🎉ShipEngine is becoming ShipStation API🎉

Over the next few months you'll notice the ShipEngine website, documentation portal, and dashboard being rebranded as ShipStation API. For our ShipEngine customers, you don't need to take any action or change any of your integrations in any way. All endpoints will remain the same and continue to function as they always have.

To learn more about what's coming, review our New ShipStation API page.

FedEx

FedEx is a multi-national, courier service that offers domestic and international shipping solutions. FedEx offers a wide range of services and package delivery solutions.

This guide provides developers with the details needed to build FedEx shipping capabilities into your ShipStation API workflows.

NOTE:

FedEx - Active Service Disruptions: Middle East Service Update

We continue to evaluate the situation in the Middle East. FedEx has resumed pickup and delivery services across the Middle East, where it is safe to do so and in line with local guidance.  Customers shipping to or from the region may experience extended transit times.

The safety and security of our team members is our top priority, alongside our commitment to providing the best possible service for our customers. We are closely monitoring the situation and operating according to guidance from local authorities.

For the latest shipment status information, ​​​track​​​ your shipment at ​fedex.com​​. Please continue to check this page for updates.

Consistent with the provisions of the ​​​FedEx Service Guide​​​, affected shipments are not eligible for a refund or credit under the Money-Back Guarantee policy. ​​​Last updated March 4, 2026​​​.

​​Russia and Belarus Service Suspension​​

All Russian and Belarusian FedEx International services continue to be suspended until further notice. ​ Initially reported February 24, 2022; ​Last confirmed January 26, 2026​​.

Requirements

Connection Requirements

By connecting a FedEx US or FedEx CA account, you and your users agree to the FedEx EULA.

Connect Account

You can connect a FedEx account using the POST method to the /v1/connections/carriers/ endpoint, or via the ShipStation API Dashboard.

For instructions on connecting FedEx via the dashboard, go to our FedEx help article.

Connect via Endpoint

carrier_name: fedex

POST /v1/connections/carriers/:carrier_name

{
  "account_number": "123456789",
  "company": "Example Corp.",
  "first_name": "John",
  "last_name": "Doe",
  "phone": "111-111-1111",
  "address1": "4009 Marathon Blvd.",
  "address2": "Suite 300",
  "city": "Austin",
  "state": "TX",
  "postal_code": "78756",
  "country_code": "US",
  "email": "john.doe@example.com",
  "agree_to_eula": "true"
}

A successful connection will return a response with the carrier_id, which you'll use for any requests for this account going forward.

Modify Carrier Settings

If you need to modify the properties of your FedEx account connection or enable some of the carrier's advanced functionality not enabled by default, you can update these settings in your account dashboard or via API using the PUT method with the /v1/connections/carriers/ endpoint.

Pickup Type

• Not specified
  regular_pickup
• You already have a daily pickup scheduled with FedEx.
  request_courier
• You will call FedEx to request a courier.
  drop_box
• You will drop off packages in a FedEx drop box.
  business_service_center
• You will drop off packages at an authorized FedEx business service center.
  station
• You will drop off the package at a FedEx Station. |

FedEx Ground Economy™ (formerly SmartPost™)

To enable Ground Economy™, both of the properties below are required and must be valid.

For further details, check the FedEx documentation for Ground Economy™.

Common Settings

Sample update request:

PUT /v1/connections/carriers/:carrier_name/:carrier_id/settings

{
  "nickname": "my fedex account",
  "pickup_type": "regular_pickup",
  "smart_post_hub": "dallas_tx",
  "smart_post_endorsement": "address_service_requested",
  "is_primary_account": "false",
  "signature_image" : "base64string",
  "letterhead_image" : "base64string"
}

A successful request will receive an HTTP status 204 response.

Rates

FedEx supports rate shopping with ShipStation API unless using the FedEx Ground Economy service, which does not currently return rates.

Please note, FedEx will always show negotiated rates: false in a rate response, even when using negotiated rates.

Service Details

Available FedEx services are provided below. Please note that carriers may update their available services at any time. To ensure you are always using valid services, you can use the list carrier services endpoint at any time.

Domestic Services

All domestic services have a max weight of 150 lbs, except FedEx Home Delivery, which has a max weight of 70 lbs. The combined length and girth (L+2W+2H) for all domestic services is 165" (419cm).

Freight Service Levels

International Services

All international services have a max weight of 150 lbs. The combined length and girth (L+2W+2H) for all international services is 165" (419cm), except FedEx Europe First and International Connect Plus, which is 130" (330cm).

Shipping from Great Britain to Northern Ireland

FedEx supports all movement types (b2b, b2c, c2c, c2b) for shipping from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, in accordance with the Windsor Framework. The following data requirements will go into effect on 31 May 2025.

All shipments to Northern Ireland must include the existing properties dedicated for international traffic:

• products.description: The description must be detailed and must describe the content accurately (Gift or Merchandise values are not sufficient).

• products.quantity

• products.value

• value.amount

  • value.currency

• products.harmonized_tariff_code

• products.country_of_origin

If you know the UKIMS number, it can be declared and printed on the commercial invoice for the B2B shipments. The following properties are capable of capturing these in the tax_identifiers array in both ship_to and ship_from objects:

• id
• type (use the ukims enumeration value)

Since Electronic Trade Documents (ETD) are not supported when shipping to NI, as of March 2025, you are required to print the commercial invoice and include it with all NI shipments. All the above information will be included on the generated document if provided.

FedEx will identify whether the consignment is B2C or B2B and will contact the recipient to obtain information regarding the risk indicator. Therefore, you do not have to declare the not_at_risk property when creating a label. UKIMS numbers will also be collected by FedEx if not provided.

Return Services

FedEx supports creating return labels for US, Canada, Germany, and France-based accounts, using any of their domestic services. Please note that shipments using FedEx One Rate packaging are not eligible for returns.

Review the Return Shipping Labels page for details on creating return labels with ShipStation API.

Packages

NOTE:

Shipment Dimensions and Weight Recommended!

While many carriers may allow you to create a label without including package dimensions, we recommend always adding package dimension values to your shipment (with the notable exception of flat rate boxes). This will ensure more accurate rate estimates, especially for carriers that rely on dimensional weight (also called DIM weight or volumetric weight).

The carrier_weight object in the response represents the weight assessed by the carrier based on the weight and dimensions provided when you create a shipment, generate a label, or obtain a rate. See our Size and Weight page for more details.

The following carrier package types are available for FedEx services:

Adding Shipment Insurance

FedEx supports adding insurance to your shipments. Review the Parcel Insurance page for details on adding shipment insurance with ShipStation API.

There are a few things to know about adding insurance to FedEx shipments:

Label Support

• Label sizes: 4" x 6"
• Label formats: PDF, PNG, ZPL

Label Reference Fields

FedEx UK supports adding custom label messages.

• Label Message 1 = Reference Number
• Label Message 2 = Invoice Number
• Label Message 3 = PO Number

To use Label Message 3, you must also use Label Message 1 and 2.

Multi-Package Labels

FedEx supports multi-package shipments with most services, but is not available when using One Rate packaging. FedEx multi-package shipping has a 100-package maximum.

Label Branding

FedEx supports label branding.

Voiding Labels

FedEx supports voiding labels with ShipStation API. Return labels cannot be voided.

Paperless Labels

FedEx does not support paperless labels.

Customs Declarations

Customs declarations are sent electronically. For electronic document submissions, FedEx requires you to include the signature_image and letterhead_image properties for your account connection.

Delivery Confirmation

Advanced Options

FedEx supports certain advanced options, which you can add to the shipment object when creating a shipment or label.

• Required for FedEx Ground Collect.
  third_party
• Bill to an account that is not connected to ShipStation API. When billing to a third party, you may not see rates returned from ShipStation API. This field must be used in conjunction with the bill_to_country_code, bill_to_postal_code, and bill_to_account properties. | | bill_to_account | string | null | The account number that will be charged shipping costs when bill_to_party is set to third_party. | | bill_to_postal_code | string | null | The postal code associated with the bill_to_account. FedEx validates this value. | | bill_to_country_code | string | null | The two-letter ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code associated with the bill_to_account. | | collect_on_delivery | object | null | Object used to indicate that the shipping cost should be collected by FedEx upon delivery of the package (only valid for certain FedEx services). For more information, see our Collect on Delivery guide. | | contains_alcohol | boolean | false | Indicates that the shipment contains alcohol. Your FedEx account must be enrolled in the FedEx alcohol shipping program to use this property. | | delivered_duty_paid | boolean | false | Indicates that the shipper is paying the international delivery duties for this shipment. Also called "DDP". | | dry_ice | boolean | false | Indicates if the shipment contains dry ice. | | dry_ice_weight | object | 0 | Object used to identify the weight of the dry ice in the shipment.
  value
• Numeric value for weight
  unit
• Unit of measurement for weight. Accepts ounce, pound, gram, and kilogram. | | fedex_freight | object | null | Object to provide details for FedEx freight services.
  shipper_load_and_count
• String required by FedEx for freight shipments.
  booking_confirmation
• String required by FedEx for freight shipments. | | non_machinable | boolean | false | Indicates that the package cannot be processed through FedEx sorting machines. | | saturday_delivery | boolean | false | Indicated delivery on Saturday for services that do not otherwise include Saturday delivery. | | third-party-consignee | boolean | null | Hides consignee-specific information on the commercial invoice for international shipments. |

FedEx Ground Collect

FedEx Ground Collect is a program that allows a recipient at a commercial address to use their own FedEx account when receiving shipments. Note that this is different from Collect on Delivery (COD) where the shipping charges are collected directly from the recipient when the package is delivered.

With FedEx Ground Collect, the recipient displays a placard for the FedEx courier to scan when they deliver the package. Once scanned, the recipient's FedEx account is invoiced for the shipping charges.

To use this option, you must set your service_code to fedex_ground and supply the bill_to_party property in the advanced_options when you create a shipping label, as indicated in the example below.

Sample request

{
  "shipment": {
    "service_code": "fedex_ground",
    "advanced_options": {
       "bill_to_party": "recipient"
     },
    "ship_to": {
      "name": "Amanda Miller",
      "phone": "7147814565",
      "company_name": "Test Co",
      "address_line1": "500 South Buena Vista Street",
      "city_locality": "Burbank",
      "state_province": "CA",
      "postal_code": "91521",
      "country_code": "US",
      "address_residential_indicator": "No"
    },
    "ship_from": {
      "name": "John Doe",
      "phone": "555-555-5555",
      "company_name": "Example Corp",
      "address_line1": "4009 Marathon Blvd",
      "city_locality": "Austin",
      "state_province": "TX",
      "postal_code": "78756",
      "country_code": "US",
      "address_residential_indicator": "No"
    },
    "packages": [
      {
       "weight": {
         "value": 1.0,
         "unit": "ounce"
       }
      }
    ]
   }
}

Manifests

FedEx does not require manifesting your shipments. However, FedEx Ground shipments can be manifested for shipments originating from the US and Canada. You cannot generate manifests for shipments with a ship date in the past.

If you generate a manifest:

• Only FedEx Ground and Home Delivery (domestic) will be included on the manifest. Ground Economy (SmartPost) is included.

• Shipping amount shown on manifests for FedEx does not include any insurance costs.

• Only shipments that meet one of these criteria will appear on the hardcopy of the manifest:

• FedEx Ground or Home Delivery (domestic)

  • COD Amount
  • Declared Value greater than $100 USD
  • 84" Oversize
  • Additional Handling
  • Acknowledgment of Delivery (A.O.D)
  • Residential

Scheduling Pickups

FedEx UK does not support the scheduling a pickup endpoint. Instead, your pickup_type account settings determine how your shipments are handed over to FedEx.

Service Points (PUDO)

ShipStation API supports the FedEx Hold at Location (HAL) feature, which ships the package to a designated location - like a FedEx store - instead of the recipient's home or business address. The recipient then picks up the package from the location by presenting an ID that matches the recipient's name or documentation with the shipment's tracking number.

To create a label using FedEx Hold at Location:

• You must add the ship_to_service_point_id property to your Purchase Label call with the desired service point ID as its value. Review the Find Service Points page to learn how to find a service point.
• The ship_to object should always be the recipient's actual address, not the service point address.

The resulting label will include a HAL indicator with the service point postal code.

See our Intro to Service Points for more details about how to use service points with ShipStation API.

Tracking

ShipStation API's integration with FedEx supports receiving tracking updates. Review our ​ Track a Package guides​ ​ for details on tracking with the ShipStation API.

Disconnecting Your FedEx Account

See the Disconnect section in our Delete a Carrier page for the process of deleting or disconnecting a carrier from ShipStation API.

NOTE:

If you disconnect a carrier account and reconnect it, the account will have a new carrier_id in ShipStation API.