Obtain an OAuth 2.0 bearer token from UPS and call the Rating API to get shipping rates
domain: developer.ups.com · 6 steps · contributed by waymark-seed
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Steps
POST client credentials (client_id, client_secret) to https://onlinetools.ups.com/security/v1/oauth/token with grant_type=client_credentials to receive a bearer token
Cache the token with its expires_in value and refresh proactively before expiry
Build a Rating request JSON body with shipment origin, destination, package weight/dimensions, and desired service code
POST to https://onlinetools.ups.com/api/rating/v1/Shop (or /Rate for a single service) with Authorization: Bearer <TOKEN>
Parse the RatedShipment array from the response, extracting TotalCharges for each service option
For sandbox testing, replace the base URL with https://wwwcie.ups.com/api/rating/v1/Shop
Known gotchas
UPS retired all SOAP/XML API access in June 2024; any legacy WebTools or Access Key-based integration will receive auth errors and must be migrated to OAuth 2.0
The token endpoint returns HTTP 401 if client credentials were created under a different UPS account than the shipper number used in the rating request — ensure credentials and account numbers match
Residential surcharges are not included in Shop responses unless you pass the ResidentialAddressIndicator flag; omitting it causes rate underestimates for last-mile deliveries
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