Shipping to Canada from the US: Tips and Requirements

Shipping from the US to Canada is international shipping, which means customs documentation on every package, potential Canadian duties, and taxes your customer may owe at delivery. Most shipments arrive in two to 15 days depending on carrier and service level. Rates vary by package weight, dimensions, and origin — see current carrier prices pulled live from Shippo below.

In this article

• Is shipping to Canada considered international?
• How much does it cost to ship to Canada?
• What customs forms do you need?
• How do Canadian duties and taxes work?
• What changed in 2025–2026: tariffs and trade tensions
• What can and can’t you ship to Canada?
• How long does shipping to Canada take?
• How to avoid customs delays
• FAQ

Is Shipping from the US to Canada Considered International Shipping?

Yes. The US and Canada share one of the world’s busiest trade corridors, but every package still has to clear the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Duties, taxes, and brokerage fees may all apply, along with customs paperwork that domestic shipments don’t require.

Under CUSMA (the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement), most US-manufactured goods ship to Canada duty-free. You still need the right paperwork, and your Canadian customers still pay Canadian sales tax.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship to Canada from the US?

Shipping costs depend on package weight, dimensions, carrier, service level, and origin-to-destination distance. The rates below were pulled live from Shippo on April 23, 2026, for an 8” × 6” × 4” package shipped from New York City to Toronto.

Shippo Rates: New York to Toronto (April 23, 2026)

Rates reflect Shippo’s discounted commercial pricing as of April 23, 2026. Rates vary by origin ZIP code, destination postal code, dimensional weight, and date of purchase. USPS First-Class Package International is limited to packages under 4.4 lbs. Always rate-shop at the time of label purchase.

UPS and DHL rates vary by carrier account and negotiated contract. Connect your own account in Shippo to rate-shop across all your carriers in one place.

Which service is cheapest for shipping to Canada?

For packages under five pounds, FedEx International Connect Plus offers the lowest rate through Shippo at $19.18, with roughly four-day delivery to major Canadian cities. That’s often cheaper than USPS Priority Mail International and nearly four times faster.

If speed doesn’t matter, USPS First-Class Package International costs less for packages under 4.4 lbs, though transit averages around 15 days and tracking is limited.

FedEx International Priority is worth the premium for urgent shipments, reaching Toronto in approximately one business day and staying competitive for packages up to five pounds.

For most small-to-medium e-commerce packages, FedEx through Shippo is the right default, though it’s worth rate-shopping at the time of purchase since fuel surcharges and zone pricing shift rates more than most merchants expect.

What Customs Forms Are Required to Ship to Canada?

All commercial shipments from the US to Canada require customs documentation, and which forms you need depends on the shipment value and how you’re shipping.

For USPS postal shipments:

USPS generates customs documentation electronically for all international shipments. For low-value personal gifts and samples, USPS uses a basic customs declaration (equivalent to a CN22 label). For commercial e-commerce shipments and packages over two kilograms, USPS files the fuller declaration (equivalent to a CN23 form), which covers virtually all business shipments. Both generate automatically when you purchase a USPS international label through Shippo or USPS.com.

For all commercial carrier shipments (USPS, FedEx, UPS, DHL):

• Commercial invoice — Lists item descriptions, quantities, declared values, and country of origin. Required for all commercial goods.
• Canada Customs Invoice (CI1) — The standard CBSA form for shipments over CAD $2,500. For shipments under that threshold, a commercial invoice with all required fields (item descriptions, declared values, country of origin) is typically sufficient. CBSA may request additional documentation for any shipment that triggers inspection.

HS codes are mandatory. USPS now requires a minimum 6-digit Harmonized System (HS) code on all international commercial shipments; FedEx, UPS, and DHL have enforced this for years. Canada uses 10-digit HS codes, and while six digits meets the minimum, 10-digit codes reduce the chance of a clearance hold. Use the Government of Canada’s Canada Tariff Finder to verify the right code for your product.

Declare the actual value of goods. Undervaluing a shipment to avoid duties is customs fraud, and CBSA can seize the package, levy fines, and flag your account for extra scrutiny on future shipments.

How Do Canadian Duties and Taxes Work?

What your Canadian customers owe at the border depends on how you ship and the package value.

What is Canada’s de minimis threshold?

Canada uses different thresholds depending on whether a shipment arrives by postal service or commercial courier.

Courier shipments (FedEx, UPS, DHL):

• Under CAD $40: Exempt from both duties and taxes
• CAD $40–CAD $150: Exempt from customs duties; Canadian sales tax (GST/HST/PST) applies
• Over CAD $150: Full duties plus Canadian sales tax apply

Postal shipments (USPS → Canada Post):

• Under CAD $20: Exempt from both duties and taxes
• Over CAD $20: Duties and taxes apply

For most e-commerce shipments, commercial couriers give you a much higher duty-free threshold: CAD $150 versus CAD $20. If your average order value falls in that range, shipping via FedEx or UPS means your Canadian customers avoid unexpected charges at delivery.

What sales taxes apply to shipments entering Canada?

Canadian sales tax varies by province. The federal Goods and Services Tax (GST) applies to all imports at 5 percent. Some provinces combine their provincial tax with the federal GST into a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST); others charge both separately.

*Nova Scotia reduced its HST from 15 percent to 14 percent on April 1, 2025.

Tax is calculated on the Canadian-dollar equivalent of the declared item value, plus any duties owed.

What are brokerage fees?

Brokerage fees are what carriers charge to process customs clearance on behalf of the recipient. They’re separate from duties and taxes, so customers often don’t see them coming.

• Canada Post: A flat CAD $9.95 handling fee per taxable or dutiable item
• FedEx and UPS: Variable fees based on shipment value—can range from $10 to $50 or more for higher-value packages
• USPS packages: Typically handed off to Canada Post for final delivery, which means the CAD $9.95 handling fee often applies

If you want to limit customer frustration, look into Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) shipping, where you collect estimated duties and taxes at checkout and remit them so the customer faces no surprise fees at the door.

Can CUSMA eliminate duties on my shipments?

Yes. Under CUSMA (which replaced NAFTA in 2020), most goods manufactured in the US or made with qualifying US-origin materials ship duty-free to Canada. To claim CUSMA benefits, include a certification of origin with the shipment.

For shipments under $2,500 USD, an informal statement on the commercial invoice works, such as: “I certify that the goods in this shipment qualify as originating goods under CUSMA.” Larger shipments typically require a formal CUSMA Certificate of Origin.

CUSMA applies to commercial courier shipments and formal entries, but the duty-free benefit only kicks in if you include the certification.

What Changed in 2025-2026: Tariffs and Trade Tensions

Two policy changes in 2025 directly affect how US-to-Canada shipments clear customs and what duties apply.

The US moved to restrict its $800 de minimis exemption (2025). Until 2025, goods entering the US valued under $800 moved duty-free under a long-standing de minimis threshold. The US targeted this exemption through executive action in 2025, initially for goods of Chinese origin, with broader restrictions signaled. This primarily affects packages shipped from Canada to the US, but it reflects broader tightening of cross-border trade rules across the corridor.

25 percent US tariffs on many Canadian goods. In early 2025, the US imposed 25 percent tariffs on a broad range of Canadian imports. Canada responded with counter-tariffs on select US goods. By September 2025, Canada removed counter-tariffs on most US consumer goods, though tariffs on US steel, aluminum, and automotive goods remained. Trade negotiations are still ongoing as of April 2026.

For most e-commerce goods (clothing, home goods, electronics, small consumer products), the practical impact in 2026 is limited. CUSMA-qualifying US goods still move duty-free within Canada’s courier de minimis thresholds. Check the current CBSA tariff schedules before shipping high-value goods into categories that may carry additional duties.

What Can and Can’t You Ship to Canada?

Canada prohibits or restricts certain goods at the border, and when CBSA seizes a prohibited shipment, the shipper is usually on the hook.

Prohibited (will be seized):

• Firearms, explosives, and related accessories without proper permits
• Obscene or hate-based material
• Counterfeit goods
• Unlicensed pharmaceuticals
• Used mattresses (without a fumigation certificate)

Restricted or heavily regulated:

• Food and agricultural products — Phytosanitary certificates may be required; many fresh foods are prohibited entirely
• Cosmetics — Health Canada revised its Ingredient Hotlist in February 2025, restricting additional synthetic dyes and preservatives. Some cosmetics legal to sell in the US cannot be imported into Canada.
• Lithium batteries over 100 Wh — Requires a special handling declaration with all carriers
• Alcohol and tobacco — Subject to provincial import permit requirements
• Plants and seeds — May require permits from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

Common e-commerce items that are fine: Clothing, most electronics, books, household goods, jewelry, sporting goods, and toys generally move to Canada without restriction beyond standard customs documentation.

When in doubt, the CBSA restricted and prohibited goods page is the authoritative reference.

How Long Does Shipping to Canada Take?

Transit times to major Canadian cities vary significantly by service level, and remote areas can add one to three days on top of that.

Published transit times don’t include customs clearance, and most shipments clear same-day or within two business days. Incomplete documentation, missing HS codes, or flagged items can stretch that to a week or more, which makes getting the forms right just as important as picking the right carrier.

How to Avoid Customs Delays When Shipping to Canada

Customs holds are usually preventable, and most come down to the same five mistakes:

1. Missing or incorrect HS codes. Include a valid 6-digit HS code on every commercial shipment (10-digit preferred for Canada). Use the Canada Tariff Finder to verify.
2. Vague item descriptions. “Gift” or “merchandise” will likely trigger an inspection. Be specific: “Women’s cotton knit sweater, blue, size medium” is better than “clothing.”
3. Declared value below actual value. Customs agents recognize undervaluation. Declare the actual transaction value.
4. Missing CUSMA certification. If your goods qualify for duty-free treatment under CUSMA, include the origin certification. Without it, your customer may be charged duties they didn’t owe.
5. Prohibited or restricted items without documentation. If an item requires a permit, the permit needs to travel with the shipment.

Shippo generates customs forms automatically and flags incomplete documentation before you buy the label, not after the package is already at the border.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to ship a package to Canada from the US? Rates start around $19 for a one-pound package from New York to Toronto via FedEx International Connect Plus through Shippo (as of April 2026). USPS Priority Mail International starts around $42 for the same package. Rates increase with weight, dimensions, and distance from the US border.

What customs duties will my customer pay when receiving a shipment from the US? Under CUSMA, most US-manufactured goods ship duty-free to Canada. For courier shipments (FedEx, UPS, DHL), packages valued under CAD $40 are fully exempt from duties and taxes. Packages between CAD $40 and CAD $150 are duty-free but subject to Canadian sales tax (5 percent federal GST plus provincial sales tax). Above CAD $150, both duties and tax apply.

What is the cheapest way to ship to Canada from the US? FedEx International Connect Plus through Shippo is typically the most affordable option for packages under five pounds, combining low rates with four-day transit. For packages where delivery time is less important than cost, USPS First-Class Package International offers the lowest starting price but takes 12-21 days and has limited tracking.

Does my Canadian customer pay taxes when receiving a package from the US? Yes, if the shipment exceeds CAD $40 via courier (or CAD $20 via postal service). Canadian sales tax (GST, HST, or PST depending on the province) applies at delivery unless the merchant has arranged Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) at checkout to collect and remit taxes upfront.

What customs forms do I need to ship to Canada? Commercial e-commerce shipments need a commercial invoice with accurate item descriptions, quantities, declared values, and country of origin. USPS generates customs documentation electronically at label purchase, and commercial shipments automatically get the CN23 equivalent (no manual form selection needed). For shipments over CAD $2,500, a Canada Customs Invoice (CI1) is required. All commercial shipments need a 6-digit HS code as of September 2025.

Ship to Canada with Shippo

Most merchants get tripped up by the same three things: forgetting the HS code, undervaluing goods, and skipping the CUSMA certification for qualifying products. Get those right and most shipments go through without a hitch.

Shippo generates customs documentation automatically and lets you compare rates across 40+ carriers in one place (USPS, FedEx, DHL, and more), so you’re not opening five carrier portals to find the best option for each shipment.