🇨🇦 Shipping to Canada from the United States
CAD 20 by mail, CAD 40 and CAD 150 by courier, and a new round of counter-tariffs to check
Quick answer
- How long: 1 to 3 days by express, 3 to 7 days by ground, 6 to 10 days by USPS Priority Mail International.
- What's free: by courier, duty-free to CAD 150 and tax-free to CAD 40 on qualifying goods. By mail, the limit is only CAD 20 for both. Gifts from a friend or relative are free to CAD 60.
- Watch out: Canada added counter-tariffs on listed US-origin goods on 8 September 2026.
- Final mile: Canada Post for USPS, with a CAD 9.95 handling fee when charges are due.
Courier limits
Duty / tax
Postal limit
Duty and tax
Tax rate
GST or HST by province
Delivery
Express to postal
Shipping Rates to Canada
| Carrier & Service | 1 lb | 5 lbs | 10 lbs | 20 lbs | Delivery Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS First-Class Intl | $26.00 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 7-10 days |
| USPS Priority Mail Intl | $43.55 | $59.05 | $86.25 | $140.65 | 6-10 days |
| USPS Priority Mail Express Intl | $67.05 | $92.30 | $132.80 | $213.50 | 3-5 days |
| UPS Standard | $35.00 | $52.50 | $85.00 | $145.00 | 3-7 days |
| FedEx Ground | $32.00 | $48.00 | $78.00 | $135.00 | 5-7 days |
| FedEx Priority | $55.00 | $88.00 | $145.00 | $245.00 | 1-3 days |
USPS prices are official retail rates from Notice 123 (effective October 4, 2026). UPS, FedEx, and DHL figures are rough list-price estimates before fuel and other surcharges, not quotes, and a live quote can be much higher or lower. Delivery times exclude customs delays unless stated.
Reference list-price estimates before fuel and demand surcharges, duties and taxes, not quotes. Ground rows are road services from the lower 48; remote postal codes cost more.
How long shipping to Canada takes
Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver are within a day or two of the border by express, and ground services from the northern US states can arrive in 3 days. Calgary and the Prairies usually take a day longer than Ontario. Northern Manitoba, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut can take weeks because freight moves by air or seasonal road. USPS parcels hand over to Canada Post on arrival: Priority Mail International usually takes 6 to 10 days. USPS has stopped accepting Canada mail during past Canada Post strikes, so check USPS service alerts if a dispute is in the news.
Why the carrier changes what's due
Canada has two sets of low-value rules. CBSA Customs Notice CN20-18 gives higher courier limits for shipments from the US and Mexico. Mail items keep the old limit.
| Value (CAD) | By courier | By mail |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 20 | Free | Free |
| 20.01 to 40 | Free | Tax, and duty unless CUSMA-origin, plus CAD 9.95 |
| 40.01 to 150 | Tax only, plus broker's fee | Tax, and duty unless CUSMA-origin, plus CAD 9.95 |
| Over 150 | Tax and duty if not CUSMA-origin, plus broker's fee | Same, plus CAD 9.95 |
Tobacco, alcohol and some other items do not benefit, and gifts cannot be combined with the CAD 20 exemption. A CAD 200 gift is taxed on only the CAD 140 above the CAD 60 allowance. The gift must come personally from a friend or relative with a card or note, not from a business.
Counter-tariffs: from 8 September 2026 Canada applies 15%, 25% and 50% surtaxes to a listed set of US-origin goods, including steel and aluminum products, appliances, some electronics, dairy, agricultural equipment and pulp and paper. Check the Department of Finance list before quoting landed cost on those goods.
Sales tax by province
| Province | Rate on imports |
|---|---|
| Ontario | 13% HST |
| Nova Scotia | 14% HST (15% before April 2025) |
| New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, PEI | 15% HST |
| Quebec | 5% GST + 9.975% QST |
| British Columbia | 5% GST + 7% PST on taxable goods |
| Saskatchewan | 5% GST + 6% PST on taxable goods |
| Manitoba | 5% GST + 7% RST on taxable goods |
| Alberta and the territories | 5% GST |
Example: a CAD 100 US-made sweater to Toronto. By courier: HST CAD 13 plus any brokerage fee. By USPS: HST CAD 13 plus CAD 9.95. The courier fee is often higher, so ask before choosing. Details in duties and taxes.
Prohibited or tightly controlled
- Firearms and many weapons without permits
- Cannabis, including CBD, without authorization
- Endangered species products
- Fresh meat and many dairy products without permits
Restricted
- Alcohol: provincial liquor boards control imports
- Tobacco: excise rules
- Prescription medicines
- Plants and seeds: Canadian Food Inspection Agency rules
Tips for Canada
- Compare brokerage, not just postage: a cheap ground label can come with a brokerage charge larger than the tax. UPS and FedEx publish fee tables; check before shipping.
- Claim CUSMA origin on the invoice: a country-of-origin statement on goods made in the US or Mexico supports duty-free entry.
- Use the full postal code: six characters in the A1A 1A1 pattern. Rural routes can also need a civic address for couriers.
- French labels: consumer products sold in Canada need bilingual labeling, and Quebec is stricter. This affects sellers, not private gifts.
- Letters and documents: USPS First-Class Mail International is usually the cheapest, and documents are not dutiable.
From elsewhere?
The CAD 40 and CAD 150 courier limits exist for US and Mexican shipments. Parcels from Europe, Asia or Australia generally get only CAD 20, by mail or courier. Shipping the other way? See shipping to the US. For the neighbor to the south, compare the Mexico guide.
Canada shipping questions
What's the cheapest way to ship 2 lbs to Canada?
USPS First-Class Package International Service up to 4 lb is often cheapest, or use the flat rate comparison if the box is dense.
Do I need a customs form?
Yes for goods. USPS requires electronic customs data; see the customs forms guide.
Why is UPS brokerage so high?
Courier services include customs entry in the delivery, and the fee scales with value. Some services include brokerage; others bill it separately.
Can I send a birthday gift duty free?
Yes up to CAD 60 from a friend or relative. Include a card.