Guide to Canada Post Shipping Rates for eCommerce Businesses

Do you have a small or startup online eCommerce business in Canada and shipping customers’ orders to various parts of the country? 

If yes, have you already sorted out the two key elements – shipping speed and shipping expenses? 

Since Canada has one of the fastest-growing eCommerce markets, it is intensely competitive. Here apart from quality products, sellers also try to attract customers’ attention by offering fast shipping for either free or at low cost. A Shopify study shows that 32% of customers abandoned their shopping carts because the estimated shipping time was too long. 

However, while offering free or cheap shipping, you also have to boost your profit margin to survive and grow your business. Check out the rates if you are looking for cheap shipping in Canada.

The good news is, as a seller, you can rely on Canada’s national courier Canada Post for efficient shipping. 

Canada Post shipping rates are affordable and it can deliver a huge number of packages. Also, it is the only carrier that can deliver parcels to all the addresses in Canada.

Why Canada Post may work for Your eCommerce Business?

Canada Post is not an average national courier service – it’s leading the pack in shipping in Canada With a huge network of 6,200 postal offices spread across the country, Canada Post has access to every corner of the country. 

Canada Post’s eCommerce shipping is not only affordable but also flexible and convenient.  

Not only domestic shipping, Canada Post also does cross-border deliveries. Besides shipping to US addresses, Canada Post delivers packages to more than 190 countries worldwide. 

Additionally, the carriers offer features like full tracking, signature confirmation, and more to ensure your package reaches its destination quickly and securely. 

Canada Post package shipping rates are wallet-friendly and its delivery timeline will fit your schedule. You can check their range of shipping services, features, and rates to pick the perfect option for your eCommerce store.  

How Can You Get Benefits of Canada Post Small Business Program?

Keeping in mind the needs of small business owners regarding eCommerce, shipping, and marketing, Canada Post has designed a Small Business program. This program will help you do your business seamlessly and affordably.

• The membership for this program is free and there are no hidden fees.

• You can send lightweight parcels by paying less. Small Business members get up to 15% discount on lightweight parcels until May 26, 2024. You don’t need any promo code.
• If you ship more than 25 parcels in a week, you could qualify for a commercial account. You will receive volume-based discounts and get to use advanced shipping software and tools.

Check the Canada Post’s Small Business page for more details.

If you are looking for alternative to Canada Post for your small business, check out your options here.

You can easily calculate your potential shipping cost by using the Canada Post shipping rates calculator.

Features of Canada Post Shipping

Canada Post offers a wide range of features and benefits with its shipping services. Here are the most prominent features:

• Flat Rate Fees: You can get flat-rate shipping boxes online in packs of 12. You can use these boxes to send packages to any address in Canada, as long as they weigh less than 5kg. Also, the boxes come in small, medium, and large sizes to cover all your shipping needs.

• Tracking Feature: Canada Post offers free tracking services. With this feature, you can keep an eye on your parcels and manage them. Also, you can get the status of your package through email, phone, or SMS.

• Collect on Delivery: With Canada Post shipping, customers can pay for their packages when they receive them. The sender can collect up to $5,000 from the customer at the time of delivery. The sender needs to pay a $7.25 COD fee plus the shipping fees for this service.

• Confirming Signature: Canada Post offers signature and ID confirmation with all types of shipping. It means that the carrier will deliver the package after getting the recipient’s signature. You can also get a signature on a hard-copy after the delivery.

• Insurance Coverage: Canada Post offers basic liability coverage for certain shipping services. You can even purchase extra liability coverage for your shipment. Canada Post shipping insurance rates for Regular Parcels, Flat Rate Box, Xpresspost, and Priority shipping include liability coverage up to $100 and additional coverage up to $5,000. 

• Overseas Shipping: Canada Post delivers packages to other countries, like the US and other places around the world. Besides, you can get affordable Canada Post international shipping rates. Check out ShippingChimp’s US rates.

Types of Shipping Services of Canada Post

Regular Parcel

Canada Post’s basic shipping service is Regular Parcels. The delivery timeline of packages to local cities or towns is between 1 and 3 business days. 

For shipping parcels to regional areas, the delivery timeline is between 3 and 6 business days. 

Shipping packages nationally will take between 4 and 10 business days.

Before sending parcels via Regular shipping, you need to print shipping labels as per your package weight and dimensions or use stamps. 

Sending packages via Regular Parcel will be cheap. For instance, if you send a parcel weighing 1 lbs from Calgary to Toronto, you will pay around $15.97. However, you can send the parcel at half this rate ($7.41) through ShippingChimp.

The Regular Parcel is a low-cost shipping option for small eCommerce stores that send packages individually instead of bulk shipments. While using this standard and affordable shipping, ensure that your customers know that it has a longer delivery window. 

Through Regular Parcels, packages move slower than other types of shipping while moving from one major city to another. 

Also, delivery delays are likely during the peak holiday season, harsh weather, breakdowns, accidents, or other unavoidable circumstances. 

Key Features:

• Canada Post’s Regular Parcel shipping has the most affordable rates for delivering to domestic destinations.
• Shipping to local towns and cities takes from 1 to 3 business days, shipping to regional addresses takes 3 to 6 business days, and shipping to national addresses takes 4 to 10 business days.
• Regular Parcel offers the option of signature during delivery and identity paid.

Flat Rate Box

Canada Post’s flat-rate box shipping is for personal shippers and businesses. You can purchase these boxes in bulk from any Canada Post office. 

Canada Post shipping boxes rates are based on sizes: extra small (24.1 x 16.5 x 8.9 cm) for $16.99, Small (35cm x 26 cm x 5cm) for $19.99, medium (39 cm x 26 cm x 12 cm) for $24.99, and large (40 cm x 30 cm x 19 cm) for $32.99. All the sizes of the box can carry a maximum weight up to 5 kg.

Through a flat rate box, shipping to local cities/towns takes 1 to 2 days, to regional addresses takes 1 to 4 days, and to national addresses takes 2 to 8 days. 

Additionally, flat-rate box shipping offers an on-time delivery guarantee, tracking/delivery confirmation, and delivery updates. 

Key Features:

• A flat rate box is one of the most economical and fastest ways of shipping by Canada Post for domestic destinations.
• Parcel delivery to a local address takes 1 to 2 days, to a regional address it takes 1 to 4 days, and to a national address it takes 2 to 8 days.
• The liability coverage is available up to $100 and additional coverage up to $5,000.
• Both signature and hard-copy signatures are available at delivery.

Xpresspost

The Xpresspost shipping of Canada Post delivers packages the next day to local cities and towns. To regional addresses too, delivery happens the next day. To national addresses, it takes 2 days to deliver a package.  

Sending parcels through Xpresspost comes with guaranteed delivery on time, confirmation on tracking and delivery, and regular updates on delivery. 

You will also get liability coverage up to $100, up to $5,000 additional liability coverage, and the collect-on-delivery feature.

There are also signature services available with this type of shipping. Both digital and hard-copy signature options are available.  

The shipping rates of XpressPost depend on the parcel’s origin, weight, dimensions, and destination. 

To take advantage of the shipping discounts, you need to open a commercial account with Canada Post. Shipping a parcel through prepaid labels weighing up to 1.36kg will cost $18.50, $34.75 to a regional address, and $62.21 for shipping to a national address.

Key Features:

• Next-day delivery is available to local and regional addresses, and it takes 2 days to deliver to a national address. 
• There is a guarantee to deliver packages on time, tracking/delivery confirmation, and regular delivery updates;
• Parcel delivery to post office boxes is available;
• There is a liability coverage up to $100 and additional coverage up to $5,000;
• Signature services are available.

Priority 

The Priority shipping of Canada Post offers the fastest delivery out of all the available options. This shipping service delivers a parcel to a local city or town the next day. Similarly, next-day shipping is available for parcel deliveries to regional and national addresses. 

Canada Post offers an on-time delivery guarantee, tracking and delivery confirmation, and regular delivery updates for packages. 

There is also liability coverage up to $100, additional coverage up to $5,000, along with signature services.

The rates for Priority shipping depend on the package weight, dimensions, and destination. The shipping rate begins at $14.73 and can reach as much as $230.35.  

Key Features: 

• Canada Post’s Priority is the fastest shipping service by the carrier;
• Through Priority, package delivery takes place the next day with a guarantee;
• Priority shipping rates are relatively higher;
• Comes with liability coverage up to $100 liability, and additional coverage up to $5,000
• Signature services are available at delivery.

Besides, you can make the most of cheap Etsy Canada Post shipping rates. Canada Post shipping label cost for Etsy depends on a parcel’s weight, dimensions, and destination. 

Canada Post Shipping Rates at a Glance

Domestic Shipping Rates:

Shipping Services	Weight	Delivery Time	Price
Canada Post – Regular Parcel	Up to 30kg	Between 2 and 9 business days	Begins from $9.67
Canada Post – Flat Rate Box	Up to 5 kg	Delivery to local addresses: 1 to 2 days; To regional addresses: 1 to 4 days and to national addresses: 2 to 8 days.	Begins from $16.99
Canada Post – XpressPost	From 0.5 kg	To local and regional addresses the next day. To national addresses in 2 days.	The rate begins from $10.61 for 0.5 kg. For small, medium, and large parcels, rates will vary for local, regional, and national destinations.
Canada Post – Priority Shipping	Up to 30kg	Next day: To local, regional & national addresses	Starts from $22.01

International Shipping Rates:

Business Parcels	Price
Standard parcels up to 50 g	$1.02
Parcels up to 100 g	$2.52
Parcels between 100 g and 200 g	$3.25
Parcels between 200 g and 500 g	$4.44
International parcels up to 50 g	$2.46
Annual Fee for both domestic & international shipping	Domestic: $890 International: $890

Canada Post is surely the most dominant courier in Canada for both domestic and international shipping services at an affordable price range. However over the last few years, the shipping carriers that provide better service at significant lower shipping costs have risen. Here are the top 10 shipping carriers in Canada.