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Real-time rate comparison across your carrier ecosystem
Provide accurate, real-time shipping options directly in your checkout. ShipStation API compares carrier rates and delivery timing across multiple carriers, with built-in rate shopping logic to highlight the cheapest, fastest, or best-fit services—so you can confidently select the right option for every order.
driving fulfilment for the uk's small and medium size businesses
See ShipStation API rate shopping in action
Explore our interactive tour to see how ShipStation API’s rate shopping tools can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and boost your bottom line.
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Shipping rates FAQs
What is an API with shipping rate capabilities? How is it different from a label feature?
A shipping rate API focuses on returning carrier quotes and delivery timing so you can compare prices and select the best service before purchasing a label. A label feature purchases the actual shipment label after you choose a rate.
Can I use ShipStation API to power my checkout shipping options?
Yes. Many teams use ShipStation API to plug shipping rate quotes directly into their ecommerce checkout. By sending cart or order details, you can retrieve real-time carrier rates and show customers options that fit their budget and delivery expectations.
Do I need to connect each carrier separately to get rates?
Only one integration with ShipStation API is required. Once your carriers are connected and configured inside ShipStation API, you can request rate quotes from one or multiple carriers in a single call — simplifying your code and avoiding multiple integrations.
Can the shipping rates feature help with duties, taxes, and fees?
Yes. When you include accurate shipment and customs details, ShipStation API can return rate responses that reflect duties, taxes, and other fees where supported — helping you present more accurate landed costs upfront.
What happens after I choose a rate from the response?
Once you select the rate that best fits your shipment, you use its details to purchase a shipping label. Because the shipment ID was created during the rate request, you can transition seamlessly from rate selection to label creation in one consistent workflow.
How fast does ShipStation API return shipping rate quotes?
ShipStation API is built for real-time workflows, returning carrier rate quotes quickly enough to power live checkout experiences and internal fulfillment tools. Performance depends on carrier response times and shipment complexity, but most teams use it successfully in customer-facing flows.
Can I compare rates across multiple carriers in a single request?
Yes. With one API call, you can request shipping rates from multiple connected carriers at once. This lets you compare prices and delivery timing without maintaining separate integrations or handling different carrier formats.