How to Setup WooCommerce USPS Shipping Method Extension?

Last updated - August 12, 2024

The bulk of postal activities in the nation are managed by the autonomous United States Postal Service (USPS). It is a great choice for online businesses operating in the United States because of its fleet of trucks, capacity to deliver items to every American zip code, and a variety of other specializations.

It won’t be challenging to integrate the USPS shipping service and enable efficient shipping operations if you use WooCommerce to manage your eCommerce business.

USPS grants two different types of approvals; eVs and API 3.0. The eVs or Electronic Verification System is for the high volume package mailers and API 3.0 is available for a broader range of businesses.

So, if you’re someone starting out with your ecommerce or offline business in the US, then USPS API 3.0 can be your right option.

We’ll walk you through the process of configuring the USPS Shipping method with the use of a plugin in this post.

Table of Contents

Benefits of WooCommerce USPS Shipping

There are many benefits to integrating the USPS shipping service with WooCommerce. A few of them are stated below:

From the base locations recognized by this plugin, send your goods anywhere in the world.
To keep product delivery costs to a minimum, outsource the delivery responsibilities.
Real-time tracking for customers without additional expense to businesses.
Create many boxes for the purchasers.
Your eCommerce store will instantly have express delivery, medium mail, regular delivery, flat rate, and many more sorts of shipping services when you enable the USPS Shipping Method.

How to Set Up WooCommerce USPS Shipping?

We will be using the ELEX WooCommerce USPS Shipping plugin to integrate USPS with WooCommerce.

As discussed above, we will be explaining about the USPS API 3.0 integration in this blog. The plugin comes as free as well as with premium benefits. In the free version of the WooCommerce USPS Shipping plugin, you will be able to access the rates provided by USPS and in the premium you get the benefit of packaging as well as label printing.

To start with the USPS API 3.0, you have to have a Client ID and Client Secret. This information is important and you will get it here.

Once you get the details, you will need details to generate labels and they are CRID,MID, Manifest MID, Account Number, AESTIN, etc.

To learn more about getting the API credentials, Check this page.

Once the USPS account is created, go ahead and install the ELEX WooCommerce USPS Shipping plugin.

In order to install the plugin, go to WooCommerce Dashboard > Plugins > Add New and upload the plugin. Once the plugin is installed, activate it by clicking Activate Plugin.

To install the plugin, go to WooCommerce Dashboard > Plugins > Add New and upload the plugin. Once the plugin is installed, activate it by clicking Activate Plugin.

To access the settings of ELEX WooCommerce USPS Shipping plugin, you can either click directly on “Settings” under the installed plugin.

You can also get to the settings by:

WordPress Dashboard > WooCommerce > Settings > Shipping

The plugin’s dashboard consists of a variety of features. We will go through the crucial features necessary to set up USPS Shipping.

Setting up General Settings

Real Time Rates: When enabled, the customer placing the order will be able to see the different USPS service rates on the checkout page.

To proceed further, you have to select “API 3.0” under API Mode.

Production is used for live site usability and sandbox is for testing.

Setting Up Rates and Services

To set up USPS shipping options, USPS flat rates, a fallback rate, price modifications, and other options, visit the Rates & Services tab.

Method Title: You can specify a unique title for the shipping method in the method definition. In the checkout, this title will be shown together with the appropriate shipping option.

Method Availability: Select the nations where you wish to offer USPS shipping services from the method availability list. You can choose one or more nations. Select the All Countries option if you have no limits.

Estimated Delivery Settings can be set which will be displayed for the customers.

When you enable it, you can add in your working days, cut-off time, and lead time as well.

Extra Services include USPS Label Delivery Service, USPS Tracking Electronic and Sunday Delivery. Enable the options as deemed fit for your business.

The prices you charge your clients are determined by the parameters shown above.

Rate Preferences: You can choose from retail or commercial rates.

Offer Rates: You can choose to display the rates returned by the USPS or you choose the customers to see the cheapest rates.

Prioritize Flat Rate: USPS has also some rates decided beforehand which doesn’t change with destinations but with respect to the box sizes.

You can also bring in Price Adjustments in case you are adding in additional elements to the order.

Setting Up Parcel Packaging

The plugin offers four different ways to package the goods.

Pack Items Individually: In this choice, each item is packaged individually in the cart. Adding the shipping costs for each item results in the total shipping expense.

Pack into Boxes with Weight and Dimensions: Create your box dimensions by packing into boxes with weight and measurements. You must provide information like the name of the box, its outside and interior dimensions, its maximum weight, and its letter information. Boxes can be added to any number.
Weight-Based: For packing, objects that are no larger than 12 inches (ca. 30 cm) in length, breadth, or height are grouped together. To obtain the real-time rates, the USPS API is given the combined weight of these grouped goods. However, items that are 12 inches (ca. 30 cm) or more in length, breadth, or height are shipped separately.

Weight-Based(improved): Enter the package weight cap. In this option, the combined weight of every item in the cart is calculated. Items are then packed into boxes up to their maximum weight limit and sent to an API to obtain rates. Additionally, you may choose the packing order, choosing between putting heavier goods first, packing lighter items first, or packaging items only according to weight.

Unpacked Items: It’s also conceivable that an item’s size or form is unusual, making it impossible to combine it with other goods. Use one of the tools listed below to take care of such unpacked items.

Get a quote for the unpacked item by itself: With this selection, the shipping costs for each unsealed item are obtained separately.

Ignore the item – do not quote: This setting disregards the unpackaged item. However, you receive quotations for the packaged goods.

Use the Fallback Price: The Fallback price specified in the Rate Option Settings is used in this option.

Abort – Do not return any quotes for the standard services: There are no quotations provided for this option. Even the quotations that are returned based on the modified Box Dimension are not sent to you.

Setting Up Label Generation and Tracking

Shipment Label is an important part of the delivery process and with the ELEX plugin in hand, its an easy process generating it.

To start with, you will need to Enable Shipping Label.
You can also set the size of your label and the document type you want your label to be.

Enter in the next set of details that you get once you send in your Client ID and Secret to the USPS via mail.

Enter in the Sender Address fields as well as the kind of goods you are sending over the USPS parcel service.

Last but not the least, click Save Changes post every customization.

Additional Plugins

USPS Shipping Method

International quotations are calculated by the USPS Shipping Method, which also helps customers see accurate shipping costs. Both the checkout and cart pages display the delivery costs. This is the official USPS shipping plugin for WooCommerce.

Important Features:

Enabling the extension to link with your Stamps.com account.Used to send packages to domestic or foreign destinations.
Automatically pack goods using the built-in box packer.
Cost of the easily modifiable service and its name.

ELEX Stamps.com Shipping Plugin

The ELEX Stamps.com Shipping Plugin with USPS Postage for WooCommerce is a WordPress / WooCommerce extension that enables you to fully automate USPS shipping using Stamps.com. It does this by displaying shipping rates in the cart/checkout page, allowing you to pay postage and print a label from within WooCommerce, automatically packing items into boxes, and enabling tracking.

Important Features:

Estimated delivery date and current shipping rate.
The tracking number that Stamps.com provided when the label was generated.
The rate will be determined and added to the total cost of the order based on the weights and dimensions of the items in the cart.
You may create shipping labels in mass and download them as one PDF file with the Stamps.com USPS Bulk Label Printing Add-On.
Suitability for various account kinds. (Not just e-VS)

Final Wrap

The ELEX WooCommerce USPS Shipping plugin is an essential shipping tool. It is significantly more important when exporting to many nations or cities. You may easily improve the efficiency and dependability of your shipping operations.

The plugin helps company owners send products more easily, while also enabling customers to track their orders via the USPS. Additionally, by turning on this plugin for your store, you may increase delivery process reliability, shipping alternatives, and transparency.