US-to-Canada shipping cost guide
Cheapest Way to Ship to Canada from the US
For parcels under 4 lb, USPS First-Class Package International Service® is usually the cheapest way to ship to Canada from the US, but tax, duty and brokerage fees decide the real cost.
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Compare carriersUPS®, USPS and FedEx (your own account), side by side for the same parcel.
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Info last updated: October 29, 2026.Carrier services, customs rules, tariffs and fees change often, so verify the details with each carrier and the latest news before you ship.
Same parcel, every carrier
Compare the main US-to-Canada services
Canada is the closest international lane from the US, so you can choose between postal and courier services. Shortlist two or three for your parcel, then compare live rates for your exact weight and box. USPS prices to Canada by weight and country group (Canada is USPS Price Group 1). Courier rates depend on your account, so compare them live.
Which services to compare, by parcel weight
Up to 4 lb and $400USPS First-Class Package International Service® usually costs least.
4 to 66 lbCompare USPS Priority Mail International® with courier ground services on the same box.
66 to 150 lbCourier services only.
| Service | Good fit for | Typical transit | Weight limit | Tracking | Dimensional weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS First-Class Package International Service® | Light merchandise up to 4 lb and $400 | Often 1 to 2 weeks | 4 lb | Electronic tracking to Canada | None; priced by actual weight |
| USPS Priority Mail International® | Parcels over 4 lb; Flat Rate options | About 6 to 10 business days | 66 lb | Included | None; priced by actual weight |
| USPS Priority Mail Express International® | Fastest USPS option; money-back guarantee to Canada | About 3 to 5 business days | 66 lb | Included | None; priced by actual weight |
| UPS® Standard | Day-definite ground delivery to Canada | About 2 to 7 business days | 150 lb | End to end | L × W × H ÷ 139, greater of actual or dimensional |
| UPS Worldwide Saver® | Time-definite express | Next business day, by end of day | 150 lb | End to end | L × W × H ÷ 139, greater of actual or dimensional |
| FedEx International Ground | Ground delivery to Canada (your own FedEx account) | About 2 to 7 business days | 150 lb | End to end | L × W × H ÷ 139, greater of actual or dimensional |
USPS caps parcels to Canada at 66 lb; couriers carry up to 150 lb. On ground courier services, a customs brokerage fee can be added at delivery. This guide covers shipping from the US to Canada, not the reverse direction.
The things that set your price
What determines your US-to-Canada shipping cost
Billable weight
USPS international services price by actual weight. Couriers bill the greater of actual and dimensional weight, so a light item in a big box is billed on its size.
Duty
US-made goods that qualify under CUSMA are usually free of regular duty with a statement of origin. Goods made elsewhere can still owe duty, and listed US goods can face Canada's 2026 counter-tariffs.
Canadian sales tax
GST, HST or PST applies above the de minimis, from 5% in Alberta to 15% in the Atlantic provinces. Your recipient usually pays it before delivery.
Brokerage and handling fees
Canada Post charges a CA$9.95 handling fee on taxable mail. Couriers can add clearance and disbursement fees, especially on ground services.
Speed and tracking
Economy postal service is slower, with lighter tracking once the parcel leaves the US. Courier services track end to end into Canada.
Surcharges and packaging
Fuel and other surcharges sit on top of base rates, and a right-sized box lowers billable weight. Compare all-in totals, not base rates.
Lowest postage is only half the cost
A low label price can come with slow transit, sales tax and duty collected before delivery, and a brokerage fee at the door. The real comparison is landed cost, covered in the duty, tax and brokerage section below.
The rule people miss
Dimensional weight, in plain English
Couriers compare your parcel's actual weight with its dimensional weight, a figure based on the space it takes up, and bill whichever is higher.
(Length × Width × Height in inches) ÷ 139 = dimensional pounds for UPS and FedEx daily rates.
Why USPS can suit light, bulky parcels
USPS international services to Canada are priced by actual weight and country group, with no dimensional-weight charge. A light item in a larger box is billed on the scale with USPS, but on its size by courier.
Enter the weight and size you actually measured: carriers re-measure parcels, and any difference is billed later as an adjustment.
What clearing customs really costs
Duty, tax and brokerage: your landed cost to Canada
When your parcel reaches Canada it can face customs duty, sales tax and a collection or brokerage fee. Under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), US-made goods are usually free of regular duty. How much tax applies, and who pays, depends on the channel, the value and the province. This is general reference, not customs, tax or legal advice; the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) sets the rules.
The de minimis depends on how you ship
The CA$20 threshold quoted everywhere is the postal number. Ship by courier from the US and CUSMA sets higher thresholds, so the channel you pick changes what your recipient owes.
What your recipient owes, by goods value (CA$)
- No duty or tax
- Sales tax only
- Sales tax and duty
Scale not to proportion. US-made goods that qualify under CUSMA usually owe no regular duty at any value.
| Channel | Duty-free up to | Tax-free up to | Fee at delivery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postal: USPS, delivered by Canada Post | CA$20 | CA$20 | Canada Post handling fee of CA$9.95 on dutiable or taxable items |
| Courier from the US (CUSMA) | CA$150 | CA$40 | Carrier brokerage or disbursement fee, especially on ground |
| Gift from a friend or relative | CA$60 | CA$60 | Alcohol and tobacco excluded |
Courier thresholds apply to goods shipped by courier from the US or Mexico. Between CA$40 and CA$150, a courier parcel is duty-free but taxable. Alcohol, cannabis, tobacco and some publications are excluded from these thresholds.
Canada tax and de minimis check
Enter the goods value, province and channel to see whether sales tax applies and which fee your recipient may pay.
Estimate only.CBSA assesses on its own valuation, and listed US goods can also owe counter-tariffs.
Sales tax by province
| Province or territory | Combined rate | Made up of |
|---|---|---|
| Alberta, Yukon, NWT, Nunavut | 5% | GST only |
| Saskatchewan | 11% | 5% GST + 6% PST |
| British Columbia | 12% | 5% GST + 7% PST |
| Manitoba | 12% | 5% GST + 7% RST |
| Ontario | 13% | HST |
| Nova Scotia | 14% | HST (cut from 15% on April 1, 2025) |
| Quebec | 14.975% | 5% GST + 9.975% QST |
| New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, PEI | 15% | HST |
Canada's 2026 counter-tariffs
Since September 8, 2026, Canada charges counter-tariffs of 15, 25 or 50 percent on a list of US goods, including steel and aluminum products, clothing and apparel, furniture, appliances and dairy. Existing counter-tariffs on US autos remain. If your item is on the list, your recipient may owe this surtax on top of sales tax and fees. Check the Government of Canada counter-tariff list before you ship.
Who pays: DDP vs DDU
Delivered Duty Paid (DDP): you prepay Canada's duty, tax and clearance, so your recipient pays nothing extra on delivery.
Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU): your recipient pays the duty, tax and handling or brokerage fee before the parcel is released. The same tax is owed either way; DDP moves it into your price.
Worked example
A US-made item worth CA$120, shipped to Ontario
Duty: $0 if it qualifies under CUSMA with a statement of origin. Sales tax: 13% HST on CA$120 is about CA$15.60, because the value is over both the postal CA$20 and courier CA$40 lines.
What the recipient pays at the door
Mail total: about CA$25.55.Postage not included.
Listed US goods, such as clothing, can also owe a counter-tariff surtax.Illustrative only.
Myth: "Mark it as a gift so my customer skips the charges"
A sold item is not a gift. The CA$60 gift exemption is only for gifts from friends or relatives and excludes alcohol and tobacco. Declaring a sale as a gift, or under-declaring its value, is a false customs declaration and risks penalties, delay or seizure. Declare contents and value honestly, and use CUSMA origin to lower duty legitimately.
Paperwork, without the headache
Customs forms and restricted items
Every parcel to Canada needs a customs declaration. Accurate descriptions, values, origin and tariff codes, plus the province in the address, help parcels clear without delay.
PS Form 2976 (CN 22)
The short USPS customs declaration for First-Class Package International Service® items valued at $400 or less.
PS Form 2976-A and 2976-B
USPS uses PS Form 2976-A (CP 72) in a 2976-E pouch for Priority Mail International®, and PS Form 2976-B for Priority Mail Express International®. Couriers use a commercial invoice.
What every form needs
A specific description of each item, quantity, value, country of origin, an HS tariff code and the province in the Canadian address. Add a CUSMA statement of origin when the goods qualify.
What you can't ship to Canada
Canada's prohibited and restricted lists are strict, and each carrier adds its own. Common issues include alcohol, tobacco and vaping liquids, cannabis in any form, firearms and replica weapons, meat, dairy, plants and seeds, and counterfeit goods. Before you ship, check CBSA, the USPS country listing for Canada and the UPS list of prohibited and restricted items. Shipping restricted items against carrier terms can lead to confiscation and account closure.
Shipping a specific item to Canada
Small package, box, heavy item and documents to Canada
- Cheapest way to ship a small package to Canada
- For light merchandise under 4 lb and $400 in value, USPS First-Class Package International Service® is usually cheapest, with electronic tracking. Postal parcels also clear duty and tax free at CA$20 or less.
- Shipping a box over 4 lb to Canada
- Compare USPS Priority Mail International® (Flat Rate options, no dimensional-weight charge) with courier ground services on the same box, and factor in any brokerage fee at delivery.
- Shipping a heavy parcel to Canada
- USPS international services to Canada stop at 66 lb. Above that, courier services carry up to 150 lb; compare their ground options and watch fuel and oversize surcharges.
- Cheapest way to ship documents to Canada
- Paper documents with no commercial value usually go cheapest as USPS First-Class Mail International®. For urgent documents, compare express services.
- Shipping to Canada with tracking
- Priority Mail International® includes tracking, and courier services track end to end. The lowest-cost postal option can lose detailed tracking once it leaves the US.
- Shipping to Canada with duties prepaid (DDP)
- To spare your recipient a tax or brokerage bill on delivery, choose a service that offers Delivered Duty Paid and price the duty, tax and clearance into the order.
Do this every time
The five-minute US-to-Canada checklist
Weigh and measure the parcel
Weigh the parcel in pounds and ounces and measure it in inches. Enter what you measured: carriers re-measure parcels and bill any difference later as an adjustment.
Right-size the box
Use the smallest box that protects the contents. Couriers bill dimensional weight (L × W × H ÷ 139), while USPS international services price by actual weight.
Check value, origin and the de minimis
Note the goods value and whether the goods qualify as US origin under CUSMA. Postal parcels clear free at CA$20 or less; courier parcels from the US clear tax-free at CA$40 or less and duty-free at CA$150 or less.
Match speed and tracking to the order
Economy postal service can take one to two weeks with lighter tracking, while express services can reach Canada as soon as the next business day. Pay for speed when the order needs it.
Plan for tax, tariffs and fees
Above the de minimis your recipient pays sales tax plus a handling or brokerage fee, and listed US goods can owe counter-tariffs. Decide whether to prepay with Delivered Duty Paid.
Compare the same parcel, then print
Enter the same weight, size and value for each service, compare the all-in cost including surcharges and fees, then print the label and customs form.
Shipping for the holidays?
USPS has published its 2026 holiday mailing deadlines, including international dates. Customs clearance adds time on the Canada lane, so ship gifts early.
Where Rollo Ship fits
Compare UPS®, USPS and FedEx, then print the label and customs form
Rollo Ship is free-to-start multi-carrier shipping software that compares UPS® and USPS rates, plus FedEx on your own account, in one dashboard. You see the eligible services for your parcel to Canada side by side, then buy the label and generate the customs form, with paperless customs where supported.
No label fee on your first 200 labels, then 5¢ per label, down to 1¢ with Rollo Rewards.Postage still applies.Learn how Rollo Ship works.
Answers to common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to ship to Canada from the US?
What is the cheapest way to ship a small package to Canada?
Does USPS ship to Canada, and can I use a Flat Rate box?
Will my Canadian recipient have to pay duty, taxes, or a brokerage fee?
How long does shipping from the US to Canada take?
Should I ship to Canada with USPS or a courier?
How can I reduce or avoid customs charges when shipping to Canada?
Do I need a customs form to ship to Canada, and which one?
Do Canada's 2026 counter-tariffs affect my parcel?
Go deeper
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See rewards →Cheapest way to ship internationally
The cross-border guide to carriers, dimensional weight and duties by destination.
Cheapest way to ship a package
The domestic guide to shipping a parcel within the US.
US to UK
Shipping options from the US to the UK, plus UK VAT.
Sources: CBSA (CUSMA low-value shipments, courier and postal thresholds), Canada Post (handling fee and gift exemption), Government of Canada (2026 counter-tariffs), Canada Revenue Agency sales tax rates, the USPS International Mail Manual and Canada country listing, and UPS and FedEx dimensional weight pages.Info last updated October 29, 2026.Carrier services, customs rules, tariffs and fees change often: verify the details with each carrier, CBSA and the latest news before you ship.General reference, not customs, tax or legal advice.
You've seen what drives the price
Now compare your parcel and ship it to Canada
Rollo Ship compares UPS® and USPS, plus FedEx on your own account, then prints the label and customs form.It's free to start, with no subscription.
Discounted postage is paid directly to the carrier through a funded account.