Shipping method mapping tells ShipHero which carrier and service to use for each shipping method your customers choose at checkout. Once a store's shipping methods are mapped, orders arrive with the right carrier service already assigned, so packers don't have to pick one by hand.
Before You Begin
- Connected carriers: Add and set up every carrier you plan to map to on the Shipping > Carriers page first.
- Unmapped methods: Orders that arrive with an unmapped shipping method get a generic, unpaid label that carriers won't process.
- New orders only: Mapping changes only apply to orders created after the change. Existing orders aren't updated.
You can also set the shipping method on orders with automation rules. See How to Use Automation Rules in ShipHero. For rate shopping with a custom set of services, see How to Use RateShop+ in ShipHero.
Table of Contents
- Shipping Methods Page Settings
- Shipping Method Mapping Options
- Cheapest Options That Include Extra Carrier Services
- Creating Custom Shipping Methods
- Things to Know About Shipping Method Mapping
Shipping Methods Page Settings
The Shipping > Methods page lists every shipping method your stores send to ShipHero. These settings on the page control how you find and map them:
- Type filter (Mapped / Unmapped): Shows which shipping methods still need mapping and which are done. A store shipping method appears in the unmapped list after it's used on an order.
- Stores filter: Shows the shipping methods for one connected store.
- Use wildcard matching: Maps several shipping methods at once when their names start the same way. See How to Use Wildcard Matching.
- Shipping Cut-Off: Sets the time used to calculate each order's required ship date. See How to Set a Shipping Cut-Off (Required Ship Date).
To map a new shipping method before any order uses it, create a test order with that method in your store, or add the method yourself with +Add a Shipping Method.
Shipping Method Mapping Options
Each store shipping method can be mapped to a specific carrier service, or to a Cheapest option that rate shops across your connected carriers when the label is printed.
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| A specific shipping method | Assigns one carrier service, such as UPS Ground. |
| Cheapest (Ever) | Picks the lowest-cost service across your connected carriers, with no delivery time limit. |
| Cheapest within a delivery window | Picks the lowest-cost service that delivers within the number of business days you choose. |
| Cheapest incl. extra services | Adds services that rate shopping leaves out by default: UPS SurePost, USPS Parcel Select, or FedEx International Connect (FIC) untracked services. |
| Cheapest with a RateShop+ profile | Rate shops only across the services in your RateShop+ profile. Select Cheapest as the Carrier and your RateShop+ profile in Methods. |
How to Map to a Specific Shipping Method
Use a specific method when every order with a store shipping method should always ship with the same carrier service.
- Go to Shipping > Methods.
- In Type, select Unmapped. In Stores, select the store.
- Select the Shop Shipping Method name to open the Edit Shipping Method window.
- Select the Carrier, then the service in the Methods dropdown.
- (Optional) Set the shipping cut-off time in Orders placed before.
- Select Save.
In this example, orders with the store shipping method "UPS Ground" are mapped to UPS / UPS Ground with a 1:00 PM cut-off. Orders ShipHero receives before 1 PM get a same-day required ship date. Orders received after 1 PM get the next day.
How to Map to the Cheapest Shipping Option
With Cheapest / Ever, ShipHero quotes your connected carriers when the packer selects Print Label and uses the lowest-cost service, with no delivery time limit.
- Go to Shipping > Methods.
- In Type, select Unmapped. In Stores, select the store.
- Select the Shop Shipping Method name to open the Edit Shipping Method window.
- Select Cheapest as the Carrier and Ever in Methods.
- (Optional) Set the shipping cut-off time in Orders placed before.
- Select Save.
How to Map to the Cheapest Option within a Delivery Window
A delivery window limits rate shopping to services that deliver within the number of business days you choose, from Next Day up to 9 Days. Faster services are included too. For example, with Cheapest / 4 Days, a 3-day service can be chosen when it's the lowest rate. Delivery windows come from the carriers' service levels, not from ShipHero, and a carrier that doesn't return a transit time may be left out of the quote.
- Go to Shipping > Methods.
- In Type, select Unmapped. In Stores, select the store.
- Select the Shop Shipping Method name to open the Edit Shipping Method window.
- Select Cheapest as the Carrier and the delivery window (Next Day or 2 Days through 9 Days) in Methods.
- (Optional) Set the shipping cut-off time in Orders placed before.
- Select Save.
Cheapest Options That Include Extra Carrier Services
By default, Cheapest leaves UPS SurePost, USPS Parcel Select, and FedEx International Connect (FIC) untracked services out of rate shopping. To include them, select Cheapest as the Carrier, then select one of the Cheapest incl. options in the Methods dropdown. These options have no delivery window, so they rate shop like Ever with the extra services added.
Each Cheapest incl. option only returns rates for the added service when the matching carrier is connected and set up for it:
| Method option | Service it adds | Carrier setup required |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest incl. SurePost | UPS SurePost (Ground Saver) | A connected UPS account with SurePost activated by UPS and turned on in your UPS carrier settings. See Connecting UPS to ShipHero. |
| Cheapest incl. ParcelSelect | USPS Parcel Select | A connected USPS account with Parcel Select access. See Overview: USPS Modern Integration with ShipHero. |
| Cheapest incl. ParcelSelect and SurePost | UPS SurePost and USPS Parcel Select | Both a SurePost-enabled UPS account and a connected USPS account. |
| Cheapest incl. FedEx FIC Untracked Methods | FedEx International Connect untracked services | A connected FedEx FIC account. International shipments only. See How to Set Up FedEx International Connect (FIC). |
When SurePost labels fail with "The Mailer ID is required on SurePost shipments," SurePost isn't fully activated on your UPS account. See Troubleshooting UPS Error: Mailer ID Required for SurePost.
Creating Custom Shipping Methods
A custom shipping method is a shipping method name you create in ShipHero for cases that don't match a standard carrier service, such as local pickup. Orders from your store or the API that use the name are recognized for routing and reporting. Custom methods don't create new carrier services. They act as labels you map to an existing service, or to a generic label when no prepaid postage is needed.
- Go to Shipping > Methods.
- Select Add a Shipping Method.
- Select the Store.
- Enter a Name for the method (for example, "Local Pickup," "White Glove Delivery," or "Special Freight").
- Map the method to an existing carrier service, or to the generic label option for an internal process that needs no prepaid postage.
Custom Shipping Method Examples
- Local Pickup: For customers who pick up orders at your warehouse.
- Special handling: For items that need handling outside standard carrier services, such as "Fragile Goods Shipping."
Things to Know About Shipping Method Mapping
- Cheapest / Ever prioritizes cost: When delivery time matters, map to a delivery window or a specific method instead.
- Carrier connections: Cheapest and RateShop+ depend on active, correctly set up carrier connections. When a carrier connection is down or misconfigured, its rates and labels may not be available.
- Quoted vs. billed rates: Final carrier charges can differ slightly from the quoted rate, for example because of dimensional weight adjustments or fuel surcharges.
For shipping terms used in this article, see the Glossary of Shipping and Freight Terms.