Short answer: You can send almost anything to Canada from the US through USPS or a courier like UPS, FedEx, or DHL. A standard letter needs one Global Forever stamp ($1.75). For packages, USPS options run from First-Class Package International Service (cheapest, slowest) up to Priority Mail Express International (fastest). Every package needs a customs form, and your recipient may owe duties or taxes depending on the value and how you ship it.
Canada is the most common international destination for US senders, and the process is straightforward once you know which service fits and what customs expects. Here is everything you need, whether you are mailing a birthday card or shipping a box of products.
Sending a letter or postcard to Canada
A standard letter (up to 1 oz) or a postcard to Canada needs a single Global Forever stamp, which costs $1.75. That one stamp covers the full international letter rate, so you do not add domestic stamps on top of it.
If all you have on hand are regular domestic Forever stamps ($0.82 each), you would need three of them to cover the $1.75 rate. That works, but it overpays by about $0.71, so a single Global Forever stamp is the cheaper and cleaner choice. For heavier letters or a stack of documents, First-Class Mail International covers letters and paper up to 1 lb. If you are unsure how postage adds up for heavier mail, our guide on how many stamps you need walks through the math.
Shipping a package to Canada with USPS
For anything beyond a letter, USPS offers three main services to Canada. Prices are starting rates and rise with weight, size, and any added insurance.
| Service | Starts around | Delivery time | Tracking |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-Class Package International | $19.40 | 1 to 3 weeks | Limited |
| Priority Mail International | $32.65 | 6 to 10 business days | Included |
| Priority Mail Express International | $62.70 | 3 to 5 business days | Included |
First-Class Package International is the cheapest way to send a small, light package (under 4 lbs), but it is also the slowest and its tracking is limited once the parcel crosses the border. Priority Mail International is the popular middle choice, with full tracking and a predictable window. Priority Mail Express International is for time-sensitive shipments. For a fuller breakdown of package pricing, see our guide on the cost to ship a package with USPS.
UPS, FedEx, and DHL: the courier option
The private couriers are usually faster than USPS to Canada and offer detailed door-to-door tracking, which is why many businesses prefer them for anything valuable or time-sensitive. They cost more than USPS for small parcels, but they often win on speed and reliability, and they became the go-to backup during Canada Post service disruptions.
There is also a customs advantage worth knowing about, covered in the duties section below: courier shipments from the US qualify for higher duty-free and tax-free thresholds under the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) than postal shipments do. For a high-value package, that can mean the difference between your recipient paying fees or not.
Customs forms you will need
Every package to Canada needs a customs declaration, no exceptions. USPS uses two forms depending on value:
- PS Form 2976 (CN 22) is a short green label for lower-value packages, generally under about $400.
- PS Form 2976-A (CN 23) is the longer declaration for higher-value shipments.
If you buy postage online through USPS Click-N-Ship, the correct customs form is generated for you automatically, which is the easiest path. On the form you declare what is inside, its value, the quantity, and whether it is a gift, sale, documents, or a return. Be accurate: understating value to dodge fees is customs fraud, and vague descriptions like “gift” or “stuff” are a common cause of delays. For what happens after a package reaches the border, see our guide on what “Inbound Into Customs” means.
Duties and taxes: what your recipient may pay
In Canada, it is the recipient, not the sender, who pays any duties and taxes when the package is delivered. Whether they owe anything depends on the value and, importantly, on how you ship it. Canada sets different de minimis thresholds (the value below which no fees apply) for postal versus courier shipments:
| Shipping method | Tax-free up to | Duty-free up to |
|---|---|---|
| Postal (USPS to Canada Post) | CAD $20 | CAD $20 |
| Courier (UPS, FedEx, DHL) | CAD $40 | CAD $150 |
So a USPS parcel worth more than CAD $20 can trigger tax, while the same parcel sent by courier stays tax-free up to CAD $40 and duty-free up to CAD $150 under CUSMA. When taxes do apply, Canada charges GST at 5% (or HST of 13 to 15% in provinces that use it), and Canada Post adds a handling fee of about CAD $9.95 to collect it. Genuine gifts sent person-to-person and valued under CAD $60 are exempt, as long as they are truly gifts and marked that way.
How long does shipping to Canada take?
Delivery time depends on the service and on customs. As a rough guide, plan on 3 to 5 business days for Priority Mail Express International, 6 to 10 for Priority Mail International, and one to three weeks for First-Class Package International. Couriers typically land in the faster end of that range. Customs clearance can add a day or more on top, especially for higher-value items that need inspection. Canada Post has also had periodic labor disruptions that can lengthen delivery during a strike, so for anything urgent it is worth checking current service status before you ship.
What you cannot ship to Canada
Canada prohibits or heavily restricts a range of items by mail. The commonly banned or restricted list includes cannabis and marijuana products, firearms and weapons, most alcohol and tobacco, perishable food, live plants and animals, and hazardous materials. Some items are allowed only with permits or through specific carriers. When in doubt, check the restrictions for your item before shipping, because a prohibited item can be seized and will not be returned.
Tips for a smooth delivery
- Declare the honest value and a clear description on the customs form; this is the single biggest cause of avoidable delays.
- Include the recipient’s phone number and, for couriers, an email, so customs or the carrier can reach them.
- Use a service with tracking for anything you would be upset to lose; the cheapest option has the weakest tracking.
- Mark genuine gifts as gifts, but do not label a commercial shipment a gift to avoid fees.
- For a high-value package, compare a courier against USPS: the higher CUSMA thresholds can save your recipient money.
The bottom line
Shipping to Canada is simple once you match the service to the job: a Global Forever stamp for a letter, First-Class Package International for a cheap small parcel, Priority Mail International for a tracked middle ground, and a courier for speed or high-value items. Fill out the customs form honestly, know that your recipient may owe duties or tax above Canada’s de minimis thresholds, and avoid the prohibited list. Do that, and a package from the US reaches Canada with no surprises. You can compare every current USPS international service on the official USPS international shipping page.
