🇲🇽 Shipping to Mexico from the USA
US$50 is the line that matters by courier, 16% IVA applies above it, and the postal route is a separate gamble
Quick answer
- How long: 2 to 3 days by express to main cities, 2 to 7 by ground, 1 to 3 weeks by USPS.
- What's free: by registered courier from the US or Canada, goods up to about US$50 enter free of duty and IVA under USMCA article 7.8.
- Above that: plan on 16% IVA, plus duty or a simplified flat rate decided by the courier's entry type.
- Final mile: Correos de México for USPS; UPS, FedEx, DHL and Estafeta for couriers.
Courier limit
US or Canada origin
IVA
On taxable imports
Delivery
Express to postal
Best fit
Up to 20 lb, near border
Shipping Rates to Mexico
| Carrier & Service | 1 lb | 5 lbs | 10 lbs | 20 lbs | Delivery Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS First-Class Intl | $26.60 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 7-21 days |
| USPS Priority Mail Intl | $61.45 | $78.55 | $105.45 | $159.15 | 6-10 days |
| USPS Priority Mail Express Intl | $90.90 | $109.20 | $136.50 | $191.75 | 3-5 days |
| UPS Ground to Mexico | $28.00 | $42.00 | $65.00 | $105.00 | 3-5 days |
| FedEx International Ground | $32.00 | $48.00 | $75.00 | $125.00 | 2-7 days |
| DHL Express | $55.00 | $82.00 | $132.00 | $232.00 | 2-3 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 cross by road and are fastest to border states.
How long shipping to Mexico takes
Tijuana, Ciudad Juárez, Monterrey and other northern cities are often reached in 2 to 4 days by ground from Texas or California. Mexico City and Guadalajara take 3 to 5. Cancún, Oaxaca and Chiapas take longer, and addresses outside courier coverage may get an extended-area fee or be handed to a local partner. USPS Priority Mail International normally takes 6 to 10 days to arrive, but Correos de México's domestic delivery varies widely, so First-Class parcels can run to three weeks. See how long shipping takes.
What Mexican customs charges
Mexico has tightened its courier rules since 2025. Rule 3.7.35 of the foreign trade rules (published with SAT) sets the simplified route for couriers, and the flat rate for most countries rose to 33.5% from 19%. Shipments from the US and Canada are handled separately, under USMCA article 7.8.
- Up to about US$50 by registered courier from the US or Canada: no duty and no IVA.
- Roughly US$50 to US$117: sources disagree. Published summaries describe a low flat rate, duty-free treatment with IVA due, or a 17% to 19% simplified rate. Ask the courier before you promise a landed cost.
- Above that: normal entry with duty of 0% to 20%+ (0% for USMCA-qualifying goods), customs processing, and 16% IVA calculated on value plus duty.
- By mail: a postal parcel is assessed by Mexican customs at the postal office, often with a simplified payment form. It can arrive free, or the recipient may need to pay at a post office.
Planning example: a US$300 pair of boots with a USMCA origin statement. Duty 0%, IVA 16% of about US$300 = US$48, plus a clearance fee. The same boots made in Asia could pay a tariff of 20% or higher first, so origin matters. Sellers and recipients can run the numbers in the duty calculator above. The commercial invoice guide covers the origin statement.
Prohibited
- E-cigarettes and vaping devices
- Used clothing in commercial quantities
- Lottery tickets and gambling materials
- Firearms, ammunition and replicas
Restricted
- Medicines: COFEPRIS rules
- Electronics and appliances for sale: NOM compliance
- Food, plants and animal products: SENASICA permits
- Cosmetics and supplements
Tips for Mexico
- Give an RFC or CURP: couriers often require the recipient's tax or population ID to file the import. Businesses need an RFC.
- Do not split orders to stay under US$50: carriers and customs can combine parcels sent to one address, and false values cause seizures.
- Write the colonia: a Mexican address needs street, number, interior, colonia, postal code, municipality and state.
- Check extended-area status: ask for the surcharge on non-urban postal codes before quoting a buyer.
- Use Spanish descriptions when you can: "regalo" for genuine gifts, "muestra sin valor comercial" for samples. They do not change the value rule.
From elsewhere?
From Europe or Asia, the US$50 courier rule does not apply. Non-US and non-Canadian parcels face the higher flat rate or a full entry, and transit is several days longer. Canada gets the USMCA treatment. Going north? Shipping to the US covers the reverse lane, where the old US$800 exemption no longer applies.
Mexico shipping questions
Is the US$50 limit also for gifts?
It is a value rule on the shipment. We found no separate general gift allowance for parcels from abroad, so plan on the same limit.
Why is ground so cheap to Mexico?
A truck crossing at Laredo or Otay Mesa costs far less per pound than air. Compare USPS vs UPS.
Can I use USPS?
Yes for many parcels. Tracking on the Mexican side is less detailed, so insure what matters; see insurance options.
Does USMCA make everything duty free?
No. It covers goods that meet origin rules, and IVA still applies.