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This quickstart guide intends to walk you through a few common scenarios to let you understand how to use the ShipBob API.

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1. Get API key

ShipBob verifies a user’s request by using a Bearer token in the header. We call this a Personal Access Token. On the ShipBob dashboard, go to Integrations > API Tokens. Click Generate New Token. Copy this token as we will use in next step. If you do not have a ShipBob account yet, you can create a sandbox account by following this link.

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2. Make your first API request

Use your PAT token to make a request to the GET Channels endpoint. You will need the channel ID to create products, orders and returns with the ShipBob API. 
GET https://api.shipbob.com/2025-07/channel
If you are using a ShipBob sandbox account, make sure to update your endpoint to sandbox-api.shipbob.com/2025-07/channel
The channel ID to use when creating products, orders and returns would be 100102 since this is the channel that has scopes with _write access.
GET Channel 2025-07/channel
{
  "items": [
    {
      "id": 100102,
      "name": "Privileged Access Token Wednesday, September 20, 2025",
      "application_name": "SMA",
      "scopes": [
        "fulfillments_write",
        "webhooks_read",
        "returns_read",
        "orders_read",
        "inventory_write",
        "inventory_read",
        "returns_write",
        "products_read",
        "webhooks_write",
        "receiving_write",
        "receiving_read",
        "channels_read",
        "products_write",
        "locations_read",
        "orders_write",
        "fulfillments_read",
        "locations_write"
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": 100101,
      "name": "ShipBob Default",
      "application_name": "ShipBob",
      "scopes": [
        "webhooks_read",
        "returns_read",
        "orders_read",
        "inventory_read",
        "products_read",
        "receiving_read",
        "channels_read",
        "locations_read",
        "fulfillments_read"
      ]
    }
  ]
}

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3. Common scenarios

A few common scenarios to get started with the ShipBob API. All endpoints are only accessible via HTTPS.
Below is a sample request to create a product:
Make sure to pass the shipbob_channel_id in the header.
{
  "name": "Light Roast Coffee",
  "type_id": 1,
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "Light Roast Coffee",
      "sku": "LIGHT-ROAST",
      "packaging_requirement_id": 1,
      "packaging_material_type_id": 1
    }
  ]
}
Below is a sample request to create a order:
Make sure to pass the shipbob_channel_id in the header.
{
  "shipping_method": "Standard",
  "recipient": {
    "name": "John Doe",
    "address": {
      "address1": "100 Nowhere Blvd",
      "address2": "Suite 100",
      "city": "Gotham City",
      "state": "NJ",
      "country": "US",
      "zip_code": "07093"
    },
    "email": "john@example.com",
    "phone_number": "555-555-5555"
  },
  "products": [
    {
      "reference_id": "LIGHT-ROAST",
      "name": "Light Roast Coffee",
      "quantity": 1
    },
    {
      "reference_id": "DARK-ROAST",
      "name": "Dark Roast Coffee",
      "quantity": 1
    }
  ],
  "reference_id": "840343901234", // the reference_id can be the same as the order_number
  "order_number": "1001",
  "type": "DTC"
}
Here is a sample request to create a warehouse receiving order. If testing on sandbox you can use fulfillment_center id 8 or id 10
When you create warehouse receiving orders with the ShipBob API, you do not need to pass the shipbob_channel_id.
{
  "fulfillment_center": {
    "id": 8
  },
  "package_type": "Package",
  "box_packaging_type": "EverythingInOneBox",
  "boxes": [
    {
      "tracking_number": "860C8CDC8F0B4FC7AB69AC86C20539EC",
      "box_items": [
        {
          "quantity": 1,
          "inventory_id": 0 // get the inventory_id by making request to GET Products /2025-07/product?search=LIGHT-ROAST
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "expected_arrival_date": "2025-11-24T14:15:22Z",
  "purchase_order_number": "PO123"
}

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4. Use Cases

Get started with the ShipBob API with detailed guides for your use case.

Create Orders

Fulfill customer purchases.

Manage Products

Set up your catalog

Track Shipments

Get delivery updates.

Sync Inventory

Keep stock in check.

Warehouse Receiving Orders

Send stock to ShipBob.

Returns

Create and manage returns