ShipStation Integration

ShipStation is a multi-carrier shipping platform that displays live shipping rates from USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL, and other carriers at checkout. Customers see real-time rates based on package weight, dimensions, and destination.

Before you start

  • You need a ShipStation account (plans start at $9.99/month)
  • All products must have weight and dimensions set
  • ShipStation requires all products to use the same shipping method. It cannot be mixed with Simple Shipping, USPS, or other methods.

Getting your ShipStation API key

IndieMade uses the ShipStation v2 API. You need a v2 API key (not the older v1 basic-auth keys).

To find your API key in ShipStation:

  1. Log in to ShipStation
  2. Click the gear icon in the top right to open Settings
  3. Go to Account > API Settings
  4. Under the API Keys section, click Generate API Key if you don't have one
  5. Copy the API Key (you will only see it once, so save it somewhere safe)

Important: Make sure you are using a v2 API key. Older v1 keys (which used a key + secret pair for basic authentication) will not work with IndieMade.

Setting up ShipStation in IndieMade

  1. On the Dashboard, go to Settings > Shipping
  2. Select ShipStation as your shipping method
  3. You will be redirected to the ShipStation settings page
  4. Enter your API Key (v2)
  5. Enter your Ship From Zip Code (5-digit US postal code)
  6. Click Save

Selecting carriers and services

After saving your API key, IndieMade fetches your connected carriers from ShipStation automatically.

  1. Go back to Settings > Shipping > ShipStation
  2. Under Carriers, check the carriers you want to offer at checkout (e.g. USPS, UPS, FedEx)
  3. Under each carrier, check the specific services you want to show (e.g. Priority Mail, Ground, 2-Day)
  4. Leave all services unchecked for a carrier to show all of its available services
  5. Click Save

Customers will see live rates from your selected carriers and services at checkout, sorted by price.

Product requirements

ShipStation calculates rates based on package weight and dimensions. Every product must have:

  • Weight: The shipping weight of the product (in ounces or pounds)
  • Dimensions: Length, width, and height (in inches)

Products without weight and dimensions will cause errors at checkout. Use Bulk Editing to set weight and dimensions for multiple products at once.

Important notes

  • ShipStation cannot be combined with other shipping methods. When ShipStation is active, all products must ship through ShipStation.
  • Your store address is used as the ship-from address. Make sure it is set correctly in Dashboard > Settings > Store Settings.
  • Rates are fetched live at checkout, so the customer always sees current pricing.