Why can’t I select UPS in an Etsy shipping profile but can buy UPS labels?

Hi! This usually happens because Etsy treats shipping profiles (what buyers see at checkout) and Etsy Shipping Labels (what you can buy after an order) as two separate systems—so you can be allowed to buy UPS labels, but Etsy may not offer UPS as a selectable “shipping service” in the shipping profile dropdown, especially if you’re using calculated shipping (which is limited to certain carriers/services).

Here are the most common causes, and what you can do:

Why UPS is missing in shipping profiles

1. You’re using calculated shipping.
   On Etsy, calculated shipping options are limited (in practice it’s mainly the postal-based options Etsy supports for calculation). Even if Etsy lets you purchase UPS labels for US domestic shipments, that doesn’t automatically make UPS appear as a calculated-checkout option.

2. Shipping profiles don’t always list every label carrier as a “service.”
   The “Shipping service” field in a profile is mostly about what the buyer sees and how Etsy labels the method, not a guarantee that the same carrier list will appear there.

3. Device/app differences.
   Some shipping settings are easier/more complete on desktop. If you’re creating/editing shipping profiles in the Seller app, try doing it in a desktop browser to see all available options.

How to let buyers choose UPS at checkout (the practical workaround)

If your goal is “buyer can pick UPS Ground / UPS 2nd Day, etc.” at checkout, the most reliable way is:

• Use a fixed-price shipping profile (not calculated), and
• Turn on Shipping upgrades, then add upgrade options that you price like your UPS services.

A simple setup most sellers use:

• Base shipping option: “Standard shipping” (you can still ship it USPS or UPS—this is just the checkout option)
• Upgrade 1: “UPS Ground” (priced accordingly)
• Upgrade 2: “UPS 2nd Day Air” / “UPS Next Day” (priced accordingly)

A couple important notes:

• Etsy doesn’t always guarantee the buyer will see “UPS” as a carrier selector the way Shopify does—the buyer is choosing the option you offer, and you then buy the matching UPS label when you fulfill.
• UPS labels on Etsy are generally US sellers shipping to US domestic addresses, so if you’re trying to offer UPS for international orders, buyers may not see it (and you may not be able to buy those UPS labels through Etsy).

If you tell me whether you’re using calculated shipping or fixed shipping, and whether you’re setting this up on desktop or the Etsy Seller app, I can point you to the exact clicks that match your setup.