In a world more connected than ever, we can send messages with the click of a mouse anywhere in the world.
But sometimes you still have to send actual, physical mail internationally. For many people living in the U.S., that includes our next-door neighbors in Canada.
But does USPS ship to Canada? Here is what I discovered!
Does USPS Ship To Canada?
The United States Postal Service offers a variety of international shipping services, all of which will get your mail to Canada. The services range in price from $1.30 for the least expensive option to $67.80 and up for the most expensive. Tracking is available for purchase or included with all international shipments.
To learn more about how you ship to Canada with USPS, how much it costs, what types of items you can ship, and how to track your shipment to Canada, keep reading!
How Do You Ship To Canada With USPS?
Shipping to Canada with USPS sounds intimidating, but following the proper steps is no more difficult than shipping within the U.S.
Choosing The Right USPS International Service For You
For starters, review which USPS international service best fits your needs.
Your options are:
- Global Express Guaranteed – Delivery time of 1-3 business days, up to 70 lbs., starts at $67.80; USPS Tracking included
- Priority Mail Express International – Delivery time of 3-5 days, up to 70 lbs., starts at $45.95; USPS Tracking included
- Priority Mail International – Delivery time of 6 to 10 business days, up to 70 lbs., starts at $28.50; USPS Tracking included
- First-Class Mail International – Delivery time varies, letters and envelopes up to 4 lbs., starts at $1.30; USPS Tracking may be added on for an additional fee
- First-Class Package International – Delivery time varies; packages up to 4 lbs., starts at $14.25; USPS Tracking may be added on for an additional fee
As you can see, what service you can use depends on what you are shipping.
Unfortunately, if you are trying to send something over 70 lbs., you will have to choose a different parcel shipper.
In my opinion, if you are a first-time international shipper, it is easiest to bring your mail piece or package to the post office.
The postal worker can talk to you about which option best suits your needs and budget and answer any questions.
Online Label Printing
Once you get the hang of things, you can even take advantage of USPS’s online label printing.
This allows you to input all the information they’d collect at the post office (weight, destination, etc.) and print the label from your home.
You can then arrange for a parcel pick-up by USPS – it’s free and ensures your package gets on its way quickly!
Important USPS-to-Canada Shipping Details
- If you are shipping something that weighs more than 1 lb. (16 oz.), you will have to fill out a customs form. You can find an example here.
- If you are sending something that was made entirely in the U.S., you can ship it to Canada tariff-free.
However, if it was not made in the U.S. or some parts are not from the U.S., the Canadian recipient has to pay a tariff on the shipment.
- Your Canadian recipient might also have to pay goods and services taxes on shipments. You can find out more about that here.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship To Canada With USPS?
The cost of shipping something to Canada from the U.S. via USPS depends on which service you choose, the size and weight of your shipment, and whether you choose any add-ons.
The base prices for USPS shipping to Canada are:
- Global Express Guaranteed – $67.80; USPS Tracking included
- Priority Mail Express International – $45.95; USPS Tracking included
- Priority Mail International – $28.50; USPS Tracking included
- First-Class Mail International –$1.30; USPS Tracking may be added on for an additional fee
- First-Class Package International –$14.25; USPS Tracking may be added on for an additional fee
Again, these are base prices, which apply to each service’s cheapest option.
The heavier your item (or, the faster you want the item to reach its destination), the more you will pay.
Add-on services like Certificate of Mailing, Return Receipt, and Registered Mail are available for an additional fee.
You can find a helpful chart with international shipping add-on prices here.
Finally, USPS offers a tool on its website to help you calculate the price of shipping your item to Canada.
You can find that here; input Canada as your destination country and your own information (like zip code, date, and time you intend to mail).
Choose which type of mailpiece you’re sending – postcard, flat rate envelope, flat rate boxes, or customize the dimensions – and USPS will return a good estimate of what it will cost.
What Types Of Mail Can You Ship To Canada With USPS?
You can ship most items that weigh less than 70 lbs. with USPS, as long as they are not on this list of prohibited items:
- Flammable items
- Furs
- Lighters
- All alcoholic beverages, including wine
- Margarine
- Pens valued at over $5
- Gold coins
- Tobacco
- Firearms
- Some vaping liquids
For the complete list of items prohibited by the Canadian government for shipment into the country, you can see this page.
So most goods, including apparel, electronics, homemade items, household goods, and media, like books and music, are permitted to ship into Canada from the U.S.
Can You Ship To A P.O. Box In Canada With USPS?
You can ship something via USPS to a Canadian P.O. box, though it might be a bit confusing on the tracking info and for the recipient.
For example, one Etsy seller accidentally mailed to a Canadian P.O. box, only to see “Delivery attempted, holding, will contact customer” on the tracking info.
A commenter on that thread chimed in and remarked that the Canadian post offices will “put a notice in the box” for the customer to retrieve that mailpiece.
This seems to apply to packages that are too big for the P.O. box.
But parcels that fit should be delivered to the P.O. box, no problem!
Can You Track USPS From US To Canada?
Some of the USPS international services already include tracking in the shipping fee.
Global Express Guaranteed, Priority Mail Express International, and Priority Mail International all come with USPS tracking automatically.
You could find that tracking number at the bottom of your receipt (if you went into the post office) or with your e-receipt or confirmation email if you purchased your label online.
For USPS’s other international shipping services, you will have to add tracking for an additional fee on top of the shipping price.
These services include First-Class Mail International, First-Class Package International, and the Airmail M-Bags.
To learn more, you can also read our related posts on if USPS updates tracking, if USPS delivers on Sundays, and if USPS sends text messages.
Conclusion
USPS does ship to Canada, as part of its robust offering of international services.
Customers can choose from a variety of shipping options, like the super-fast (and most expensive) Global Express Guarantee.
Or you can send a postcard to friends and family in Canada for just $1.30 via their First Class International rates.