How do I connect shipping carriers (UPS, DHL, FedEx) to Shopify?
What connecting shipping carriers means
Connecting your own shipping carrier accounts (such as UPS, FedEx, DHL, USPS, or Canada Post) to Shopify lets your store show real, live shipping prices at checkout. Instead of guessing or using flat fees, customers see the exact cost based on weight, size, and delivery address.
Why this is useful for your store
- Shows accurate shipping prices at checkout
- Reduces abandoned carts caused by surprise shipping costs
- Lets you buy shipping labels directly inside Shopify
- Automatically adds tracking to customer orders
- Allows customers to choose between standard and express delivery
What you need before connecting carriers
- An active business account with your carrier (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.)
- Your carrier account or shipper number
- A Shopify plan that supports carrier-calculated shipping (Shopify plan or higher – not available on Basic plan)
- Your carrier login details ready
Which carriers you can connect
| Carrier | Available for | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| UPS | Worldwide | Show rates and buy labels (US only) |
| FedEx | Worldwide | Show rates at checkout |
| DHL | Worldwide | Show rates at checkout |
| USPS | United States only | Show rates at checkout |
| Canada Post | Canada only | Show rates and buy labels |
How to connect a carrier account in Shopify
- Go to Settings > Shipping and delivery.
- Scroll to the Carrier accounts section.
- Click Connect account.
- Select your carrier.
- You will be redirected to the carrier’s website. Log in and authorize Shopify to access your account.
- Return to Shopify and confirm your account number.
- Click Save.
Important for UPS: After connecting, Shopify adds an “Additional User” to your UPS account. Do not remove this entry or your connection will stop working.
Add carrier rates to your shipping zones
- Go to Settings > Shipping and delivery.
- Open the shipping profile you want to use.
- Next to your shipping zone, click Add rate.
- Select Use carrier or app to calculate rates.
- Choose your connected carrier.
- Select the delivery services you want to offer.
- Optionally add a handling fee.
- Click Done and then Save.
What customers will see at checkout
When customers enter their delivery address, Shopify automatically shows real-time prices from your connected carriers. They can choose their preferred delivery speed, and the exact carrier rate is charged.
| Delivery option | Delivery time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard delivery | 5–7 business days | Live carrier rate |
| Express delivery | 1–3 business days | Live carrier rate |
If rates are missing or not working
- Make sure carrier rates are added to your shipping zones
- Check that product weights and package sizes are filled in
- Confirm your carrier account is still connected
- Verify your carrier login credentials are still valid
- Review which carrier services are selected
Helpful tips
- Always add accurate product weights and dimensions
- Offer at least two delivery speeds
- Add a small handling fee to cover packaging costs if needed
- Review shipping costs regularly to protect your profit
Final recommendation
Start with one carrier and test real orders first. Once rates look correct, expand to more services so your customers always get fast, transparent, and trustworthy delivery choices.
Related Answers
Was this answer helpful?
Your feedback helps us improve our answers.
Still need help?
Talk to our Shopify experts
We've handled GDPR/CCPA compliance for dozens of EU & US Shopify stores.