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A parcel is oversize if any dimension exceeds one metre, or the second-longest side exceeds 76 cm. Hard caps are 30 kg, two metres of length, and three metres of length plus girth; anything past those limits draws an out-of-spec surcharge. LetterAgent's shipping labels are Canada Post Xpresspost with a five-kilogram limit, so an oversize parcel is outside what the label flow can cover.
| Limit | The rule | What happens if you cross it |
|---|---|---|
| Oversize threshold | Any dimension over 1 m, or second-longest side over 76 cm | Oversize surcharge added to the postage |
| Maximum weight | 30 kg per parcel | Refused or returned; employee-safety rules apply above 22.7 kg |
| Maximum length | 2 m on the longest side | Out-of-spec surcharge; may be refused at Canada Post's discretion |
| Maximum length plus girth | 3 m combined | Out-of-spec surcharge |
| Overweight sticker | Required on any parcel over 22.7 kg | The depot can refuse unstickered heavy parcels |
Oversize is a surcharge category: the parcel is still mailable, but Canada Post charges extra because it needs manual handling on the sort line. Out of spec is beyond the system's limits entirely: over 30 kg, longer than two metres, or over three metres of length plus girth. Out-of-spec items can be refused or returned to the sender at any point, and if Canada Post does carry one, it travels at their sole discretion with extra fees. The practical lesson: oversize is a price you can plan for; out of spec is a gamble.
Above 22.7 kg, parcels must bear an Overweight Parcel sticker so handlers know to lift them safely. It is an employee-safety rule, not a revenue trick: sorting staff lift thousands of parcels a shift, and an unmarked heavy box is how backs get hurt. Order the stickers from Canada Post's shop before you need them; showing up at the counter with an unstickered heavy parcel is a good way to be sent home to get one.
Length is the longest side. Girth is the distance around the parcel at its thickest point, measured at right angles to the length: twice the width plus twice the height. For odd-shaped, non-rectangular items, Canada Post measures at the widest points, so a bulging box measures bigger than you think. If you are anywhere near the three-metre cap, measure twice and consider repacking: the surcharge for crossing it is steeper than the cost of a smaller box.
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