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Address Format Guide

This guide shows how to enter addresses so Shippo can return rates reliably.

Origin vs Destination

  • Origin address: your store/warehouse shipping-from address.
  • Destination address: customer shipping-to address.

Both are required for quoting.

Required Fields for Reliable Rates

  • Street address line
  • City
  • Country (ISO-2 code)

Recommended:

  • Region/State
  • Postal code (very important in many lanes)

Street Address Best Practices

Use a real delivery-ready line, not only a city or country.

Good examples:

  • 350 5th Ave
  • 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl
  • 12 Mombasa Road, Industrial Area

Bad examples:

  • Nairobi
  • USA
  • Near town

Country Format

Use ISO-2 uppercase country codes:

  • US (United States)
  • KE (Kenya)
  • NG (Nigeria)
  • ZA (South Africa)

Test Examples

US Domestic

  • Origin: 350 5th Ave, New York, NY 10118, US
  • Destination: 1 Dr Carlton B Goodlett Pl, San Francisco, CA 94102, US

Kenya Domestic

  • Origin: Mombasa Road, Nairobi, Nairobi County, 00100, KE
  • Destination: Kisumu Town, Kisumu, Kisumu County, 40100, KE

If domestic test works and cross-border fails, that usually means carrier coverage limits.

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