With more than 6,100 post offices located throughout Canada, there’s always a convenient way to send or pick up your parcels.
The cost of postage varies depending on the destination of the package as well as its weight.
Find out what are the most recent Canada postage rates here.
Who Is the Main Postal Operator?
Canada Post is the largest domestic shipper and delivers more than 1 million packages daily. The service also delivers mail to more than 16 million addresses sourced throughout post offices around Canada.
Canada Postage Rates and Costs Broken Down
In the next part of this article, I’ll review how much it costs to mail different-sized packages, including speedier options.
Standard Mail
Standard-size mail includes letters, postcards, and envelopes. It encompasses anything that weighs up to 30 grams or five sheets of paper.
Buying a postage stamp will set you back $1.07. However, you can get stamps in a booklet, dropping the price to $0.92 per stamp.
Non-Standard/Oversize Mail
For parcels that weigh more than 30 grams, the postage will cost more. Anything within the 30g-50g category costs around $1.30. The maximum amount of sheets of paper allowed is nine.
The maximum size of oversize mail is 380mm x 270mm. Anything larger will require the use of Canada Post’s parcel service.
The cost for non-standard mail depends on the item’s weight and how many sheets of paper it comprises. Here’s a breakdown.
- Items up to 100 grams and 20 pages cost $1.94 for delivery around Canada.
- Non-standard items weighing 100g-200g and up to 40 pages cost $3.19.
- The price for 200g-300g parcels increases to $4.44 for delivery across Canada.
- Mail weighing between 300g-400g costs $5.09.
- Non-standard mail weighing between 400g-500g costs $5.47.
Parcels
Items weighing over 500 grams don’t have a set rate. Instead, the price is determined based on the size of the parcel, where it’s going, and where you’re shipping it from.
A few rules of thumb when shipping a parcel include knowing that if it’s under 2 cm thick, even with the packaging, you could send it for the same price as a standard letter. Shipping parcels locally is expensive, sometimes even more costly than sending them internationally.
The reason for this is that Canada Post doesn’t have a domestic option without tracking, meaning customers are going to pay for that feature whether they want it or not.
When shipping a parcel, there are four options you can use depending on the delivery time needed. The quicker the turnaround time, the more money you’ll pay for shipping.
The four options include:
- Priority. Next-day delivery for local, regional or national areas. You’ll have access to delivery updates and tracking information. Priority is the fastest way to ship parcels, but it’s also the most expensive. Prices start at $20.08.
- Xpresspost. Next-day delivery for local and regional areas. Two days for national deliveries. You’ll have the same tracking updates available as priority shipments.
- Flat rate box. One to two day delivery within the local area, one to four days for regional delivery, and two to eight days for national. The price for the box depends on the size you need. Small boxes start at $17.99, medium costs $22.99, and large boxes come in at $29.99. No matter the size, all flat rate boxes should weigh less than five kilograms.
- Regular parcels take one to four days for local delivery, three to six for regional, and four to ten for national. Sending via regular service is the cheapest option, with the cost for items up to 750 grams at $9.67.
Before you decide how to send your parcel, you can take to Canada Post’s website and get an estimate of the cost to ship to your destination.
Packaging Your Parcel
To keep your package safe during the shipping process, here are some tips straight from Canada Post’s website.
- First, make sure you’re using a good-quality rigid cardboard box. If you’re reusing one, be sure to remove old labels and addresses.
- Wrap your item in tissue paper, bubble wrap, cardboard, or other soft material to protect it during shipping.
- Use shipping tape or reinforceable tape to ensure the package stays closed.
- Clearly label the container and make sure to include a return address.
Sending Items to the United States
Similar to mailing items within Canada, the price of shipping mail or parcels to the United States usually depends on its size, weight, and destination.
Standard-size postcards and letters must be at most 235mm x 120mm. Postage within the United States costs $1.30.
For non-standard mail, the price depends on the weight. Here’s a quick breakdown.
- Up to 100 grams cost $3.19 to send to the United States.
- Mail between 100g-200g costs $5.57 for U.S. delivery.
- Mail weighing 200g-500g costs $11.14 to deliver in the United States.
How To Address Your Mail
Properly addressing your mail and parcels will help cut down on lost packages or delivery time. Here are some easy steps to follow to make sure your parcel gets there in time.
- Write in clear, block letters.
- Place the sender’s name in the top left-hand corner, along with their address and company name, if needed.
- Write the recipient’s name and address in the center of the package. You can abbreviate directions like Northeast (NE) and street types – Avenue (AVE).
- Make sure to include the city, province, and postal code.
- Include other relevant information like apartment number, suite, or floor.
Conclusion
The cost of mailing a letter or package depends on its weight and shipping destination. In addition, you can pay even more if you need the parcel to arrive within a certain time.
Overall, when mailing any type of package, you can estimate the cost through various calculators on shipping sites like Canada Post.
In addition, make sure you know how to package and appropriately address your parcel to eliminate the chances of it getting lost in the mail.
Looking to learn other fun facts about Canadian life? Check out these other articles about everyday uses you probably never thought about.
