How to Calculate Canada Post Shipping Costs

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Canada Post is one of the country’s leading, cost-effective shipping options for businesses of all sizes, but you might be stuck wondering how to calculate your shipping costs with Canada Post. First, keep in mind your item’s weight, size, and destination—these factors will heavily influence your courier charges with Canada post.

Out of all of your shipping options, Canada Post is the only one guaranteed to deliver to every address in Canada. The crown corporation is also a cost-friendly competitor for the big shipping companies in Canada, delivering to the US and more than 190 countries across the world. 

In this blog, we’ll go into how to calculate shipping costs with Canada Post, some of the benefits of shipping with Canada Post, and other popular shipping options for businesses.

How to Calculate Your Canada Post Shipping Rate

Thanks to the help of online tools, calculating your Canada Post rates is easier than ever. Follow this step-by-step guide:

Step One: Gather Your Package Details

Before calculating shipping costs, gather your package information. This includes the package's weight, dimensions, and destination. Measure the package's length, width, and height in centimeters (cm) and weigh it in kilograms (kg). Make sure you have the correct postal code for the destination—this will impact the shipping cost.

Step Two: Choose Your Shipping Service

Like many of its competitors, Canada Post offers competitive shipping options for you to choose from, from expedited shipping to package tracking.

To ship in Canada, you can choose from the following:

1. Regular Parcel: This option provides affordable ground shipping for packages within Canada, with tracking and delivery confirmation.
2. Xpresspost: With Xpresspost, you get faster delivery within Canada, with tracking and on-time delivery guarantees.
3. Priority: This is the fastest domestic service, with next-day delivery to most locations, tracking, and on-time delivery guarantees.
4. Flat Rate Delivery: With flat-rate delivery, you can expect delivery within a week, but the price of shipping is not connected with the weight of the item. This option allows you to ship items up to 5 kg and includes tracking.

To ship internationally, you have these options available:

1. Xpresspost International: You’ll get guaranteed delivery times within 4-7 days, with tracking and $100 of liability coverage.
2. Tracked Packet International: With slightly longer shipping, from 6 to 10 days and tracking included, this option also includes $100 of liability coverage.
3. International Parcel: You can ship air or ground, with air deliveries taking 12+ days, and ground taking 4 to 12 weeks.
4. Priority Worldwide: This gets packages where you need them to go in 2 or 3 days, with tracking, signature services, and liability coverage.
5. Small Packet International: For this option, air delivery takes 6-10 days, and 4-12 weeks for on-the-ground shipments.

If you’re shipping to the U.S., consider:

• Xpresspost USA: 2-3-day delivery, guaranteed, with tracking and liability coverage included.
• Tracked Packet USA: With this option, delivery takes 4-7 business days, with tracking and liability coverage.
• Expedited Parcel USA: Delivery can take anywhere from 4-7 business days, with tracking and liability coverage included.
• Small Packet USA: With this option, delivery takes 5 to 8 business days.
• Priority Worldwide: Delivery occurs within 2 to 3 days, paired with an on-time delivery guarantee. Tracking is included, along with damage confirmation (If it occurs).

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Source: Canada Post

Step Three: Visit Canada Post’s Website

To accurately calculate Canada Post’s shipping costs, go to the Canada Post website, and use their online shipping calculator, called "Find a Rate,” easily found on the right-hand expandable menu.

You can also visit Canada Post’s rates calculator directly.

Step Four: Enter Your Package Information

In the "Find a Rate" tool, enter your package information. Select the shipping service you'd like to use and enter the package's weight, dimensions, and destination postal code. Ensure all the information is accurate before proceeding.

Step Five: Calculate and Review Your Shipping Costs

After entering the package information, click "Calculate" to receive an estimate of the shipping cost with Canada Post. The tool will provide a breakdown of costs for the selected shipping service, including base price, fuel surcharge, and any applicable taxes or fees.

Step Six: Consider Additional Options (If Needed)

Depending on what you’re shipping (and where), you may want to add extra services like insurance coverage, signature upon delivery, or delivery to a post office. To add these services, select the appropriate options in the "Find a Rate" tool and review the updated shipping cost.

The Perks of Shipping With Canada Post

More than Canada Post competitive estimated shipping costs, the crown corporation also offers shipping programs for businesses to help you save on costs. 

Small Business Shipping Program

Shipping fewer than 1,250 packages a year in Canada or fewer than 750 packages across borders every year? Canada Post offers a small shipping program that allows you to:

• Have parcels picked up right from your door
• Simplify your returns process
• Reduce your shipping costs

But you can do all that and more with a shipping partner like Ship Expert. We work with world-class carriers like Canada Post to negotiate some of the lowest rates on the Canadian market and no volume minimums.

Larger-Volume Business Program

If you ship more than 1,250 parcels a year, or send more than 100,000 pieces of direct mail every year, Canada Post offers volume-based discounts, as well as print labels and track shipments.

Source: Pexels

Why You Should Consider Shipping With Other Options

Though Canada Post provides one of the country’s leading opportunities to save on shipping, your bottom line can benefit from further investigation.

What to look for:

• Competitive Pricing: Alternative shipping companies often offer competitive pricing structures that can result in cost savings for your business. Some companies even offer volume discounts, which can further lower shipping costs for businesses with high shipping volume.
  
• Specialized Services: Your business might have unique shipping requirements, such as temperature-sensitive products, oversized items, or hazardous materials. Alternative shipping companies may offer specialized services tailored to these needs, ensuring your products are handled and shipped safely and efficiently.
  
• Faster Delivery Options: Many alternative shipping companies offer faster delivery options than Canada Post.
  
  For businesses that require expedited shipping to meet customer expectations or to maintain a competitive edge, these companies can provide a valuable solution. Examples of companies that offer faster shipping options include FedEx, UPS, and DHL.

Eliminate the Hunt for Shipping Savings With Ship Expert 

Did you know you can eliminate the hunt for shipping savings entirely? How?

When you work with Ship Expert.

Working on the behalf of businesses just like yours across Canada, we negotiate with the big shippers, like Canada Post and DHL, for some of the best discounted shipping rates in Canada. When you ship more, you save more—saving up to 70% on every package. 
Sound too good to be true? Check out our shipping rate calculator.