Magento 2 DHL Express Shipping Extension with Rest API

Please Note: The Magento 2 DHL Express Shipping Extension is independently developed by EcomPlugins. It is not created, endorsed, maintained, or supported by DHL Express or DHL Group.

DHL Express provides international express shipping services for documents, parcels, and eligible shipments across more than 220 countries and territories.

The Magento 2 DHL Express Shipping Extension connects Magento 2 and Adobe Commerce with DHL Express shipping services. It retrieves live DHL shipping rates and displays available methods on the shopping cart, checkout, and Magento Admin order creation pages.

Shipping rates are calculated using the merchant’s warehouse origin address, customer destination address, package weight, product dimensions, package configuration, selected DHL services, and the rates available for the configured DHL Express account.

Configure the warehouse origin address under Admin → Stores → Configuration → Sales → Shipping Settings. After the origin address and DHL API credentials are configured, the extension sends the shipment information to DHL and returns the eligible DHL Express services and prices.

This extension adds advanced DHL shipping controls beyond a basic carrier-rate integration. Features include product-level dimensions, configurable package splitting, admin-only shipping rates, minimum and maximum order-weight rules, product-level box quantities, separately packed products, oversized-package handling, shipping-rate markup, free-shipping controls, account-level rates, shipping labels, tracking, custom error messages, and API request caching.

DHL API Integration: The extension connects to the DHL Express MyDHL API using the credentials provided for the merchant’s DHL Express account. A valid DHL Express customer account and approved API access may be required before production rates, labels, and tracking can be used.

Why Choose the EcomPlugins DHL Express Extension?

Supported Magento and Adobe Commerce versions include a standard DHL carrier integration. However, many merchants require more control over packaging, product dimensions, multiple boxes, separately packed products, rate markups, free-shipping conditions, oversized items, admin-only methods, and warehouse label workflows.

The EcomPlugins DHL Express extension is designed for merchants whose shipping requirements go beyond a standard DHL configuration. It provides additional product-level and store-level controls for calculating more accurate DHL rates and managing complex Magento shipments.

Default Magento DHL vs EcomPlugins DHL Express Extension

Magento 2 DHL Express Shipping Extension Features

• Connect Magento 2 and Adobe Commerce with DHL Express shipping services.
• Retrieve live DHL Express rates using the configured merchant account.
• Display DHL shipping rates on the Magento shopping cart page.
• Display available DHL services during checkout.
• Retrieve DHL shipping rates during Magento Admin order creation.
• Disable DHL rates on the storefront while retaining them for Admin orders.
• Configure Residential or Commercial destination handling.
• Use applicable address information returned by the configured DHL workflow.
• Use the Admin default address type when an API lookup is unavailable.
• Set a minimum total order weight required to display DHL rates.
• Set a maximum total order weight allowed for DHL rates.
• Configure the maximum weight allowed for one package.
• Automatically divide heavy orders into multiple packages.
• Configure product-level length, width, and height.
• Use product dimensions when building applicable DHL rate requests.
• Handle oversized or over-dimensional products.
• Apply a configured rate for packages outside preferred dimensions.
• Hide DHL methods when a package is not eligible.
• Show or hide estimated delivery information when returned by DHL.
• Select DHL packaging or merchant-supplied packaging.
• Offer free shipping based on order subtotal.
• Support qualifying Magento shopping-cart price rules.
• Configure free shipping at the individual product level.
• Set box or pack quantity at the product level.
• Calculate the required number of boxes from the product quantity.
• Ship selected products separately.
• Request rates for individually packed products.
• Add a fixed handling or shipping markup.
• Add a percentage markup to the DHL rate.
• Enable or disable account-level discounted rates when available.
• Create eligible DHL Express shipping labels from Magento Admin.
• Add DHL tracking numbers to Magento shipments.
• Retrieve shipment status through applicable DHL tracking services.
• Display a custom message when DHL cannot return shipping rates.
• Cache identical shipping requests to reduce duplicate API calls.

Advanced DHL Packaging Options

Accurate packaging information is important when requesting DHL Express shipping rates. The extension provides product-level and store-level options for package weight, dimensions, package count, and separately packed items.

• Configure a maximum weight for each DHL package.
• Split an order into multiple packages when the configured package weight is exceeded.
• Configure length, width, and height for individual products.
• Use product dimensions in applicable DHL rate requests.
• Define how many product units can fit inside one shipping box.
• Calculate the number of boxes from the ordered quantity.
• Ship selected products as separate packages.
• Calculate rates for each package and combine the shipping amount.
• Use DHL packaging or merchant-provided packaging.
• Apply special handling to oversized or over-dimensional items.

For additional information about the package calculation process, review the following guide:

User Guide: FedEx and UPS Packaging Logic with REST API Plugin Flow

The same general Magento product-level packaging concepts may also be used by this DHL extension where supported by its configuration.

Maximum Package Weight and Multi-Package Shipping

DHL service eligibility can depend on the weight of each package as well as the total shipment weight. The extension allows the merchant to configure a maximum package weight based on the store’s shipping requirements.

When the order exceeds the configured package weight, the extension can divide the shipment into multiple packages before requesting DHL rates.

• Set a maximum package weight.
• Prevent one unsupported package from containing the full order weight.
• Split qualifying orders into multiple packages.
• Build the rate request using the calculated package count.
• Combine applicable package charges into the displayed shipping amount.

Actual maximum package and shipment limits are controlled by DHL and can vary by service, origin, destination, account agreement, and package type.

Product Dimensions and Dimensional Shipping

DHL Express pricing and service eligibility may depend on package dimensions as well as actual weight. The extension allows the merchant to save dimensions at the Magento product level.

• Set product length.
• Set product width.
• Set product height.
• Use dimensions in applicable package calculations.
• Improve shipping-rate accuracy for lightweight but bulky products.
• Identify packages that exceed the configured dimension limits.

Product dimensions should represent the packaged shipping size or be configured according to the merchant’s packaging workflow.

Product-Level Box and Pack Quantity

Some products are sold individually but packed several units per shipping box. The extension allows the merchant to define the number of units that fit inside one box.

For example, when ten units fit in one shipping box and the customer orders twenty-five units, the extension can calculate the number of required packages according to the configured pack quantity.

• Set the number of units packed in one box.
• Calculate the package count from the ordered quantity.
• Use the calculated box count in DHL rate requests.
• Avoid treating every product unit as a separate package.

Ship Products Separately

Products that cannot be safely combined with other cart items can be configured to ship separately.

• Mark eligible products for separate shipping.
• Create individual package information for those items.
• Request DHL rates for separately packed products.
• Combine applicable package amounts into the final shipping rate.

This feature can be useful for fragile products, oversized items, products shipped in manufacturer cartons, and items that require special handling.

Oversized and Over-Dimension Packages

The extension allows merchants to configure behavior for products or packages that exceed preferred dimension limits.

• Define maximum package dimensions.
• Identify over-dimensional packages during rate calculation.
• Apply a configured shipping charge where appropriate.
• Hide DHL methods for packages that should not use DHL Express.
• Display another Magento shipping method when available.

DHL determines final package eligibility and may apply additional charges or reject shipments that exceed carrier limits.

DHL Account-Level and Discounted Rates

DHL Express accounts may include negotiated or account-specific shipping prices. The extension can request applicable rates using the configured DHL account credentials.

• Use the merchant’s DHL Express account details.
• Request account-level rates when available.
• Enable or disable the use of discounted rates from Magento Admin.
• Display the applicable rate returned for the shipment.

EcomPlugins does not control DHL pricing. Rates, discounts, surcharges, fuel charges, duties, taxes, and billing adjustments are determined by DHL and the merchant’s account agreement.

DHL Shipping-Rate Markup

The extension allows merchants to adjust the shipping rate returned by DHL before showing it to the customer.

• Add a fixed amount to the DHL shipping rate.
• Add a percentage markup to the returned rate.
• Apply the adjustment automatically during shipping calculation.
• Display the final adjusted rate on cart and checkout pages.

This can help recover packaging materials, labor, customs-document preparation, warehouse processing, or other handling expenses.

DHL Free-Shipping Options

The extension provides several ways to offer free DHL shipping to qualifying customers or products.

• Offer free shipping when the order subtotal reaches a configured amount.
• Support eligible Magento cart-price rules.
• Configure free shipping for selected products.
• Keep paid DHL services available for non-qualifying orders.

The merchant remains responsible for charges billed by DHL even when the Magento customer receives free shipping.

Residential and Commercial Address Settings

The extension includes configuration for handling destination address type where applicable to the merchant’s DHL workflow.

• Set a default Residential or Commercial address type.
• Use applicable address information returned through the configured API workflow.
• Use the Admin default if an address lookup is unavailable.
• Build the shipping request using the configured destination type.

Availability of address classification depends on the DHL APIs, account permissions, destination country, and extension configuration.

Estimated Delivery Information

DHL may return estimated delivery or transit information for eligible services. The extension allows merchants to control whether that information is displayed.

• Show estimated delivery information when returned by DHL.
• Hide delivery estimates when the merchant does not want to display them.
• Display service-related delivery information with the shipping method.

Delivery estimates are supplied by DHL and are not guaranteed by EcomPlugins. Customs delays, weather, destination conditions, service interruptions, and incorrect shipment information can affect delivery.

DHL Express Shipping Labels

The extension can create eligible DHL Express shipping labels from Magento Admin using the shipment details and DHL account configured for the store.

• Create a DHL shipment from the Magento order workflow.
• Submit the package and destination information to DHL.
• Generate an eligible DHL Express shipping label.
• Associate the shipment and tracking information with the Magento order.
• Use the label output returned by DHL.

Shipping-label availability depends on the merchant’s DHL account, approved APIs, origin country, destination, selected service, package details, customs information, and extension version.

DHL Shipment Tracking

The extension supports DHL shipment tracking for labels and tracking numbers associated with Magento shipments.

• Add the DHL tracking number to the Magento shipment.
• Store tracking information with the order.
• Allow customers to review shipment tracking information.
• Allow administrators to review shipment details in Magento Admin.
• Retrieve current shipment status through applicable DHL tracking services.

Tracking scans, delivery estimates, shipment events, and package location information are supplied by DHL.

DHL API Request Caching

Magento can request shipping rates repeatedly when a customer updates an address, changes the cart, or moves through checkout. Sending identical requests can increase API traffic and affect checkout performance.

The extension can cache applicable DHL rate requests to help avoid sending the same request repeatedly within the configured cache period.

• Reduce duplicate DHL API calls.
• Improve repeat shipping-rate response time.
• Reduce unnecessary requests during checkout.
• Refresh rates when relevant shipment information changes.

Custom DHL Shipping Error Message

DHL may be unable to return shipping rates when account credentials are incorrect, no service is available, package details are invalid, the destination is unsupported, or the API is temporarily unavailable.

The extension allows the merchant to show a customer-friendly error message instead of exposing technical carrier information.

• Configure a custom frontend error message.
• Avoid displaying technical API responses to customers.
• Ask customers to choose another shipping method.
• Provide instructions to contact the store when shipping cannot be calculated.

Common DHL Express Services

The exact DHL services displayed in Magento depend on the merchant’s account, origin address, destination, package details, pickup arrangements, and services returned by DHL.

• DHL Express Worldwide
• DHL Express 9:00, where available
• DHL Express 10:30, where available
• DHL Express 12:00, where available
• DHL Express Envelope, where available
• DHL Express domestic services, where supported
• Other DHL Express services returned for the configured account

EcomPlugins does not control which DHL services are returned. Service availability is determined by DHL using the submitted shipment information and merchant-account eligibility.

International DHL Shipping

DHL Express is widely used for international, time-sensitive shipping. Available services may support documents, parcels, and eligible commercial shipments.

• Retrieve eligible international DHL Express services.
• Calculate rates using the shipment origin and destination.
• Include package weight and dimensions.
• Create eligible international shipping labels.
• Store DHL tracking information with Magento shipments.

International shipments may require customs declarations, commodity details, harmonized tariff codes, country of origin, declared value, invoices, duties, taxes, and other information. Final customs and documentation requirements are controlled by DHL and destination authorities.

Supported Magento Product Types

The extension can calculate DHL rates for common Magento product types when physical shipping information is available.

• Simple products
• Configurable products
• Grouped products
• Bundle products
• Virtual products when included in an order with physical items

Final package calculations depend on the selected child products, product weights, dimensions, ordered quantities, box quantities, and separate-shipping configuration.

DHL Express Account and API Configuration

Create or use an active DHL Express business account. You may also need to request access to the MyDHL API through the DHL Developer Portal.

Depending on the DHL account, API approval, origin country, and extension release, the following information may be required:

• DHL Express account number
• DHL API username or API key
• DHL API password or API secret
• Warehouse origin address
• Default package type
• Allowed DHL Express services
• Minimum and maximum order weights
• Maximum package weight
• Product-dimension configuration
• Discounted-rate setting
• Shipping-rate markup
• Free-shipping settings
• Custom shipping error message

The exact credentials and approval process depend on the DHL APIs enabled for the merchant’s account. DHL may provide production credentials only after reviewing the account and integration request.

Account and Pricing

The merchant must establish a DHL Express account and obtain the required API credentials directly from DHL. The extension does not automatically create a DHL account or activate API services.

DHL shipping charges, account fees, fuel surcharges, remote-area charges, customs charges, duties, taxes, dimensional adjustments, and other carrier costs are determined and billed by DHL according to the merchant’s agreement.

The extension purchase includes one year of software updates and technical support. After the first year, optional updates and support renewal cost $99.95.

Magento and Adobe Commerce Compatibility

The extension is developed for Magento 2 and Adobe Commerce. Compatibility depends on the purchased extension version, Magento version, PHP version, installed patches, checkout customizations, third-party shipping modules, and other store modifications.

Contact EcomPlugins before purchasing when your store uses:

• A heavily customized Magento checkout
• Hyvä Checkout or another replacement checkout
• A headless Magento storefront
• A marketplace or multi-vendor extension
• A custom warehouse or order-management system
• A third-party shipping-label solution
• Another extension that replaces the standard DHL carrier

Installation and Configuration Assistance

EcomPlugins can assist with:

• Magento extension installation
• DHL Express account configuration
• MyDHL API credential setup
• DHL API authentication troubleshooting
• Missing DHL rate troubleshooting
• Package-weight and dimension setup
• Multi-package shipping configuration
• Product box and pack quantity setup
• Separate-shipping configuration
• Discounted-rate configuration
• DHL label troubleshooting
• DHL shipment tracking configuration
• International shipping customization
• Custom DHL shipping requirements

Support

For installation assistance, DHL API configuration, rate troubleshooting, package setup, shipping-label issues, tracking problems, or custom Magento shipping requirements, contact the EcomPlugins support team.

Email: [email protected]

Demo

• Frontend Demo: https://magento2.ecomplugins.com/
• Backend Demo: https://magento2.ecomplugins.com/admin/