Connecting your DHL Express account to ShipHero WMS provides access to international shipping services. Proper configuration prevents common label errors and ensures your picking and packing teams maintain high efficiency.
DHL Express operates on a Pay-on-Scan model. This means your account is only charged when the carrier physically scans the package.
Table of Contents
- Requirements Before Connecting
- Connecting DHL Express to ShipHero
- Connection Fields Defined
- Key Considerations when Shipping with DHL Express
- Troubleshooting: "Invalid Destination" Error
Requirements Before Connecting
In order to connect your DHL Express account to ShipHero, you will need the following information:
- DHL Express Account Number
- DHL Express Site ID and Site Password
Where to find your DHL Express Credentials
Your DHL Express Site ID and password are different from your normal login information on the DHL Express website.
DHL Express Account Number
When signing up with DHL Express, you will receive an email from DHL Express with two account numbers. One is for exports and one is for imports. You need to use the Export account number when connecting your DHL Express account to ShipHero.
DHL Express Site ID and Password
To obtain your DHL Express Site ID and Password you must register in the DHL API Developer Portal.
Once registered in the DHL Developer Portal, log into the portal and click on the avatar on the top right hand corner to see your Dashboard.
- Click the Apps option in the left side menu; then, click on the App name you want to connect to.
- Under credentials, both “API Key” and “API Secret”, are hidden. Click “Show Key” under each one. The API Key is your Site ID, and the API Secret is your Password.
Connecting DHL Express to ShipHero
Follow the step below to connect your DHL Express account to ShipHero.
- Go to the Shipping > Carriers page and click the Connect Carrier button.
- 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.
Connection Fields Defined
| Field | Input Required |
| Profile (Required) | Profiles have multiple uses in ShipHero. When connecting a carrier you can set different settings to the carrier account connection and have them only apply to orders with that profile selected. Learn more about the uses of profiles HERE. |
| Warehouse (Required) | Select the physical warehouse the account is being connected to. If you have multiple warehouses, carrier connections are managed separately for each. |
| Account number (required) | Your DHL Express account number for billing. |
| Customs contents/ general notes (required) | Default customs description for international shipments (used when line items don't have customs descriptions), e.g., merchandise. Max length 64 characters. |
| Reason for export (required) | Default export reason for international customs declarations, e.g., commercial. Max length 64 characters. |
| Site ID (required) | DHL API Site ID for authentication. |
| Site password (required) | DHL API Site Password for authentication. |
| Cut-Off time (required) | Determines the shipping date printed on the label. Once the cut-off time is reached, labels will be generated for the following day. The carrier's cut-off time generally coincides with your carrier pick-up times; labels generated after pick-up don't ship that day, so you'd want the label to reflect the next shipping day accordingly. |
| Shipper pays duties |
When enabled (checked), the shipper pays duties on international shipments. When disabled (unchecked), the recipient pays duties on international shipments. See our help articles for more information about how to charge international shipping duties. |
| Disable Quoting (Available after connecting) | Do not include this carrier as part of quoting or cheapest rate calculations. |
Key Considerations when Shipping with DHL Express
Below are some things to consider when shipping with DHL Express:
- Label Management & Manifests
- Data Restrictions & API Limitations
- Calculating Shipping Costs: Dimensions & Weights
- Other Considerations
Label Management & Manifests
| Feature | Operational Requirement |
| Voiding Labels | Not required. Unused labels are not billed. |
| End of Day Manifest | Automated via Electronic Closeout; no physical printout needed. |
Data Restrictions & API Limitations
To prevent API rejection and label generation failures, adhere to the following data standards:
- Character Limits: Ensure the Customs Description is under 64 characters.
- Special Characters: Avoid accented characters (e.g., ñ, é, ö). Use standard alphanumeric characters for names and addresses.
- Label Privacy: DHL restricts customer email addresses from appearing on the physical label, though the data is still used for digital tracking notifications.
Calculating Shipping Costs: Dimensions & Weights
DHL Express calculates costs based on Dimensional Weight (the space a package occupies) versus its Actual Weight.
Dimensional Weight (lbs) = (Length × Width × Height) / 137
DHL Express uses the greater of actual weight or dimensional weight for billing (except for dangerous goods, which always use actual weight)
Other Considerations
| Considerations | Description |
| Shipments to Northern Ireland |
Northern Ireland (BT postal codes) is treated as part of the EU for duty purposes. Shipments from EU countries to Northern Ireland are not marked as dutiable. |
| Paperless Trade |
Only available for specific countries (see DHL Express Paperless Trade Countries List). Customs value limits apply per country. When PLT is supported, customs documents are not printed but sent electronically. |
| Maximum Dimensions |
Maximum weight and dimensions vary by service and destination. If dimensions or weight exceed limits, DHL will return an error during the quote or label request. |
| Multi-package Shipments | Each package is processed individually with its own dimensions. Find more information here on Processing Multi-Package Orders in ShipHero. |
Troubleshooting: "Invalid Destination" Error
The "The destination location is invalid" error occurs when the customer's postal code and city do not match the DHL global database.
To resolve this:
- Verify the address using the DHL Rate and Time Quote tool.
- Update the city or postal code in ShipHero to match the DHL-approved format.
- Retry generating the shipping label.
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.