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. |
You can add funds to your Stamps.com account balance or configure ShipStation to automatically purchase postage when your Stamps.com account hits a certain funding threshold.
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Click the Add Funds link next to your provider account.
Next, you can manually add funds to your balance, or set ShipStation to auto-fund your balance when it falls below a certain threshold.
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Manually add funds:
Select the option Manually purchase additional funds, then enter the funding amount.
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Set ShipStation to auto-fund:
Select the option Set up Auto-Funding, then enter the balance amount to trigger the auto-fund purchase, the amount to fund, and the maximum number of times the auto-fund can occur each day.
For example, if you wanted to purchase $100 by default any time your account balance falls below $250, set the When balance drops below amount to 250 and the Automatically fund by this amount to 100. Then enter in the maximum number of times ShipStation should automatically purchase postage in a day next to Stop after this many times per day.
Click Confirm.
About Stamps.com Auto-Funding
This feature triggers ShipStation to add funds when ShipStation detects the Stamps.com account has fallen under a certain threshold and is not connected to Stamps.com's own Auto-buy postage feature that can be enabled when logged into Stamps.com directly. We recommend you only have auto-funding enabled in one location, as having the feature enabled in both ShipStation and Stamps.com can cause funds to be added twice.
Stamps requires a minimum purchase of $10.
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:
You 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 into 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 label 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. |
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 form, or shipments missing from SCAN form. |
Check the SCAN form directly in your Stamps.com account. Some shipments may have already been submitted. You can also submit and print the form directly through the Stamps portal if the process in ShipStation returns an error. To access your EOD form directly through your Stamps.com account:
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USPS rates increased on January 27th, 2019. All USPS postage providers, including Stamps.com, must comply with these new rate increases. Listed below are some of the more common services that will see rate increases.
Below you'll find the Stamps.com 2019 rate tables for:
First Class Mail Packages
Priority Flat Rate
Priority Regional Rate Boxes
Priority Mail
Any size restrictions will also be listed in each section.
First Class Package Services: Previously, First Class Packages had a flat rate to all zones. As of 2019, FCP services are based on both weight and zone. Zones range from the nearest (zone 1) to the furthest away (zone 9).
No more balloon pricing: Previously, the USPS charged lightweight Priority Mail and Parcel Select packages with a girth between 84" and 108" a rate based on a 20 lb weight. This has been discontinued.
Dimensional weight: Priority Mail over one cubic foot is subject to dimensional weight (AKA: DIM weight) as of June 23, 2019. Details in the Priority Mail section below.
To conform with the USPS pricing policy changes for dimensional weight (DIM) and international shipments, Stamps.com has made the following changes, effective June 23rd, 2019:
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Large Package will represent any package type over the default dimensional weight threshold of one cubic foot.
Dimensions are required if you use the Large Package type with the Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, or Parcel Select Ground shipping services.
Package will represent any packages that are one cubic foot or less, and will not require dimensions in ShipStation.
When calculating dimensional weight, the weight divisor has been lowered to 166. The new formula to determine dimensional weight is (Length x Width x Height) / 166.
The maximum weight for a USPS First Class International shipment that uses the Large Envelope or Flats package type with Documents as contents type will be lowered to 15.994 oz.
The maximum weight for a USPS First Class International shipment that uses the Large Envelope or Flats package type with a contents type other than Documents has increased to 4.4 lbs, as part of Stamps.com's Global Advantage Program.
If your package weighs less than 16oz and does not exceed 108" in combined length and girth (the measurement around the package at its thickest part), it qualifies for First Class Mail.
First Class Mail is now based on both weight and zone.
Weight (in Ounces) |
Zone 1 & 2 |
Zone 3 |
Zone 4 |
Zone 5 |
Zone 6 |
Zone 7 |
Zone 8 |
Zone 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
$2.66 |
$2.68 |
$2.70 |
$2.76 |
$2.84 |
$2.96 |
$3.09 |
$3.09 |
2 |
$2.66 |
$2.68 |
$2.70 |
$2.76 |
$2.84 |
$2.96 |
$3.09 |
$3.09 |
3 |
$2.66 |
$2.68 |
$2.70 |
$2.76 |
$2.84 |
$2.96 |
$3.09 |
$3.09 |
4 |
$2.66 |
$2.68 |
$2.70 |
$2.76 |
$2.84 |
$2.96 |
$3.09 |
$3.09 |
5 |
$3.18 |
$3.20 |
$3.22 |
$3.28 |
$3.36 |
$3.49 |
$3.63 |
$3.63 |
6 |
$3.18 |
$3.20 |
$3.22 |
$3.28 |
$3.36 |
$3.49 |
$3.63 |
$3.63 |
7 |
$3.18 |
$3.20 |
$3.22 |
$3.28 |
$3.36 |
$3.49 |
$3.63 |
$3.63 |
8 |
$3.18 |
$3.20 |
$3.22 |
$3.28 |
$3.36 |
$3.49 |
$3.63 |
$3.63 |
9 |
$3.82 |
$3.85 |
$3.88 |
$3.96 |
$4.06 |
$4.19 |
$4.33 |
$4.33 |
10 |
$3.82 |
$3.85 |
$3.88 |
$3.96 |
$4.06 |
$4.19 |
$4.33 |
$4.33 |
11 |
$3.82 |
$3.85 |
$3.88 |
$3.96 |
$4.06 |
$4.19 |
$4.33 |
$4.33 |
12 |
$3.82 |
$3.85 |
$3.88 |
$3.96 |
$4.06 |
$4.19 |
$4.33 |
$4.33 |
13 |
$4.94 |
$4.98 |
$5.02 |
$5.12 |
$5.24 |
$5.38 |
$5.53 |
$5.53 |
14 |
$4.94 |
$4.98 |
$5.02 |
$5.12 |
$5.24 |
$5.38 |
$5.53 |
$5.53 |
15 |
$4.94 |
$4.98 |
$5.02 |
$5.12 |
$5.24 |
$5.38 |
$5.53 |
$5.53 |
15.99 |
$4.94 |
$4.98 |
$5.02 |
$5.12 |
$5.24 |
$5.38 |
$5.53 |
$5.53 |
Priority Mail Flat Rate is a 1-3 day shipping service that charges one flat rate for your package/envelope, with a maximum allowable weight of 70 lbs.
Flat Rate Packaging |
2019 Rates |
|---|---|
Flat Rate Envelopes 12-1/2" x 9-1/2" or smaller |
$6.95 |
Legal Flat Rate Envelope |
$7.25 |
Padded Flat Rate Envelope |
$7.55 |
Small Flat Rate Box |
$7.50 |
Medium Flat Rate Boxes |
$12.80 |
Large Flat Rate Box |
$17.60 |
APO/FPO/DPO Large FRB |
$16.10 |
Priority Regional Rate Boxes have a zone-dependent flat rate. Depending on the zone you are shipping to, you may find the Regional Rate Box is cheaper. Essentially, Flat Rate Boxes are ideal for shipping long distances and Regional Rate Boxes are ideal for shorter distances.
Below are the costs of sending Regional Rate Boxes to each of the USPS's 9 zones.
Regional Rate Box A: 10" x 7" x 4.75"
Regional Rate Box B: 12" x 10.25" x 5"
Regional Rate Box |
Zone 1 & 2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Regional Rate Box A |
$7.60 |
$7.80 |
$8.07 |
$8.71 |
$9.95 |
$10.50 |
$11.15 |
$15.59 |
Regional Rate Box B |
$8.00 |
$8.45 |
$9.35 |
$10.60 |
$16.10 |
$18.42 |
$20.98 |
$29.68 |
To view zones relative to your ship from location, use the USPS Domestic Zone Chart tool.
Priority Mail package or thick envelopes are a great way to quickly, yet efficiently, ship packages that are under 70 lbs and do not exceed 108" in combined Length and girth (girth = the distance around its thickest part).
For packages weighing between 11 lbs. and 70 lbs., all shipping zones are seeing lower rates compared to 2018. Cost savings range from $0.11 (11 lbs. Zone 1/2 = $10.67) to $1.37 savings (70 lbs. Zone 8 = $184.51) compared to 2018.
This table lists Priority Mail pricing up to 25lbs for all 9 zones.
Weight (lb) |
Zone 1 & 2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
$6.95 |
$7.28 |
$7.49 |
$7.65 |
$7.82 |
$7.99 |
$8.25 |
$9.91 |
2 |
$7.42 |
$7.61 |
$7.88 |
$8.50 |
$9.70 |
$10.23 |
$10.86 |
$15.17 |
3 |
$7.61 |
$7.99 |
$8.34 |
$9.26 |
$11.80 |
$13.10 |
$15.28 |
$20.58 |
4 |
$7.71 |
$8.20 |
$8.81 |
$10.03 |
$13.75 |
$15.59 |
$17.61 |
$24.75 |
5 |
$7.81 |
$8.25 |
$9.12 |
$10.33 |
$15.67 |
$17.92 |
$20.40 |
$28.84 |
6 |
$7.91 |
$8.29 |
$9.22 |
$13.77 |
$17.93 |
$20.83 |
$23.81 |
$33.05 |
7 |
$8.15 |
$9.41 |
$9.46 |
$15.43 |
$19.86 |
$23.48 |
$26.75 |
$37.11 |
8 |
$8.20 |
$9.87 |
$11.16 |
$16.84 |
$21.82 |
$25.85 |
$30.04 |
$41.66 |
9 |
$9.01 |
$10.25 |
$11.62 |
$18.06 |
$23.74 |
$28.00 |
$33.40 |
$46.33 |
10 |
$9.38 |
$10.67 |
$11.69 |
$19.51 |
$25.64 |
$30.79 |
$36.32 |
$50.38 |
11 |
$10.67 |
$12.77 |
$13.69 |
$21.31 |
$27.52 |
$33.51 |
$39.34 |
$55.04 |
12 |
$11.32 |
$13.58 |
$15.93 |
$22.81 |
$30.01 |
$36.23 |
$42.20 |
$59.01 |
13 |
$11.91 |
$14.36 |
$16.68 |
$24.03 |
$32.21 |
$37.69 |
$43.69 |
$61.12 |
14 |
$12.52 |
$15.15 |
$17.57 |
$25.43 |
$34.02 |
$39.79 |
$45.86 |
$64.15 |
15 |
$13.01 |
$15.94 |
$18.42 |
$26.74 |
$35.33 |
$40.56 |
$47.06 |
$65.84 |
16 |
$13.45 |
$16.79 |
$19.42 |
$28.07 |
$37.34 |
$42.84 |
$49.52 |
$69.46 |
17 |
$13.88 |
$17.57 |
$20.35 |
$29.44 |
$39.23 |
$45.07 |
$52.29 |
$73.12 |
18 |
$14.15 |
$18.11 |
$21.26 |
$30.76 |
$41.31 |
$47.29 |
$54.91 |
$76.81 |
19 |
$14.48 |
$18.53 |
$21.75 |
$31.57 |
$43.16 |
$49.49 |
$57.51 |
$80.45 |
20 |
$15.05 |
$18.82 |
$22.19 |
$32.15 |
$44.28 |
$51.34 |
$60.18 |
$84.16 |
21 |
$15.71 |
$19.27 |
$22.70 |
$32.72 |
$44.63 |
$51.82 |
$60.95 |
$85.93 |
22 |
$16.21 |
$19.79 |
$23.46 |
$33.37 |
$44.93 |
$52.22 |
$61.65 |
$86.96 |
23 |
$16.69 |
$20.26 |
$24.02 |
$33.98 |
$45.18 |
$52.58 |
$62.02 |
$87.47 |
24 |
$17.37 |
$20.26 |
$24.02 |
$33.98 |
$45.18 |
$52.58 |
$62.02 |
$87.47 |
25 |
$18.04 |
$21.87 |
$26.99 |
$36.50 |
$46.81 |
$55.30 |
$64.64 |
$91.15 |
For Priority Mail pricing from 25lbs - 70lbs, or information on cubic pricing for packages under 20lbs and 0.5 cubic feet, please contact your Stamps.com account representative directly.
Priority Mail parcels in all shipping zones use Dimensional Weight (DIM) pricing for packages over 1 cubic foot as of January 27th, 2019. Previously, only Priority Mail parcels being delivered to Zones 5-9 received DIM pricing.
Additionally, DIM pricing for all zones will also apply to Priority Mail Express and Parcel Select Ground parcels larger than one cubic foot.
To determine if your package is larger than one cubic foot, use this equation: (L x W x H) / 1728. If the result is greater than 1, the package will be subject to dimensional weight.
Calculate dimensional weight using this equation: (L x W x H) / DIM Divisor.
The DIM Divisor changed from 194 to 166 as of June 23, 2019.
If DIM weight applies to your package, the carrier will compare the DIM weight and actual weight and charge the higher of the two for the label. For this reason, ShipStation recommends that you always enter the correct package dimensions when you configure your shipments. Thus, the rate you see in ShipStation will reflect the correct weight.
If the label you print for your shipment reflects the incorrect rate as determined by USPS, you may be subject to the USPS Automated Package Verification. This can automatically deduct the difference in postage from your USPS postage provider account.
Tip
To see more details on the increases from 2018 to 2019 - including Priority Mail Express and Media Mail options - please review the very thorough blog post from Stamps.com: New USPS Postage Rates for 2019.