This article covers how to retrieve your DHL Express API credentials, connect your account to ShipHero, and configure your connection settings.
Before You Begin
You will need three credentials from DHL Express before connecting:
- DHL Express Account Number — your export account number (not the import number)
- Site ID — obtained from the DHL API Developer Portal
- Site Password — obtained from the DHL API Developer Portal
See Getting Your DHL Express API Credentials below if you haven't retrieved these yet.
New to DHL Express in ShipHero? See Overview: DHL Express in ShipHero for billing, dimensional weight, and regional considerations.
Table of Contents
- Getting Your DHL Express API Credentials
- How to Connect DHL Express to ShipHero
- Required DHL Express Connection Fields
- Important Reminders
Getting Your DHL Express API Credentials
Your DHL Express Site ID and Site Password are different from your standard DHL Express website login. They must be retrieved from the DHL API Developer Portal.
Finding Your DHL Express Account Number
When signing up with DHL Express, you receive an email with two account numbers — one for exports and one for imports. You must use the Export account number when connecting to ShipHero.
Finding Your DHL Express Site ID and Password
- Register at the DHL API Developer Portal.
- Log in and click the avatar in the top-right corner to open your Dashboard.
- Click Apps in the left menu, then click the app name you want to connect.
- Under credentials, click Show Key for both API Key and API Secret.
- The API Key is your Site ID.
- The API Secret is your Site Password.
How to Connect DHL Express to ShipHero
- Go to the Shipping > Carriers page and click Connect Carrier.
- Select DHL Express from the list of available carriers.
- Enter your account credentials and fill in the required fields. Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*).
- Click Connect.
Required DHL Express Connection Fields
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Profile (Required) | Associate this connection with a Warehouse Profile to control which orders use this account. See How to Use Warehouse Profiles. |
| Warehouse (Required) | Select the physical warehouse this account is being connected to. Carrier connections are managed separately for each warehouse. |
| Account Number (Required) | Your DHL Express export account number used for billing. |
| Customs Contents / General Notes (Required) | Default customs description for international shipments, used when line items lack customs descriptions (e.g., "merchandise"). Maximum 64 characters. |
| Reason for Export (Required) | Default export reason for international customs declarations (e.g., "commercial"). Maximum 64 characters. |
| Site ID (Required) | Your DHL API Key from the Developer Portal, used for authentication. |
| Site Password (Required) | Your DHL API Secret from the Developer Portal, used for authentication. |
| Cut-Off Time (Required) | Sets the shipping date on the label. Labels generated after this time print with the following day's date. Set to align with your DHL pickup time. |
| Shipper Pays Duties | When enabled, the shipper pays duties on international shipments. When disabled, the recipient pays. See How to charge international shipping duties. |
| Disable Quoting (Available after connecting) | Excludes this account from rate shopping and cheapest carrier calculations. |
Important Reminders when Connecting a Carrier Account
- Using Custom Profiles: Custom profiles allow you to connect the same carrier account multiple times with unique settings, such as specific Incoterms or 3rd Party Billing. For these settings to apply, the order must be assigned to that specific profile. If the assigned profile lacks a connected carrier, ShipHero will automatically use the carrier account connected the warehouse’s default profile for the selected shipping method. This ensures your specialized billing and shipping terms are applied correctly to every label. Visit the following article for more information on How to Use Warehouse Profiles.
- Multi-Warehouse Accounts: To generate labels from multiple warehouses, you must connect your carrier account to each individual location in ShipHero to avoid shipping errors or billing discrepancies. Please consult your carrier to determine if a single account number supports multiple origins or if unique accounts are required for each site. This is especially critical for international locations, as carrier operations vary by country.
- Note for 3PLs: When connecting a new carrier account to ShipHero, double check your 3PL Clients' Settings to ensure you are connecting the carrier account to the correct ShipHero account; if Use Customer's Shipping Accounts is enabled the carrier account must be connected at the child account level, if Use Customer's Shipping Account is not enabled, the carrier account needs to be enabled at the 3PL level. More information about Managing 3PL Client Settings can be found here.