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Home > Guides > Shipping a package from Canada to the US
Plainly up front: LetterAgent shipping labels cannot cover a package sent from Canada to the US, since LetterAgent labels are Canada-only Canada Post Xpresspost. To ship south, use Canada Post or a courier with US service, declare the contents honestly on the customs form, and confirm whether the recipient will owe duties before you send.
Canada Post offers several US-bound services, from a slower tracked packet option to an expedited parcel service, and the choice is mostly about speed versus cost. Couriers like UPS, FedEx, Purolator, and DHL run their own US networks with stronger tracking and faster transit, but they charge brokerage or clearance fees that postal services usually avoid. For a small, light parcel, the postal route is usually cheapest. For a heavy, urgent, or high-value parcel, a courier's handling and tracking may justify the extra cost.
One practical difference: a postal parcel is handed to USPS at the border, which delivers to PO boxes and rural addresses without trouble. Couriers may not deliver to PO boxes at all, and some charge extra for rural or residential delivery. Check the recipient's address type before choosing.
| Option | Strengths | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Canada Post to USPS | Lower cost, PO box and rural delivery | Slower transit, lighter tracking detail |
| Courier (UPS, FedEx, Purolator, DHL) | Faster, detailed tracking | Brokerage and clearance fees, PO box limits |
| Expedited postal parcel | A middle ground on speed and cost | Size and weight limits tighter than couriers |
Every parcel needs a customs declaration: a specific description of the contents, the quantity, the value, and the country of origin. Write plainly: "wool sweater" beats "clothing", and "maple syrup, 500 ml" beats "food". The value must be the real value in Canadian dollars or US dollars as the form asks, even for a gift, since US customs uses it to decide whether duty applies. Under-declaring can get the parcel seized and voids your insurance, since a claim is measured against the declared value.
For commercial shipments, include a commercial invoice and the tariff code for each item, since the code sets the duty rate. Small personal shipments usually travel on the carrier's short customs form, which asks for the same facts in simpler form. Keep a copy of whatever you submit: if the parcel is delayed at customs, the carrier will ask you to confirm the declaration before they release it.
It depends on the value, the item, and where it was made. The US has long allowed low-value imports in duty-free, but that threshold has changed recently and the rules are in flux, so check the current threshold with the carrier before you promise a recipient a duty-free delivery. Above the threshold, duty depends on the item's tariff classification and origin: goods made in Canada or Mexico under the continental trade agreement often qualify for lower or zero duty, but only with the right origin paperwork, which a casual shipper may not have.
The safest habit is to tell the recipient the parcel may attract duties and to agree in advance who pays them. Parcels refused over an unexpected duty bill are usually returned at the sender's expense, which can cost more than the original shipment.
Restricted items include certain foods, plants, and seeds, some health products, and anything requiring a US permit, such as firearms or some animal products. Alcohol and tobacco face state-by-state rules on top of federal ones, and many carriers will not take them from individuals at all. Check the carrier's restricted list and the US customs guidance for your item before packing: a prohibited item found at the border can be destroyed rather than returned.
Also double-check the return address. US customs and the carrier need a valid Canadian return address on the parcel, and a missing or wrong return address means a refused or undeliverable parcel has nowhere to go. Print the address clearly, and include a phone number or email on the customs form so customs can reach you if a question comes up.
Ready to ship it? Get a shipping label with LetterAgent: describe it to your AI assistant, approve the exact quoted price, and get your label.
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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