Details about the ShipStation Stamps.com integration: Requirements, how to connect, features, cubic pricing, the GAP program, notes, and troubleshooting.
Stamps.com is a USPS postage reseller that grants access to all standard services offered by USPS, as well as additional international shipping options through GlobalPost.
US-based ShipStation users can take advantage of a free Stamps.com account, which will allow you to create domestic and international USPS shipping labels at a discounted rate compared to USPS retail services.
Connection Requirements:
ShipStation accounts come with a Stamps.com account so you can get rates right away. You'll be prompted to enter your billing information the first time you create a Stamps.com label.
If you want to connect an additional Stamps.com account to ShipStation, you'll need your Stamps.com account username and password.
If you have not yet added a Stamps.com account, you can create the account right in ShipStation. When signing up for a new Stamps.com account through ShipStation, the account requires verification before you can start creating labels. ShipStation sends the verification code via SMS to your phone during the sign up process.
If you currently have an active Stamps.com account you want to connect to ShipStation, or if you would like to create a new one, follow these steps:
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Select the Stamps.com tile and click Connect.
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Choose either Set up a new Stamps.com account or I already have a Stamps.com account depending on which applies.
For existing accounts: Select the option I already have a Stamps.com account, then click Next to enter your Stamps.com Username and Password. Enter an Account Nickname to identify the carrier account in ShipStation. Click Connect.
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For new accounts: Select the option to set up a new account and click Next. Enter your Billing and Payment information and click Create Free Account. You will be prompted to enter a phone number for 2-Step Authentication. Enter your phone number and click Next. You should receive a verification code via SMS to the phone number you entered. Enter the code and click Verify.
Once added successfully, you'll see your Stamps.com account appear in your Carriers & Fulfillments list. You can then add funds to your balance and begin creating labels.
Failed 2-step Authentication
You will not be able to add funds or create labels on new Stamps.com accounts that have not passed the 2-step authentication process.
If you experience issues with this authentication process, contact Stamps.com Security Support at 866-634-4708.
ShipStation's integration with Stamps.com supports the following standard features:
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Common ShipStation Features |
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*Parcel Select Lightweight Labels
If you have Parcel Select Lightweight enabled, selecting Parcel Select Ground and Package for anything under 16 oz will automatically print a Parcel Select Lightweight label.
Contact Stamps.com shipper support to enable it on your ShipStation account (subject to USPS approval). Additional fees and guidelines from the postage provider may apply.
To learn more about USPS Shipping services, see USPS Domestic Services and USPS International Service pages.
Additional Features
ShipStation's integration to Stamps.com allows for the following additional features:
Feature |
Description |
|---|---|
Discounted Rates |
The free Stamps.com account included with ShipStation comes pre-loaded with access to discounted rates, including cubic pricing! NoteYou'll only have access to these rates when using the free Stamps.com account. If you connected a personal Stamps.com account, ShipStation will instead reflect whatever rates are loaded into that account. |
GlobalPost Consolidation Service |
The free Stamps.com account included with ShipStation qualifies for GlobalPost consolidation services through Stamps.com. See our section on GlobalPost for more information. |
Scheduled Pickups |
After creating Stamps.com shipping labels in ShipStation, you can schedule a pickup for the next day through the Shipments tab. |
Manage funds through ShipStation |
Add funds to your Stamps.com account through ShipStation, using the credit card you have on file with Stamps.com. You can also set up auto-funding and always have funds available to create shipping labels. |
USPS SCAN Forms |
Use ShipStation to generate USPS SCAN forms for your Stamps.com shipping labels. |
Other Shipping Options available for Stamps.com shipments. |
The following options will be available to select in the Other Shipping Options panel in ShipStation when a USPS service is selected for the order:
For a full list of the Other Shipping Options and which carriers support them, review our Other Shipping Options by Carrier article. |
Stamps.com cubic pricing is available by default for all ShipStation users creating labels in ShipStation with their Stamps.com account.
Cubic rates are ideal for small, heavy packages since the pricing is based on the volume of the package instead of the weight. Any package that measures 0.50 cubic feet or less and is 20 pounds or less is eligible.
To receive cubic rates in ShipStation:
Choose a USPS domestic Priority service.
Choose a package type of Package.
Enter the package weight & dimensions.
ShipStation will automatically apply the cubic rate whenever it's cheaper than the priority rate. For more details on Stamps.com cubic rates, please contact your Stamps.com account representative.
USPS offers a special cubic rate option for a package type called Softpack or Polybag. These package types are not yet available in ShipStation, but we plan to make them available in the future.
If you wish to ship using Softpacks, please contact ShipStation support to enable this feature for you.
Once enabled, the following steps will allow you to view the appropriate cubic rate for Softpack or Polybag shipments.
Softpack Pricing Requirements
The mail piece must be 20 lbs or less.
The longest dimension cannot exceed 18 inches.
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Must be .50 cubic feet or less. The following list provides Length + Width for each tier of Cubic Softpack Pricing:
0.1 - Length + Width between 0" and 21"
0.2 - Length + Width between 21" and 27"
0.3 - Length + Width between 27" and 31"
0.4 - Length + Width between 31" and 34"
0.5 - Length + Width between 34" and 36"
May not be in rolls or tubes.
To View Appropriate Rates
Select your order from the Orders grid and choose USPS Priority Mail as the shipping service.
Set packaging type to Large Envelope or Flat.
Enter the weight of the shipment.
Enter the length and width, but leave the height field blank.
This will fetch the tiered cubic rate for the product, should it meet the requirements for cubic rates.
The Global Advantage Program (GAP) is a Stamps.com program that makes international shipping much more economical. Your Stamps.com account is auto-enrolled in the GAP program, so you don’t need to take any action to enable it.
The important thing to note about GAP labels is that the ship to address on the label is a domestic address. This is because your shipment goes to a GlobalPost hub where it is then processed and forwarded to its final destination.
Benefits of the GAP program include discounted rates, free insurance coverage up to $100 for First Class International and $200 for Priority, and electronic customs submission.
Review the details on the Stamps.com Global Advantage Program page for more details about this program.
ShipStation automatically creates a GAP label for an international order under the following conditions:
The destination address for the order is an international address.
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You've selected one of the following USPS services:
First Class Mail International
Priority Mail International
Priority Mail Express International
The GAP label should look similar to this:
Your packages with GAP labels will get shipped to the domestic sorting facility, where they'll be relabeled and forwarded on to their final destination.
GAP SmartSaver Labels
If you ship 5 or more international shipments a day, the Global Advantage Program offers further discounts when you consolidate your daily individual packages into one large package. Stamps calls this their SmartSaver service.
To use this service, you must contact Stamps.com to see if you qualify and have them enable it for you.
To prepare a consolidated shipment:
Create international USPS labels for each shipment and label them like you normally would.
Put the individual packages into a single larger box.
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Log in to your Stamps.com account to print the label for the larger container (you will not be charged a fee for this label).
Follow the instructions in How to Prepare and Print Global Advantage Program Container Shipping Labels to create this label.
Put the label on the larger container and ship via your local post office.
GAP vs SmartSaver Labels
GAP labels always have the domestic sorting facility address as the ship to address
Once you enable the SmartSaver service with Stamps, all international labels will be a part of this service. You will no longer be able to print GAP single labels.
Remember these points about ShipStation's integration with Stamps.com:
USPS does not support Signature or Adult Signature confirmation for shipments to international addresses.
USPS SCAN forms must be created before 9 PM local time.
Label Messages are not available for international shipments, or domestic First Class Mail shipments using the Letter package type.
Due to the discounted rates ShipStation users receive, it's not possible to show postage cost on Stamps.com shipping labels.
All Stamps.com shipping labels are prepaid. In order to receive a refund for unused postage, void the shipping label electronically within 28 days.
Stamps.com has a postage-purchase minimum of $10 for a single transaction.
Each Stamps.com account can hold up to a maximum of $10,000.00 in available funds.
Here are some common issues, potential causes, and troubleshooting tips.
Issue |
How to troubleshoot or resolve |
|---|---|
First Class Mail International (FCMI) tracking numbers not sent to customers or selling channel |
The tracking number provided for FCMI shipments is not always fully trackable, and will often not provide any additional tracking details beyond the shipment leaving the country. For this reason, FCMI are considered non-trackable and will not be include in marketplace notifications by default. To include FCMI tracking numbers in marketplace notifications, go to Despite the wording of the text, this setting also applies to email notifications sent to customers, as well. |
Error: "Authentication Failed" when attempting to get rates or create shipping labels |
This error message will occur if you've updated the password for your Stamps.com account. It means that ShipStation no longer has the proper password for your account and is unable to communicate successfully with Stamps.com. To resolve this error:
If you are still unable to use your Stamps.com account, contact Stamps support at (888) 434-0055 for further assistance. |
Credit Card Declined |
To update the credit card used for your Stamps.com account:
You can then go back to ShipStation, refresh your screen, and attempt to make your purchase again. If you are unable to access the Stamps.com account page, you must contact the Stamps.com Fraud Team for assistance at (866) 634-4708. |
Locked out of Stamps.com account and need to reset account password or update billing details. |
If you are locked out of your Stamps.com account or unable to purchase postage on your account, you must contact the Stamps.com Fraud Team for assistance at (866) 634-4708. They will verify you and be able to release your account, help you reset your Stamps.com account password, or update your billing details. |
My Priority Mail Express shipment arrived late, how do I get a refund for the late delivery? |
You will need to contact Stamps.com directly to claim a refund for late delivery. Email shippersupport@stamps.com with the tracking number(s) and created date(s) for the shipment(s). Stamps.com will evaluate the claim and respond within 24 hours. |
Domestic shipping label when using the First Class Mail International (FCMI) service and the Large Envelope or Flat package type. |
Starting in early 2018, USPS requires all "Merchandise" shipped using FCMI to use the Package package type. The Large Envelope or Flat package type is only valid if the content type for the shipment is "Documents." Stamps.com allows their users to use the Large Envelope or Flat package type for any kind of FCMI shipment, but in order to do so the shipment must go through GlobalPost, an international consolidation service. The domestic shipping label you received is used to ship your package to the GlobalPost sorting facility. Once received, GlobalPost will relabel the shipment with the international label and any necessary customs information, and send the package on it's way to it's final destination. Please review our section on GlobalPost for more details. |
Error: Account is set to a closed plan |
This means the connected account has been either closed or removed from the ShipStation Pro plan. To resolve, do one of the following:
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Error when closing End of Day: An unexpected error occurred while creating the SCAN form. The size necessary to buffer the XML content exceeded the buffer quota. |
This means there is an unknown error on the Stamps side when attempting to close the SCAN form in ShipStation. Solution: Close the SCAN form directly in your Stamps.com account. To access your SCAN form in your Stamps account:
Close the form and print from here. |
Error when closing End of Day: One or more of these packages have already been scanned by USPS |
End of Day forms can only be closed for orders that were created on that date, for that date. You will not be able to close an End of Day form for shipments that have a ship date in the past. In this case, the packages must be individually scanned by USPS. You can change your shipping cut-off time in |