Buy from Uline via API
Programmatically order shipping and industrial supplies from Uline. Automate procurement of packaging materials via Zinc.
Install the universal-checkout skill (npx skills add zincio/skills --skill universal-checkout) to buy from Uline and 50+ retailers. Paste the prompt below into Cursor, Claude Code, or OpenClaw.
What is Uline?
Uline is North America's leading distributor of shipping, industrial, and packaging materials, offering over 41,000 products with same-day shipping. Zinc's Uline API integration enables automated procurement of boxes, tape, labels, warehouse supplies, and janitorial products.
Essential for logistics platforms, warehouse management systems, and any business that needs to automate the ordering of shipping and industrial supplies via the API.
What you can build with the Uline API
Build with the Uline integration API for search, ordering, tracking, and returns.
Uline Order Placement API
Place orders with a product URL and shipping address. No checkout flows required — Zinc handles the retailer-side workflow and processes orders asynchronously.
{
"products": [
{
"url": "https://uline.com/...",
"quantity": 1
}
],
"shipping_address": {
"first_name": "Jane",
"last_name": "Doe",
"address_line1": "123 Main St",
"city": "San Francisco",
"state": "CA",
"postal_code": "94105",
"country": "US",
"phone_number": "5551234567"
},
"max_price": 39900
}Uline Order Status API
Retrieve order details including item statuses, shipping address, and processing results. Poll to track progress from pending through to delivery.
{
"id": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
"status": "order_placed",
"max_price": 39900,
"items": [
{
"url": "https://uline.com/...",
"quantity": 1,
"status": "shipped"
}
],
"tracking_numbers": [
{
"carrier": "ups",
"tracking_number": "1Z999AA10123456784",
"created_at": "2026-01-15T14:30:00Z"
}
],
"created_at": "2026-01-15T10:00:00Z"
}Uline Shipment Tracking API
Tracking numbers are automatically extracted from retailer shipping notifications and returned in the order response. Supports UPS, FedEx, USPS, Amazon Logistics, and DHL.
{
"id": "550e8400-e29b-41d4-a716-446655440000",
"status": "order_placed",
"tracking_numbers": [
{
"carrier": "ups",
"tracking_number": "1Z999AA10123456784",
"created_at": "2026-01-15T14:30:00Z"
},
{
"carrier": "amazon",
"tracking_number": "TBA123456789000",
"created_at": "2026-01-16T09:15:00Z"
}
]
}Uline Managed Accounts
Use Zinc-managed checkout accounts or bring your own retailer credentials. Managed accounts handle login, 2FA, and payment automatically — no account setup required.
{
"credentials": [
{
"short_id": "zn_acct_a1b2c3d4",
"email": "orders@example.com",
"retailer": "uline",
"has_totp": true,
"has_forwarding": true
}
],
"total": 1
}Uline API Integration FAQ
What can I do with the Uline API integration?
You can search products, place orders, track shipments, and handle returns through a single Zinc API integration for Uline. Search by keyword or product URL to find items on uline.com, then place orders with a shipping address and max price — no checkout UI required on your side.
Use POST /orders to submit a purchase request, GET /orders/{order_id} to poll status, and webhook subscriptions for async shipping and delivery events. Returns are supported through the same API, so you can build search-to-return workflows without maintaining a separate Uline integration.
Do I need to build a checkout flow for Uline?
No. Zinc handles the retailer-side ordering workflow on uline.com, so your app can place orders directly via API calls. Send a POST /orders request with the product URL, quantity, shipping address, and max_price in cents — Zinc manages login, payment, and fulfillment on Uline's site.
Your application never needs to embed Uline's checkout or store retailer credentials unless you choose to bring your own account via managed accounts. This is especially useful for rewards platforms, gifting apps, and AI agents that need to buy from Uline programmatically.
What is the free shipping minimum for Uline?
Uline offers free standard shipping on orders of $500 or more before tax. Business supply orders; shipping calculated by weight and destination. Orders below the minimum will incur a shipping fee. Note that shipping policies can change, so check Uline's website for the most current thresholds.
When placing orders through the Zinc API, set an appropriate max_price to cover the product cost plus estimated shipping if the order total is below Uline's free shipping threshold. Zinc processes the order at uline.com and refunds any unused amount after fulfillment completes.
Can I get shipment tracking updates for Uline orders?
Yes. When Uline ships your order, Zinc extracts tracking numbers from retailer shipping notifications and returns them in the order response. Each entry includes the carrier, tracking number, and timestamp.
Poll GET /orders/{order_id} for the latest status, or subscribe to webhook events for shipping and delivery updates without polling. Supported carriers include UPS, FedEx, USPS, Amazon Logistics, and DHL — so you can surface tracking in your app or pass it through to end customers automatically.
How do I start using the Uline integration API?
Create an account, get your API key, and follow the Zinc API docs to send your first search or order request. You'll need a Zinc API key (prefixed zn_) for authenticated endpoints like orders and product search.
Start with GET /retailers to confirm Uline is supported, then try a product search or place an order with a uline.com product URL. For AI agent workflows, the /agent/orders endpoint supports MPP payment — no Zinc account required for the buyer.