPS account to your Shopify store, questions about UPS labels purchased in Shopify, or issues with claims on refunded labels, you can contact Shopify Support.

Deactivate UPS calculated shipping

If you no longer want to use calculated shipping by UPS, then you can disconnect your carrier account from your Shopify admin.

Desktop

Steps:

  1. From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Shipping and delivery.

  2. In the Shipping section, click Carrier accounts.

  3. For the UPS carrier, click *Horizontal menu, and then click Delete.

  4. Click Disconnect account.

Mobile

  1. From the Shopify app, tap Menu, and then tap Settings Settings.

  2. In the Store settings section, tap Shipping and delivery .

  3. In the Shipping section, tap Carrier accounts.

  4. For the UPS carrier, tap *Horizontal menu, and then tap Delete.

  5. Tap Disconnect account.

UPS account types

Description of the different UPS account types
Account typeMethodDescription
Daily pickupPickupA UPS driver stops at your location once per business day, as scheduled. You can schedule daily pickups at UPS.com. To learn more about this service, refer to Daily Pickup
One-time pickupPickupYou call UPS to have your packages picked up by scheduling a pickup online or by phone as needed. To learn more about this service, refer to UPS On-Call Pickup.
Customer counterDrop offYou drop off your packages at a UPS customer center (The UPS Store locations, authorized shipping outlets, and UPS access points).
Letter centerDrop offYou drop off your packages at a UPS drop box.
Air service centerDrop-offYou drop off your packages at an air service center.

UPS international shipping and customs documents

You can reduce paper waste and speed up customs clearance by using UPS Paperless® Invoice when you ship internationally with UPS. When buying international shipping labels using your own UPS account, check your UPS account to make sure your UPS Paperless® Invoice preferences are set to submit paperless commercial invoices. If you're shipping to a country that accepts paperless documentation, then your customs documentation is automatically submitted electronically, and you need to print only the shipping label.

If you're shipping to a non-supported country or region, then you need to print the customs forms and attach them to your shipment.