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Courier services have made it incredibly easy for business owners to ship products to their customers. However, sometimes, you have to look for a shipping method that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket, even if you’re just shipping from the US to Canada. If your business requires you to ship to Canada quite often, it’s a good idea to look for a method that is economical and sustainable in the long term.
Shipping to Canada
When shipping packages to Canada, you have to keep several things in mind before signing up for a courier service. You have to consider the cost, delivery time, and the urgency of the shipment. Let’s look at some of the basics of shipping to Canada.
Cost
The cheapest way to ship a 5lb package to Canada is through the USPS flat rate boxes. A small flat-rate box will cost about $27.90 to ship to Canada. The shipping cost to Canada starts at the standard rate of about $30, which takes six to ten days for the package to get delivered.
Beyond that, the rate of a 5lb shipment will depend on how fast you want it to get delivered. For example, shipping an overnight package to Canada can cost up to $170.
Delivery Time
The delivery time for a package to reach Canada depends on your preferred courier service. A shipment can take 1 to 25 days to get delivered to Canada. Many courier services like FedEx, UPS, and DHL provide next-day shipping, but please remember that they would be much more expensive than USPS.
Shipping Rules
When you’re shipping to Canada, you must keep some essential shipping rules you must keep in mind. You need to follow these rules to make sure that your operation runs smoothly. For example, you should complete the custom declaration forms. Make sure that the details entered in the forms are accurate.
The next factor you need to keep in mind is that there are some restrictions on what is allowed to be shipped to Canada. Ensure you are well aware of shipping restrictions to avoid any inconvenience. Remember to go through the protocol thoroughly so that there are no misunderstandings.
Furthermore, keep your courier service informed, in case you are shipping fragile items. If you’re shipping fragile products, you may not be able to use the cheapest way of shipping to Canada. This is because fragile items require special care in being handled.
Taxes and Duties
If you’re shipping cross-border to Canada, you have to make sure you’re aware of all the Canadian taxes and duties that may be due. For example, you must pay 5% tax on shipments over 20 CAD. This is applicable to several categories like beauty, fashion, health, home appliances, home décor, and luggage.
While you need to pay taxes on most shipments, some products won’t be applicable for duties. Some of these are watches, cameras, dry food, supplements, etc.
Cheapest Shipping Option From the US To Canada
When you have an eCommerce business from the US, you must understand the different shipping rates to Canada. As we mentioned, the most economical way of shipping to Canada is via the USPS small flat-rate box. However, there are other options available for business owners.
For example, you can use FedEx to deliver your shipments. You can sign up for FedEx International Economy for $64.56 with a standard delivery time of 6-10 days. If you want to go for a cheaper option, you can use USPS. It costs $32.59 to ship with USPS Priority International. If you want to use UPS, you can avail of the UPS Worldwide Expedited package for $66.84.
FAQs
What can’t be mailed to Canada?
You can’t mail items like counterfeit goods, currency, explosives, firearms, and vehicles to Canada.
Does USPS flat rate ship to Canada?
Yes, you can opt for USPS flat rate to ship to Canada. The USPS flat rate depends on the size of the envelope or the box you ship to Canada.
How are customs fees calculated in Canada?
The customs fees in Canada depend on the type of product you are shipping. For example, fashion, beauty, health, home decor, home appliances, and luggage products will have duties.
In a nutshell, if you ship to Canada frequently and are looking for an affordable shipping method, you should start with the USPS flat-rate package. However, please remember that the total cost of shipping to Canada will depend on several factors like size, insurance, distance, courier service, etc.
