Billable weight
Carriers charge the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight on most parcel and courier services. A light item in a large box can price as a heavy one.
Shipping from Canada — cost guide
Cheapest Way to Ship from Canada
There is no single cheapest carrier from Canada.
The winner flips at 2 kg.
- Up to 2 kgCanada Post Small Packet™ or Tracked Packet™ usually beats courier ground.
- Over 2 kgCompare Expedited Parcel™ USA, Xpresspost™
and courier ground. - Every labelPick the all-in rate, not the base postage.
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4.8 / 5 on
Keep shipping wherever you ship today. First 200 labels carry no Rollo service fee — you still pay carrier postage.
Compare
Compare the most used from-Canada services
These seven services cover almost every Canada-origin parcel: untracked packets, tracked packets, postal ground to the U.S., courier ground, guaranteed postal express, courier express, and air or surface international parcels. Transit figures are Canada Post published standards (business days) or typical courier ground / express windows — not a guarantee on every lane.
Up to 2 kg — start with a packet
Canada Post Small Packet™ (economy) or Tracked Packet™ (full tracking). Usually cheapest for light parcels. No volumetric surcharge inside the packet rules.
Over 2 kg — parcel or courier ground
Compare Expedited Parcel™ USA / Xpresspost™ with UPS Standard®, FedEx International Ground® and Purolator Ground® U.S. Watch customs / disbursement fees on courier ground.
| Service | Type | Typical transit | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
 Small Packet™ (USA / International) | Postal packet · often untracked | USA 5–8 days; intl air 6–12 days; surface 4–12 weeks | Up to 2 kg |
| Tracked Packet™ (USA / International) | Postal packet · tracked | USA 4–7 days; intl 6–10 days | Up to 2 kg |
| Expedited Parcel™ USA | Postal parcel · tracked | 4–7 days to the U.S. | Up to 30 kg |
   UPS Standard® / FedEx International Ground® / Purolator Ground® U.S. | Courier ground | Typically a few business days after clearance | Service max (often 68 kg / 150 lb — confirm the service) |
| Xpresspost™ (USA / International) | Postal express · tracked, on-time guarantee | USA 2–3 days; intl 4–7 days for most destinations | Up to 30 kg |
| UPS Worldwide Express® / FedEx International Priority® | Courier express | Time-definite, often 1–3 business days on eligible lanes | Service max — confirm the service |
| International Parcel™ Air / Surface | Postal parcel | Air 6–10 days; surface 4–12 weeks | Up to 30 kg |
Verified against Canada Post delivery standards and size/weight rules. Compare live rates in Rollo Ship — do not treat this table as a price list.
What sets the price
What actually determines your from-Canada shipping cost?
Postage is only the first line. Billable weight, the destination, duty and taxes, customs fees, speed, tracking, fuel and the box you chose all show up on the all-in cost.
Destination
A Toronto–Buffalo ground label is a different product from Toronto–Los Angeles or Toronto–London. Zone, crossing and last-mile network all move the rate.
Duty & taxes
The U.S. $800 de-minimis exemption for commercial parcels ended August 29, 2025. Ordinary duty still depends on classification and origin — CUSMA-qualifying Canadian-made goods can still enter at 0% ordinary duty when the claim is filed correctly.
Customs fees
Entry, merchandise-processing and brokerage charges can exceed the duty on a low-value parcel. Who pays them is DDP versus DDU, not “the cheap label.”
Speed, tracking & fuel
Guaranteed and express products cost more. Fuel is a percentage on top of the transportation charge and changes weekly (or monthly at Purolator).
Packaging
Oversize, non-stackable and poorly sealed boxes trigger extra charges and damage. Right-sizing is the cheapest lever you control on every label.
Fuel surcharges — verify on the carrier page
Fuel is a percent on the base rate and moves often. Figures below are the Aug 10, 2026 verification — re-check each carrier’s fuel page before you publish or price a catalog. UPS updates weekly; no invented UPS percent is shown.
| Carrier / service | Published fuel | Window |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Post — US & International Parcel | 22.25% | Xpresspost, Expedited, International Parcel — verified Aug 10, 2026; volatile |
| Canada Post — US & International Packet | 20.25% | Tracked Packet, Small Packet |
| Purolator International (courier) | 34.0% | PuroPost economy shown lower (about 26.75%) |
| FedEx — international export | about 20–37% | Ground export lower; air export higher — confirm the exact table |
| Canada Post — domestic (for contrast) | 38.00% | Do not apply the domestic rate to an outbound parcel |
Cheapest postage is only half the battle
A $2-cheaper untracked packet that sits, gets returned, or lands a brokerage bill on your buyer is not the cheapest way to ship from Canada. Compare the label, the clearance path and who pays duty before you print.
Volumetric weight
Volumetric weight: a hidden from-Canada shipping cost
On most Canada Post parcel services and on UPS, FedEx and Purolator, billable weight is the greater of the scale weight and the volumetric (dimensional) weight. Packets are the exception: Small Packet™ and Tracked Packet™ are generally rated on actual weight only, inside their 2 kg and size limits.
Volumetric weight (kg) = Length × Width × Height (cm) ÷ 5,000
Some courier contracts use a 5,000 or 6,000 divisor. Canada Post publishes the divisor that applies to each parcel product. Always use centimetres for the postal formula above. A 30 × 30 × 30 cm cube is 5.4 kg volumetric — even if the product weighs 800 g.
Right-size the box
Cut the air. A mailer or a fitted carton keeps you under packet limits and can drop a courier label from volumetric to actual weight. Measure the finished, sealed package — not the product.
Packet exception: Small Packet™ and Tracked Packet™ (USA and International) are not rated on volumetric weight, provided you stay inside the 2 kg and L+W+H limits (900 mm to the U.S.).
US customs & duty
Shipping to the US: customs, duty and the end of the $800 de-minimis
Facts below were verified August 10, 2026. They are legal-status notes, not a landed-cost quote and not legal advice. Confirm classification and origin with a licensed customs broker before you price a catalog.
- The U.S. Section 321 de-minimis (generally US$800) duty-free shortcut for commercial shipments ended August 29, 2025. Low value no longer means “no entry.”
- CUSMA (Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement) origin is a separate claim. Qualifying Canadian-made goods can still enter at 0% ordinary duty when the importer files the origin claim correctly. De-minimis ending did not repeal CUSMA.
- The United States does not assess U.S. state sales tax at the border on an incoming parcel. Duty, merchandise-processing and brokerage are not sales tax.
- Section 338: as of August 19, 2026, listed goods can face an additional 50% duty. That list is product-specific. Do not assume every Canadian SKU is listed — and do not assume CUSMA wipes a listed 338 rate.
- IEEPA “fentanyl” / emergency tariffs on Canadian goods were struck in February 2026. The separate 10% global surcharge expired July 24, 2026. Do not quote those expired add-ons as current.
De-minimis is gone. CUSMA origin is not.
De-minimis (ended Aug 29, 2025)
Was a paperwork and duty shortcut for many low-value commercial parcels. It is not available for commercial shipments now.
vs
CUSMA origin (still in force)
A preferential-duty claim for qualifying originating goods. It needs a correct origin certification and an entry that actually claims it.
DDP vs DDU — who pays the border
DDP — delivered duty paid
You (the shipper) arrange and pay duty, taxes and typically brokerage so the buyer is not billed on delivery.
vs
DDU / DAP — buyer pays
The carrier or broker collects from the consignee. A cheap label plus a surprise invoice is how “cheap shipping” loses the customer.
What a landed-cost estimate is made of
| Line | What it is | Invent a dollar? |
|---|---|---|
| Postage + fuel + accessorials | The carrier transportation charge and published surcharges | No — compare live |
| Ordinary customs duty | HTS rate × customs value, after origin claims | No — classify first |
| Special / listed duties | Including Section 338 listed goods at 50% where applicable | No — check the list |
| Merchandise-processing / entry fees | CBP and entry-type charges that replaced the de-minimis shortcut | No — broker/carrier quote |
| Brokerage | The broker’s fee to file the entry | No — carrier or broker tariff |
| U.S. sales tax at the border | Not assessed by CBP on the inbound parcel | N/A — $0 at the border |
Worked example — CAD $120, 1.5 kg, Canadian-made
A 1.5 kg finished good made in Canada, sold for CAD $120, is usually a Tracked Packet™ USA or Expedited Parcel™ USA candidate on postage — compare both. On customs: if the good originates under CUSMA and the importer claims origin, ordinary duty can be 0%. You still need an entry (de-minimis is gone), so brokerage and merchandise-processing can apply. If that HTS is on the Section 338 listed-goods set as of August 19, 2026, an additional 50% can apply on top — we are not printing a duty dollar here because the rate is classification-specific. IEEPA and the expired 10% surcharge should not appear on this example. Confirm with a broker before you advertise “duty-free to the U.S.”
Myth: “It’s under $800, so it’s free and easy.”
That was the de-minimis story. It ended August 29, 2025. Cheap postage does not recreate it. Origin, classification and who pays the entry are what matter now.
Nothing to switch and nothing to cancel. Compare a real from-Canada parcel first.
Forms & restricted
Customs forms, documentation and restricted items
CN22
The short customs declaration used on many low-value packets. It still needs a real description, quantity, value and origin — “gift” or “sample” is not a description. After de-minimis ended, a CN22 is paperwork, not a duty waiver.
CN23 + commercial invoice
Higher-value or parcel products typically need a CN23 and a commercial invoice (or a courier paperless invoice). Match the values, currency, Incoterm and HTS across every page. UPS Paperless® Invoice is available in Rollo Ship on eligible UPS exports.
What every form needs
Seller and buyer names and addresses, a detailed goods description, quantity, unit and total value, currency, country of origin, and a weight that matches the label. If you claim CUSMA, the origin certification has to travel with the entry — not only sit in your inbox.
Restricted and prohibited — check before you quote
Lithium batteries, perfume and aerosols, alcohol, tobacco, plants, animal products, weapons and many branded goods are restricted or prohibited on postal packets and on some courier products. Destination rules differ from Canada Post’s accept list. When in doubt, do not default to Small Packet™.
Documentation notes verified August 10, 2026. Forms and restricted lists change — confirm on Canada Post and the destination customs site.
Within Canada
Need to ship within Canada?
Domestic Regular Parcel™, Expedited Parcel™, Xpresspost™ and courier ground are a different rate card from anything that crosses the border. No U.S. entry, no CN23, no CUSMA claim. We keep that guide separate so this page stays honest about customs.
Parcel types
Which from-Canada product fits the box?
Small parcel up to 2 kg
Stay inside Canada Post packet size limits and compare Small Packet™ with Tracked Packet™. Tracking is worth it on anything a buyer will ask about. Packets skip volumetric rating, which is why a fitted mailer often beats a courier box at this weight.
A box over 2 kg
You have left the packet products. Compare Expedited Parcel™ USA or International Parcel™ with UPS Standard®, FedEx International Ground® and Purolator Ground® U.S. Volumetric weight now applies — measure the sealed carton.
A heavy parcel over 30 kg
Canada Post USA and most international parcel products top out at 30 kg. Over that, you are on a courier service (or freight). Confirm the service maximum, extra-heavy fees and whether a lift-gate or appointment applies before you promise a date.
Documents with no commercial value
True documents — contracts, printed papers, no merchandise — can travel on document products and often avoid a commercial entry. A “document” that is actually a product sample is merchandise. Describe it honestly or it will stall.
When you need tracking
Small Packet™ is frequently untracked. Tracked Packet™, Expedited Parcel™, Xpresspost™ and the couriers include tracking. If the buyer paid for peace of mind, do not save two dollars on an untracked packet.
Shipping from Canada to the US
This is still the highest-volume export lane for Canadian shops. Compare packet versus Expedited Parcel™ USA versus courier ground on every weight break, complete the customs form, and decide DDP versus buyer-paid charges before checkout — not after the first complaint.
5-minute checklist
The 5-minute shipping-from-Canada checklist
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1
Weigh and measure the sealed package
Use a scale and a tape on the finished parcel. Billable weight is actual versus volumetric on parcels and couriers. Guessing is how you eat an adjustment.
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2
Right-size the packaging
If it can be a packet, make it a packet. If it must be a box, cut the void. Packaging is the cost lever that does not wait on a carrier sale.
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3
Write a real description and origin
Name the goods, the material, the quantity and the country of origin. If you will claim CUSMA, have the certification ready. “Merchandise” is not a description.
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4
Check restricted items and the Section 338 list
Batteries, liquids and branded goods fail on the wrong product. Listed Section 338 goods (from August 19, 2026) can carry an extra 50% — confirm the HTS before you advertise a landed price.
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5
Compare packet, postal parcel and courier on the same details
Do not assume Canada Post wins under 2 kg or that a courier wins over 5 kg. Fuel, zone and discounts flip the winner. Compare all-in, including expected brokerage if the buyer should not see a bill.
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6
Print the matching customs form and keep the receipt
CN22, CN23 plus invoice, or a courier paperless invoice — values must match the label. Then track it. First 200 Rollo labels carry no Rollo service fee; postage is still due to the carrier.
Rollo Ship
Keep your current setup. Run one parcel through Rollo Ship.
Rollo Ship is free shipping software for Canada-origin and U.S.-origin labels in one account. Canada Post and UPS are built in. Connect FedEx and Purolator when you already hold those accounts. No monthly fee, no contract, no migration.
Every Rollo label earns Rollo Rewards points. First 200 labels carry no Rollo service fee, then the fee starts at 5¢ and falls to 1¢ at the VIP tier.
There is nothing to give up. Ship where you ship today, price the same box here, and keep the cheaper label. Carrier postage is always separate.
No credit card to start. Cancel anytime.
Canada Post — up to 58% off international rates (and up to 34% domestic) on the free plan, no volume minimum.- UPS — up to 76% off UPS Express® from Canada to the U.S. Discounts are off UPS daily rates, from Canada only, inclusive of applicable fuel and residential surcharge; not including other additional charges and taxes. Subject to change without notice.
- FedEx — connect your own FedEx account and bring those rates into the same comparison.
- Purolator — connect your own Purolator account for ground and express beside Canada Post and UPS.
Discounts off UPS daily rates. Rates are limited to shipping from Canada only. Rates and any applicable discounts are subject to change at any time without notice. Inclusive of applicable fuel and residential surcharge. Not including other additional applicable charges and taxes. UPS, the UPS brandmark, and the colour brown are trademarks of United Parcel Service of America, Inc. All rights reserved.
Go deeper
Go deeper into Canada shipping
Domestic
Cheapest way to ship within Canada
Regular, Expedited, Xpresspost and courier ground — no border, no CN23. A separate guide so customs math does not leak into a Toronto–Calgary label.
Read guide
Platform
Rollo Ship for Canada
How one free account compares Canada Post, UPS, FedEx and Purolator from a Canadian or a U.S. origin.
Read guide
Carrier
Canada Post in Rollo Ship
Built-in Canada Post rates, labels and tracking — up to 34% domestic and 58% international, no separate contract.
Read guide
Rewards
Rollo Rewards
First 200 labels at a $0 service fee, then 5¢ down to 1¢. Canadian shipments count toward every tier.
Read guideFAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to ship from Canada to the United States?
For most items under 2 kg that fit packet size limits, Canada Post Small Packet™ USA or Tracked Packet™ USA is the usual starting point. Over 2 kg, compare Expedited Parcel™ USA with UPS Standard®, FedEx International Ground® and Purolator Ground® U.S. on the same weight and dimensions. The cheapest label is the all-in rate after fuel and any expected brokerage — not the first number on a rate card.
Is the U.S. $800 de-minimis still available for commercial parcels from Canada?
No. The U.S. Section 321 de-minimis treatment for commercial shipments ended August 29, 2025. Low value no longer means duty-free, paper-light clearance. You still may owe $0 ordinary duty if the goods qualify under CUSMA and the importer claims origin, but that is an origin claim, not de-minimis.
Does CUSMA mean I never pay U.S. duty?
No. CUSMA can reduce ordinary duty to 0% on qualifying originating goods when the claim is filed correctly. It does not erase entry fees, brokerage, or a Section 338 listed-goods rate. IEEPA tariffs on Canadian goods were struck in February 2026 and the 10% surcharge expired July 24, 2026 — do not mix those expired add-ons into a current CUSMA answer.
When should I use a packet instead of a parcel or a courier?
Use a packet when the sealed item is at or under 2 kg and inside Canada Post packet dimensions. Packets are generally rated on actual weight, not volumetric weight. The moment you need a 30 kg box, a delivery guarantee, or a courier network, step up to Expedited Parcel™, Xpresspost™ or courier ground / express and compare.
What is volumetric weight on a shipment from Canada?
Volumetric weight is Length × Width × Height in centimetres, divided by 5,000 (confirm the divisor on the product you buy). Carriers bill the greater of that figure and the scale weight on most parcel and courier services. Small Packet™ and Tracked Packet™ generally do not use volumetric weight if you stay inside their limits.
Do I pay U.S. sales tax at the border?
No. U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not assess state sales tax on an inbound parcel. You may still see duty, merchandise-processing fees and brokerage. Those are not sales tax. Who pays them is your Incoterm (DDP versus buyer-paid).
Is Rollo Ship free for shipping from Canada?
Yes. There is no monthly subscription and no card required to start. Your first 200 labels have no Rollo service fee; after that the fee starts at 5¢ and can fall to 1¢ with Rollo Rewards. You still pay the carrier’s postage.
Where do I find the cheapest way to ship within Canada?
Use the separate within-Canada guide. Domestic labels do not use U.S. customs rules, CN23s or CUSMA claims, and the cheapest service mix is different. Read the cheapest way to ship within Canada guide for domestic Regular Parcel, Expedited Parcel, Xpresspost and courier ground.
You’ve seen what drives the price
Price your next from-Canada parcel before you print it
Keep your current software. Compare Canada Post, UPS, FedEx and Purolator on the same box, keep the cheaper label,
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