DHL Express from ShipStation is an international shipping carrier included with US and Canada-based ShipStation accounts. With DHL Express from ShipStation, you can access ShipStation's pre-negotiated international shipping rates, take advantage of discounts of up to 81% off DHL Express retail postage when shipping from the U.S. , and immediately create DHL Express labels to ship almost anywhere in the world. Additionally, you can schedule next-day pickups for your DHL Express shipments directly within the ShipStation interface.
Important! The content in this article is for merchants who do not have a direct account with DHL Express. If you have your own DHL Express account and need information on integrating that account to access your contracted DHL Express rates, please review our DHL Express help article.
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A US or Canada-based ShipStation account.
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Activate ShipStation Carriers by adding your payment method.
You'll be prompted to enter your payment method the first time you attempt to create a label with any ShipStation Carrier, or you can add in advance in either your Carrier settings or Payments & Subscription settings.
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Add funds to your ShipStation Balance.
All ShipStation Carrier labels are purchased using the funds in your ShipStation Balance. The first time you add your payment method, you'll be prompted to add funds so you can begin purchasing labels right away.
Label & Shipment Requirements:
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DHL Express requires recipient first and last name, as well as a valid recipient email and phone number for each shipment. Be sure these are included on the order when you create a label using DHL Express from ShipStation.
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Maximum weight and dimensions: The maximum actual weight for individual shipments when using DHL Express is 150 pounds (70 kilograms), and the maximum length is 120 centimeters.
Packages over these maximum values will not be accepted by DHL Express.
Additional Surcharge adjustments may apply, even with accurate Weights & Dimensions.
Charges for additional handling and Adjustment Processing Fees may apply due to the packaging type or other concerns. See our ShipStation Carrier Adjustments page for details.
To activate ShipStation Carriers, you must add your label payment method and agree to the carriers' Terms of Service. Once activated, you'll have access to all the carriers available for your account's country.
To activate ShipStation Carriers:
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Click the Get Started button.
Available carriers will vary by account country.
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Follow the on-screen instructions to enter your billing details, agree to the terms and conditions, and finish the setup.
Once completed, you can add funds to your ShipStation Carriers Balance and create labels with ShipStation Carriers.
Enable Auto-Funding For a Seamless Experience
We recommend enabling auto-funding to ensure your balance always has the funds for your label purchase needs.
ShipStation will sometimes add new carriers to the ShipStation Carriers roster! If you have already activated ShipStation Carriers and would like to start using the new carrier's services, go to Settings > Shipping > Carriers and click the Update button.
Agree to the new carrier's terms, and you're done! Once enabled, you can immediately start creating labels with the new carrier.
Select the country your account is based in to see which DHL Express from ShipStation features are available to you.
DHL Express from ShipStation includes some additional features you may want to take advantage of.
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Feature |
Description |
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Prepaid Duties and Taxes (DDP) |
Enables you with access to discounted international shipping fees and a reliable, all-inclusive shipping cost at the time of label creation. See our Bill International Duties to Payor of Shipping Charges workflow guide and our Pre-Paid Duties and Taxes Guaranteed page to learn more. |
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Scheduled Pickups available |
You can arrange a one-time pickup or recurring regular pickups with DHL Express. See the Schedule Pickups section below. |
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🇺🇸 Order DHL Express branded packaging available for US accounts |
You can order DHL Express branded packaging when using DHL Express from ShipStation. To order packaging, contact DHLservices@shipstation.com. Please include the following in your email:
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🇨🇦 GoGreen Plus support available for DHL Express in Canada |
You can add the GoGreen Plus option to the label by selecting this option in the Other Shipping Options section when configuring a shipment. This will add a GoGreen Plus indication for your shipment. |
Select the country your account is based in to see which DHL Express from ShipStation services, package types, and confirmation options are available to you.
DHL Shipping Unavailable to US Territories
Services for DHL (Express and Ecommerce) and DHL Express by ShipStation no longer support shipments to US territories.
To ensure smooth customs clearance and minimize the risk of shipment inspections or delays, it is critical to provide high-quality data for every international shipment. Poor data quality, specifically vague descriptions and missing HS codes, often triggers manual reviews by destination authorities.
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Be Literal: Describe the item as if you are explaining it to someone who cannot see it.
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Include Part Numbers: If your product has a Part Number (PAN), include it in the reference field to help customs verify the item.
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The "Rule of Three": A great description usually answers What it is, What it's made of, and What it's for.
Customs authorities need to know exactly what is being imported, what it is made of, and its intended use. Avoid using internal marketing descriptions or vague terms.
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Avoid Stop Words: Words like "Sample," "Variety," or "Gift" are frequently flagged and may trigger an automatic inspection. For a List of Common Stop Words, see the PDF attachment at the end of this article.
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Include Material Composition: For items like footwear or apparel, specify the materials (e.g., "Men’s jeans, 80% cotton, 20% polyester" instead of just "Jeans").
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Detail the Product Type: Instead of "VINTAGE FOOTWEAR," use "Women’s shoes - leather upper and rubber sole."
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Be Specific: Instead of "Wheel adjusted," use "Bicycle rear pivot part."
Providing a correct HS code (or Commodity Code) is the most effective way to help customs officials categorize your goods.
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🇺🇸 US-Based Shippers: Use the US Census Bureau’s Schedule B Search Engine to find the correct code.
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Global Shippers: Ensure you are using the most current codes required by the destination country to avoid incorrect duty/tax calculations.
When possible, include the specific part or item number in your commercial invoice data. Mapping these to the correct reference fields in your shipping tool (e.g., the "PAN" reference type) provides an extra layer of clarity for clearance agents and helps verify the item against the provided description.
Using vague language is the fastest way to get a shipment flagged for inspection. Below are examples of poor descriptions found in recent audit data versus the clear, detailed descriptions required by customs authorities. For a List of Common Stop Words, see the PDF attachment at the end of this article.
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Poor Description (Vague) |
Better Description (Detailed) |
Why it Matters |
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VINTAGE FOOTWEAR |
Women's shoes: leather upper, rubber sole |
Defines gender, material, and sole type. |
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JEANS |
Men’s jeans: 80% cotton, 20% polyester |
Specifies material composition for textiles. |
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SAMPLE / VARIETY |
Stainless steel kitchen whisk (K792) |
Stop Words like "Sample" or "Variety" trigger automatic flags. |
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HAIR PRODUCT |
Organic argan oil hair serum (100ml) |
Identifies the specific substance and volume. |
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The Mesa - Medium |
Canvas messenger bag with brass buckles |
Moves past marketing names to actual physical traits. |
To ensure your international shipments clear customs without delay, use this checklist to review your data before printing your labels.
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[ ] Is the description specific? (e.g., "Men's 100% cotton t-shirt" instead of "Apparel")
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[ ] Did you avoid Stop Words? (Ensure "Sample," "Gift," and "Variety" are not used)
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[ ] Is the material composition listed? (e.g., "Stainless steel," "Leather," "Plastic")
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[ ] Is the HS code/Commodity code included? (Use a search tool if you aren't 100% sure)
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[ ] Is the Part Number (PAN) mapped correctly? (Helps verify the item in the clearance system)
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[ ] Is the unit value and currency accurate? (Ensure values match your commercial invoice)
When writing descriptions, ignore your marketing names. Customs authorities don't know what a Polaris IGX 144+ Linkage Kit is. Instead, describe the physical object: Steel mechanical linkage parts for vehicle suspension.
When integrating with international carriers, how you map data fields in your API payload directly impacts customs clearance rates. While the UI may show a single "Description" field, the backend mapping should prioritize the following:
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Reference Field Mapping (PAN)
To assist customs authorities in verifying shipments against digital records, ensure that product part numbers are mapped to the correct reference type.
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Reference Type: PAN (Part Number)
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Usage: Map your internal SKU or manufacturer part number here. This allows clearance systems to match the physical item to the digital declaration more efficiently.
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Data Integrity vs. UX Display
It is important to note that what the customer sees in the ShipStation or Shopify UI may not always reflect the full data payload sent to the carrier.
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Payload Enrichment: Even if a merchant uses a short marketing title in their store, the integration should attempt to send the most granular description available in the product database to the
descriptionfield in the customs object. -
Stop Word Scrubbing: Consider implementing a validation layer that flags or prevents the use of Stop Words (Sample, Gift, Variety) in the
descriptionfield before the API call is finalized.
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HS Code Automation
Automating the
harmonized_tariff_codefield is the highest-value optimization you can provide. Ensuring this field is populated with a 6 to 10-digit code reduces the reliance on the text description alone, as the code provides a universal language for customs agents worldwide.
ShipStation offers the ability to schedule one-time pickups directly in ShipStation. If you ship with DHL Express regularly, you may want to schedule recurring pickups instead.
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Go to the Shipments tab in ShipStation.
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Choose the Carrier Pickups option in the left-hand sidebar.
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Select DHL Express from the Schedule a Pickup drop-down menu.
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Fill in the requested fields, including a Pickup Contact with Location notes.
If this is your first time scheduling a pickup, you must create the Pickup Contact first. You must enter something into the Location Notes field, even if it is simply "No additional notes".
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Click Schedule a Pickup.
To schedule recurring pickups, email DHLservices@shipstation.com and our team will work with DHL Express to arrange recurring pickups for you.
If you are unable to successfully schedule your DHL Express pickup in the ShipStation pickup scheduler, you can also use the Schedule a Pickup form on the DHL Express website. Or, you can find a nearby drop-off location.
To use the DHL Express online scheduler:
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Go to https://mydhl.express.dhl/ and select the Schedule a Pickup option.
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Select No to indicate that you already have a label.
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Select I have a DHL Waybill Number.
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Enter the waybill number (this is the same as the label's tracking number from ShipStation.
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Click Next.
You'll then be prompted to fill in the pickup details to complete the process.
A DHL Express from ShipStation shipment can be returned to sender. To reroute or redirect an in-transit DHL Express Shipment, click this link: ShipStation's DHL Express Redirect Form.
Select the option to Reroute my DHL Express from ShipStation package and fill in the required information.
This is not a guaranteed service, so It is important to file this claim as soon as possible. DHL Express cannot intercept a delivered shipment.
Should one of your DHL Express packages get lost or damaged, DHL Express from ShipStation includes standard liability to reimburse you.
You must file claims within 30 days of the date that DHL Express accepted the shipment. Claims are subject to DHL Express's terms and conditions.
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Download and fill in the PDF form from DHL Express.
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Enter your shipment tracking number in the Waybill Number field.
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In the Account Number field, either enter “I do not have one” or leave the input field blank.
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Leave the "Claimant field blank.
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Save and submit that PDF to DHLservices@shipstation.com.
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DHL Shipping Unavailable to US Territories: Services for DHL (Express and Ecommerce) and DHL Express by ShipStation no longer support shipments to US territories.
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DHL Express from ShipStation does not support DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). However, DDP is available in our direct integration with DHL Express.
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Dimensional weight may apply to some shipments. Be sure to include shipment dimensions when getting a rate or creating a label to avoid unexpected charges.
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DHL fee adjustments: DHL reserves the right to charge adjustments for administrative and other costs. It is the shipper's responsibility to address all DHL shipment fees and subsequent adjustments. To ensure your rates in ShipStation are accurate, be sure to always enter the true weight and dimensions of all shipments before creating the labels.
See the DHL website for more details or contact DHL support.
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DHL Express from ShipStation requires both first name and last name for the recipient address on all shipments.
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DHL Express from ShipStation does not support 3rd-party billing. To use 3rd-party billing with DHL Express, you must connect your own DHL Express account and create labels using that account.
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DHL Express from ShipStation does not support shipping dangerous or restricted goods.
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DHL Express from ShipStation does not support shipping to Puerto Rico.
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Voiding labels:
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If a label has not been used within 30 days, you can no longer void the label within ShipStation. You cannot get a refund or credit for unused labels if you do not void them.
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When you void a DHL Express from ShipStation label, the cost of the label will be credited back to your ShipStation balance. Most funds are credited back the same day but can take up to 21 business days to process.
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Shipping to the Republic of Ireland: As of July 2, 2023, the inclusion of the correct Eircode (Postal Code) for shipments entering the Republic of Ireland (ROI) is mandatory on all DHL Express shipments. Learn more about and look up Eircodes on the Eircode website.
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DHL is likely to return shipments sent to residential addresses in Russia back to the sender. This is because Russian customs authorities examine all dutiable shipments with extreme scrutiny and there is no guarantee the package will be sent to its destination after inspection. You may wish to use a different carrier for shipments bound for a residential address in Russia.
DHL will deliver shipments to commercial addresses without issue.
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🇺🇸 US-based accounts:
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DHL Express from ShipStation includes the DHL Express Worldwide Package services and DHL Express Envelope services. Currently, other DHL Express options and services are not available.
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The customs form/commercial invoice that is currently generated from ShipStation does not include the freight (shipping cost) paid by the buyer. This is required by UK customs. Contact support to enable this feature.
Enable Freight Applies to All Carriers
If you have the Enable Freight feature for your commercial invoices, it will be enabled for all carriers and all destination countries even if it is not required.
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Common Post-Shipping Adjustments by Carrier
See the Common Adjustments by Carrier section of the ShipStation ShipStation Carrier Adjustments page for carrier-specific, post-shipping adjustments. Check with your carrier to see the latest details about post-shipping adjustments if you see an adjustment that is not listed.
Here are some common issues, potential causes, and troubleshooting tips.
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Issue |
How to Troubleshoot or Resolve |
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Error: The requested Special Service Codes AA is not available. Please make sure data entered is valid before proceeding or contact our customer service. |
What it means: You have likely selected non-supported options for your DHL Express shipments. This error likely indicates that incorrect Other Shipping Options are being used. What to do: See the Label Options section of the Available Shipping Options by Carrier help article to confirm which options are supported. Or, try removing the options one by one to see which option is causing the error. Then proceed with the shipment without selecting that option. |
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An error indicates DHL Express can't find the recipient address when attempting to create labels. |
Typically these errors will be displayed in one of two ways:
Both of these errors indicate that the recipient address is not formatted properly for DHL Express shipments. Compare the address details using the DHL Compatibility Tool and correct the address where needed. |
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Error: Validation: Pickup location notes must be provided TransactionID=XXXXX |
What it means: When scheduling a pickup within ShipStation, the Pickup Contact must have some content in the Location Notes. It can be something like "No Additional Notes". What to do: Create a new Pickup Contact identical to the original but add something to the Location Notes. |
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Error: If provided, fullname must contain at least 2 alphabetic characters, followed by a space, followed by at least another 2 alphabetic characters. Exception with code 0x00650111; module 101, category 1, item 17 |
What it means: This is a USPS compliance error for an international shipment that indicates the required fields on your customs forms or your Ship From location are missing information or need to be formatted correctly. What to do: Check the following:
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