US Postage Rates From Canada 2024: What is the Postage Stamp Price
US postage rates begin at $1.40 to send something from Canada to the States. It is the lowest possible price users pay for shipping a letter internationally. However, this price is only for standard-sized mail items. The rates to ship an oversized or non-standard mailpiece to the US start from $3.43.
Also, please note that the prices are different for all mailing classes. Since some shipping methods are faster than others, Canada Post charges more for the speed and convenience.
Below, we learn more about US postage rates from Canada and which mailing options to use.
Key Takeaways:
- Currently, the shipping prices to send a mailpiece to the US from Canada starts from $1.40 for standard-sized mail and $3.43 for non-standard size mail.
- There are different dimensions you must follow for your items to fall under the standard and non-standard size mail items. It can help you manage your mailings and budget better.
- Xpresspost, expedited parcel, tracked packet, and small packet are some of the options to ship items to the US from Canada.
- PostGrid’s direct mail services allow you to send national and international mailers in an automated manner at the lowest prices.
Postage Rates for Standard and Non-Standard Size Mail 2024
Standard Size Mail
Letter envelopes, standard cards, and postcards are considered standard-size mail by Canada Post. Direct mail marketers widely use this type of mail to send to their target audience. However, for sending these mail items, the dimensions should be strictly taken into consideration.
- For self-mailers and envelopes, the minimum dimensions are 140mm x 90mm x 0.18mm. The size should not be more than 245mm x 156mm x 5mm.
- Postcards and other cards should meet the minimum dimensions of 140mm x 90mm x 0.18mm, which is the same as envelopes but should be no more than 235mm x 120mm.
- All standard-size mail items should be equal to or less than 50 kg. Let’s move on to the rates of standard-size mail items to ship to the US.
If you are using postage stamps, the postage rates to the US start at $1.40. This rate is applicable only for mail weighing up to 30 grams or consisting of up to 5 paper sheets. Postcards and letter envelopes weigh between 30 and 50 grams or consist of up to 9 paper sheets.
They’re charged $2.09.
Anything weighing more than 50 grams is considered non-standard mail and charged differently. Even letters and postcards that weigh more than 50 grams slightly will be charged according to the non-standard mail pricing.
If you are planning to conduct a direct mail marketing campaign using postcards to target your US audience, take care of the size and weight guidelines. Even small mistakes regarding the dimensions can end up in you paying much more than what you originally planned.
You should use metered postage or postal indicia as it can help you save one cent on every mail item.
The rates to send standard-size lettermail using metered postage are $0.98 and $1.40 respectively for mail weighing up to 30 grams and within 30 to 50 grams.
Non-Standard Size Mail
Non-standard size mail is basically either oversized or unusually shaped mail. However, there are still weight and size restrictions for sending non-standard mail. Heavy cards, oversized envelopes, and large documents are sent as non-standard mail.
Usually, envelopes consisting of more than one mail item or heavier items like catalogs or bundles of newsletters are sent using this mail option.
- The weight of your mail should be more than 50 grams and not exceed 500 grams.
- 140mm x 90mm x 0.18mm are the minimum dimensions for sending oversize mail. The size should not cross over the specifications of 380mm x 270mm x 20mm.
For mail weighing between 50 and 100 grams – equivalent to the weight of 20 paper sheets, the rate is $3.43
All mail items that cross 100 grams but are equal to or less than 200 grams – equivalent to the weight of 40 paper sheets are charged $5.99 for shipping to all locations across the US. Once more, you can save 9 cents on every mail item if you use postal indicia or postage meter.
Coming to mail that weighs between 200 grams and 500 grams – the postage rates to the US is $11.99. It is recommended that you use metered postage for such heavy mail items as you can save a lot per mail item.
Bulk shippers can benefit from this and cut down costs drastically. There are additional discounts available for bulk shippers. You can contact the Canada Post website for more details on highly discounted rates for sending bulk mail to the US.
Canada Post Parcel Services
If your mail weighs more than 500 grams, you can use the parcel services provided by the postal service. There are four mailing options to send your parcels to US destinations. Find below the details and postage rates from Canada to the US for shipping your parcels.
1. Xpresspost
With the Xpresspost mailing option, you can expect fast and affordable deliveries across the US. Canada Post takes between 2 to 3 business days to deliver your parcel to US destinations using this mail option.
The added features include tracking, insurance coverage of up to $100, on-time delivery subject to certain terms and conditions, and the recipient’s signature at the time of delivery.
Moreover, you can drop your parcel in a post office box, rather than going to the post office. The mail will be returned to you for an additional fee in case of a delivery failure. However, the prices could be different for each US state and county.
The rate starts at $29.27 for a mail weighing up to 500 grams. For anything between 500 grams and 1 kg, the rate starts at $36.62. The US postage rates slightly keep increasing with every additional 500 grams.
Your parcels weighing up to 1.5 kg will cost you a minimum of $38.07. The maximum weight allowed is 30 kg, the cost of which starts at $221.46.
2. Expedited Parcel
If your mail is not time-sensitive and you are looking for a very cheap mailing option to send your parcels to the US, the expedited parcel option is the best choice for you. It is ideal for sending a parcel under 66 lb or 30 kg.
Delivery updates, tracking, and insurance of $100 are all included in its postage rates to the US. The estimated delivery time is between 4 to 7 business days.
The return-to-sender feature is optional and can be availed for an extra charge. For sending parcels to US locations using the expedited parcel option, the postage rate starts at $21.17. Like other mailing options, the rates depend entirely on the origin and destination country and your parcel’s weight.
The rate of $21.17 mentioned above is for the first 500 grams. For mail weighing between 500 grams and 1 kg, the postage starts at $23.27. If your parcel is between 1 to 1.5 kg, the rate starts at $25.27.
In case your mail weighs between 29.5 and 30 kg, the postage rates from Canada to the US start at $133.67. These prices are much more affordable than the priority worldwide and Xpresspost mail options, so you should look into it if you are looking for a cheaper mailing option.
3. Tracked Packet
The tracked packet option also ships your parcel within 4 to 7 business days like the expedited parcel option. However, the main difference is that you can avail of it for lower costs. These low US postage rates are fixed according to your parcel’s weight, which is not supposed to be over 2 kg.
Small and lightweight parcels can be sent affordably using the tracked packet mailing option. A $100 insurance coverage, tracking, and easy customs clearance are the additional benefits that come along with the postage paid.
The postage rates to the US under the tracked packet option are the same for all US countries, unlike the other mailing options mentioned above. For parcels weighing up to 100 grams, the rate is fixed at $13.80. If you need to send a mail weighing over 100 grams but equal to or less than 250 grams – the postage that you need to pay is $17.70.
The US postage rates for mail weighing between 250 to 500 grams and 500 grams to 1 kg are $19.54 and $23.02, respectively. For small parcels that cross 1 kg but are up to 1.5 kg, the postage is $25.79. The last weight range is between 1.5 and 2 kg, wherein the required postage is $28.75.
4. Small Packet
Parcels that weigh less than or equal to 2 kg can be sent using the small packet option. This option is the same as the tracked packet option, but the delivery time frame is within 5 to 8 days – for which the costs get cheaper. If you can wait for around 2 to 3 days more for your mail delivery, you can use this option and save.
However, you should also note that there are no tracking and insurance features available. All parcels mailed using the small packet service are sent via air.
The prices for all US countries are the same; the price variations depend only on the weight. For parcels up to 100 grams, the rate is as low as $8.68. It gradually increases to $10.60, $13.87, and $19.96 for parcels weighing between 100 to 250 grams, 250 to 500 grams, and 500 grams to 1 kg, respectively.
Parcels weighing more than 1 kg but less than or equal to 1.5 kg are charged $23.40. Nominal postage of $26.34 is charged for parcels weighing between 1.5 to 2 kg.
Conclusion
Shipping to the US is a very easy process. Both the USPS and Canada Post provide affordable rates to mail across both countries. Furthermore, the US market and the Canadian market are connected in more ways than one.
As discussed above, having reliable mailing options and cost-effective US postage rates is much needed by Canadian customers. Other than business, individuals also need to send mail across the border to connect with their known ones.
Canada Post allows you to send letters, postcards, parcels, and other items to the US, irrespective of their type and size. However, look for restricted mail items before sending anything as some things cannot be sent by mail due to several reasons.
PostGrid‘s print and mail network assists you in drafting, printing, and mailing various standard and non-standard mail items like letters, postcards, large-size documents, catalogues, checks, and more.
