Use ShipStation's Rate Browser to view rates for all of your connected carriers, as well as create labels without first creating an order.
ShipStation's Rate Calculator lets you view estimated rates across multiple services and carriers to determine which service is best for different shipments. Additionally, you can use the Rate Calculator to create labels (both outgoing and return labels) without creating an order.
There are two ways to view rates with the Rate Calculator:
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Toolbar Rate Calculator
Use the Rate Calculator in the top toolbar to compare rates based on Ship From and Ship To postal code, weight, package dimension, and service class.
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Shipment Rate Calculator
Use the Rate Calculator in the Configure Shipment Widget to view rates for a shipment on a specific order.
The Shipment Rate Calculator returns rates from the carrier based on the following shipment details:
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Postal Codes for the Ship From and Ship To Addresses
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Address type: Residential or Commercial
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Shipping Confirmation Type
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Package Type, Weight, and Dimensions
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Service Class (the type or speed of service)
Use the Toolbar Rate Calculator to view and compare rates based on Ship From and Ship To postal codes, shipment weight, package dimensions, and service class.
Rate Differences Between Toolbar and Shipment Calculator
Because the Toolbar Calculator sends fewer details to the carrier rate API, you may sometimes see different rates for the same shipment between the Toolbar Calculator and the Shipment Calculator.
The Toolbar Calculator does not consider the address type (residential, commercial), package, or confirmation type. The Shipment Calculator will provide more accurate rates when such details affect the rate returned from the carrier's rate API.
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Click the Rate Calculator icon in the top toolbar.
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Enter the necessary information for the rates you'd like to see.
Minimum required information: Ship-From Location, Ship-To Postal Code, Country, and Weight.
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Click Browse Rates.
ShipStation will display the connected carriers, service types, estimated delivery times (if available), and rates.
From here, you can create a label without creating an order, if desired.
The Rate Calculator allows you to create both outgoing and return labels without creating an order first.
To create a label using the toolbar Rate Calculator:
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Select the Carrier and Service you want to use.
The Configure Label option becomes active after you select a service.
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Click Configure Label.
The Rate Calculator will then ask you to fill in the remaining Ship To Address information. The Postal Code will carry over from your initial entry.
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Complete the Ship To Address.
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(Optional) Click Validate Address if you are not confident the address is exactly correct. ShipStation will validate and standardise the address for you.
If you want to use the correction, click Use this Address.
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Make any other adjustments you need to the shipment (weight, dimensions, insurance, customs declarations, etc.).
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Click the Create + Print Label button (or use the drop-down to only Create Label without printing).
ShipStation will create the label at this point and, depending on your printing setup, will either send it to your default printer or ask you to print the label.
If ShipStation is not able to create the label, we'll display any relevant errors so you can correct the shipping details and attempt to create the label again.
You can print the label immediately or print it later from the Shipments tab. Review the Print Labels article in this help guide for more details on available print options.
To create a return label from the Rate Calculator, follow the same steps to create an outbound label but select the Create a Return Label option above the address fields.
Then choose to either Email or Download the label.
Labels created through the Rate Calculator in ShipStation's toolbar will not have orders associated with them. You should be aware of the following when creating labels this way:
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Creating a label through the Rate Calculator will not generate an order or customer record. A shipment record will be available in the Shipments tab.
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You cannot create International labels or any labels requiring customs information from the rate calculator.
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Shipments created through the Rate Calculator do not allow you to define the shipment's line items. Packing Slips and Pick Lists printed from the shipment will not contain any product information.
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Notification e-mails are not available for shipments created through the Rate Calculator.
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All labels count against your subscription plan's shipment limit.
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You cannot specify a custom RMA number for return labels created with the Rate Calculator. ShipStation will auto-generate the RMA.
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Since each of these labels is a standalone label, a return label cannot be made from the shipment record for an outbound label that doesn't have an order. See Return Labels for steps to create standalone return labels.
The Shipment Rate Calculator will take the details configured for that shipment and display the rates for all carriers and services available.
To see the rates for a specific shipment:
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Select an order.
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Set the Weight for the shipment.
For the most accurate rates, we recommend you set the Size as well.
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Click the Rate Calcuator icon in the Configure Shipment Widget.
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Select a Carrier to view the available services and rates.
Package Types
By default, the Rate Calculator will assume you are using the standard Package package type. If a different package type is selected in the Configure Shipment Widget, the Rate Calculator will retrieve rates for that package type instead.
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Click Configure Label to apply a carrier and service to the shipment.
Rate Browser Configure Shipments
If you adjust the fields in the Rate Browser and click Configure Label, the order's fields will update to the new shipping configuration.
The carrier and service you selected will be set in the Configure Shipment Widget so you can proceed to create the label.