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Mailing a standard letter up to thirty grams from Canada to the United States costs one dollar and seventy-five cents in postage, well above the domestic rate but well below international rates. Canada Post delivers it in about four to six business days. Here is how the U.S. band compares to domestic and international bands, and what to do if your letter is heavier.
| Destination | Standard letter, up to 30 g | Over 30 g up to 50 g | Oversize, up to 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| Within Canada | One dollar forty-four cents (single stamp) or one dollar twenty-four cents (booklet stamp) | One dollar seventy-five cents | Two dollars sixty-one cents |
| To the United States | One dollar seventy-five cents | Two dollars sixty-one cents | Four dollars twenty-nine cents |
| International (rest of world) | Three dollars sixty-five cents | Five dollars twenty-one cents | Eight dollars sixty cents |
Canada Post prices lettermail in three destination bands: domestic, U.S., and international. The U.S. band sits much closer to domestic than to international. A standard letter to Chicago costs the same as a heavier domestic letter, roughly half what the same letter to London costs. The reason is volume and proximity: cross-border mail between Canada and the U.S. moves on well-worn daily routes, so the handling cost stays close to domestic.
There is one quirk worth knowing. The domestic rate comes in two flavors: one dollar forty-four cents for a stamp bought singly at the counter, and one dollar twenty-four cents per stamp when you buy a booklet or coil. The U.S. band has no such discount. Whether you buy one stamp or a booklet of U.S. stamps, the rate is one dollar seventy-five cents. Buy U.S. stamps only when you will actually mail to the U.S.; a booklet of them is not a way to save on domestic mail.
Not by themselves. A Permanent stamp (the one marked with a "P" instead of a value) is always worth the current domestic rate, currently one dollar twenty-four cents. A U.S. letter needs one dollar seventy-five cents, so a single Permanent stamp leaves you fifty-one cents short. You can still use it: just add a second stamp to make up the difference. Canada Post sells small-denomination stamps for exactly this.
Two common mistakes to avoid. First, USPS Forever stamps have no value on Canada Post mail, even though they look similar. Postage is country-specific: a Forever stamp only works in the U.S. system. Second, "standard size" has hard limits: the envelope must be within 245 mm by 156 mm by 5 mm and weigh no more than 30 grams. Square envelopes are allowed, but only if they stay within the size range. If your envelope bulges past 5 mm thick, it jumps to the oversize band even if the weight is fine.
Heavier letters price up through the U.S. band in steps: over 30 to 50 grams at two dollars sixty-one cents, oversize up to 100 grams at four dollars twenty-nine cents, and so on up to 500 grams. Past 500 grams you are out of lettermail entirely and into parcel services. A single sheet of paper with an envelope weighs about 10 to 12 grams, so most everyday letters stay under the 30-gram line. Four or five sheets usually stay under it too; it is the tenth page or a thick cardstock envelope that tips you over.
Standard lettermail to the U.S. is untracked. If you want proof it arrived, add registered mail or send it as a tracked packet. Expect four to six business days from major Canadian cities; the estimate does not apply to northern or remote areas, and holidays on either side of the border add days. There is no delivery guarantee on lettermail, so if the letter is time-sensitive (a bill payment, a form with a deadline), mail it a full two weeks early or use a faster service.
For the simple case, LetterAgent removes the stamp math entirely: describe the letter to your AI assistant, approve the exact quoted price, and it is printed and mailed to the U.S. address. You never buy a stamp, weigh anything, or wonder which band you are in.
Ready to mail it? Send your letter with LetterAgent: describe it to your AI assistant, approve the exact quoted price, and it is printed and mailed.
LetterAgent is a working name. Prices include print, postage, and our service fee. US prices in USD, Canadian prices in CAD (Canadian prices exclude applicable sales tax, added at checkout). Currently in private testing.
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