What Is The Cheapest Way To Ship A Package From Us To Canada?

When shipping a package from the US to Canada, there are several key factors that determine the cost of shipping. The main factors include the weight and dimensions of the package, the speed of delivery, the shipping provider used, pickup vs drop-off, and any additional services or fees. Shipping costs will also depend on the exact origin and destination addresses. Generally, faster shipping speeds, heavier packages, residential delivery, and additional services like insurance will increase the cost. Major carriers like USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL provide a variety of shipping services to Canada with different price points. Smaller regional carriers may offer cheaper rates in some cases. Understanding these key factors allows you to find the cheapest shipping option for your specific needs.

USPS

USPS offers several shipping options from the United States to Canada. For budget-friendly packages under 4 lbs, the best options are First-Class Package International Service and USPS Retail Ground.

First-Class Package International Service starts at around $14 for packages up to 4 lbs. Delivery takes 7-21 days. This service includes tracking and insurance up to $200. According to source, First-Class Package is one of the most affordable ways to ship small packages to Canada.

For heavier packages up to 70 lbs, USPS Retail Ground is a budget option starting at around $26. Delivery takes 7-21 days with no tracking or insurance. According to source, Retail Ground can offer significant savings compared to priority services.

For the cheapest USPS shipping to Canada, First-Class Package and Retail Ground are the best options for light and heavy packages respectively.

UPS

UPS offers several shipping options from the US to Canada including ground, air, and freight services. According to the UPS Canada website, shipping a 1 lb package from New York to Toronto by ground can cost as low as $26 USD. The transit time ranges from 2-7 business days depending on the origin and destination.

In comparison, USPS starts at around $20 USD for a 1 lb package from New York to Toronto using their standard Post service which takes 5-9 business days for delivery. However, USPS First Class Package International is cheaper than UPS Ground for lightweight packages under 4 lbs. Overall, UPS Ground offers faster transit times but costs more than USPS for light packages under 4 lbs going to Canada.

For heavier packages over 4 lbs, UPS Ground is very competitive and often cheaper than USPS Priority Mail options. UPS also offers quicker delivery times to major Canadian cities than USPS. So for heavier packages, UPS Ground is typically the cheapest and fastest option.

FedEx

FedEx offers several different shipping options from the US to Canada. Some of the most affordable options include:

FedEx International Economy – This is FedEx’s most budget-friendly option for shipping to Canada. Delivery times range from 3-5 business days and rates start around $25 for a 2 lb package.

FedEx International Priority – This is a faster option than Economy that gets packages delivered in 1-3 business days. Rates start around $45 for a 2 lb package.

FedEx International Express – FedEx’s fastest shipping service to Canada, with delivery in 1-2 business days. Rates are higher, starting around $60 for a 2 lb package.

To get the best rates, you can compare FedEx vs. UPS shipping and look for any discounts or promotions being offered. Using FedEx SmartPost can also help reduce costs for lightweight packages under 1 lb.

DHL

DHL Express is another major shipping carrier with worldwide service, including shipping packages from the US to Canada. According to various reports, DHL shipping rates from the US to Canada can be expensive compared to some other options.

For example, one customer reported on Reddit that DHL shipping to Canada cost $18 USD for a relatively small package (a keyboard) shipped from China to Canada [1]. This suggests that DHL rates from the US to Canada could be quite high for individual packages.

However, DHL does offer volume discounts and negotiated rates for business shippers with regular shipping needs. So DHL may be more cost effective for commercial shipments rather than individual personal packages.

Overall, while DHL provides reliable express delivery to Canada, their standard list rates appear higher than USPS, UPS or FedEx when shipping single packages from the US to Canada. But DHL rates can be more attractive with volume discounts for businesses.

Regional Carriers

For shipping within border regions, regional carriers often provide cheaper rates than the major couriers. Some popular regional parcel carriers operating near the Canada-US border include Lone Star Overnight (LSO) and Spee-Dee Delivery.

These local couriers have networks concentrated in border states and provinces, allowing them to offer lower prices on short-haul routes. For example, LSO provides overnight parcel delivery within Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico and Arkansas at very reasonable rates. Spee-Dee focuses on the Pacific Northwest region, serving Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Western Canada.

Regional carriers only service limited zones, so they’re only an option for cross-border packages being shipped to and from areas close to the border. But for these routes, local couriers can save significant costs compared to the nationwide and international carriers.

Some other regional shipping companies to research for Canada-US routes include Dynamex, Lasership, Averitt Express, Eastern Connection, and Midnite Express.

The optimal carrier depends on the specific origin and destination points. But focusing on regional couriers operating near the border is one of the best ways to find cheaper cross-border shipping rates.

Freight Shipping

For large or heavy items, freight shipping may be the most cost-effective option for shipping to Canada from the US. According to FreightQuote, freight shipping rates to Canada can vary greatly depending on factors like weight, dimensions, distance, and mode of transport. Some key points on freight shipping to Canada:

• Freight shipping rates are based on weight and distance. Expect to pay around $1.50-$2 per mile for a 500 lb shipment.
• LTL (less than truckload) freight shipping consolidates smaller shipments together. Rates start around $2/mile for a ~150 lb shipment.
• FTL (full truckload) ships an entire trailer worth of freight. Rates range $4-$6/mile for a 20,000-45,000 lb shipment.
• Ocean freight to Canada from the US can cost as little as $0.05/lb for a full container load.
• Rail freight is economical over long distances to certain areas of Canada. Rates average ~$0.85/mile per trailer.

Get freight quotes from multiple carriers and compare all fees included to find the best rate. Having flexible delivery timelines can also help reduce costs.

Package Consolidation

Instead of shipping each package individually, a package consolidation service lets you combine all your purchases into one neat package for a single international shipment. This can greatly reduce costs compared to sending many separate packages (Reship).

Consolidation services provide you with a U.S. address to ship your items to domestically. Once they receive your items, they will inspect, consolidate and repack everything into one box. Then they will ship the consolidated package internationally through their discounted service rates.

By combining multiple packages into one shipment, you can save significantly on international shipping costs. You only pay one international shipping fee, and avoid multiple border clearance fees. This makes consolidation ideal for frequent shippers or those with many separate online purchases (FedEx).

Popular package consolidation services include Stackry, PostScan Mail, Shipito and Fishisfast. Look for companies with excellent reviews and fully insured international shipping. Make sure to compare their rates and services as prices can vary.

Recommendation

Based on the analysis of the major US carriers like USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL, as well as regional carriers and freight shipping options, the best choice for shipping a package from the US to Canada cheaply depends on the package weight, dimensions, delivery speed requirements, and tracking needs.

For lightweight packages under 2 lbs, USPS First Class Package International is often the most affordable option. USPS First Class mail offers tracking and usually takes 2-4 weeks for delivery. For packages between 2-70 lbs, USPS Priority Mail International provides a reasonable balance of speed and affordability. It includes tracking and delivery within 6-10 days on average.

For packages in a hurry, expedited services like UPS Worldwide Express, FedEx International Priority, or DHL Express are faster options despite higher rates. They offer 1-3 day delivery to major Canadian cities.

For heavy shipments over 70 lbs, consider freight carriers. While transit times are slower, around 4-6 weeks, the bulk rates can lead to big savings for heavy packages and large volumes. Just be aware tracking, insurance and delivery to a specific destination address is limited.

In summary, look at USPS for light packages under 2 lbs and time-sensitive packages up to 70 lbs. For heavier shipments, explore discounted freight carriers. And for urgent international delivery in 1-3 days, choose among the express services of major carriers like UPS, FedEx or DHL.

Conclusion

In summary, the cheapest way to ship a package from the US to Canada is typically via USPS. While rates vary by package size, weight, and destination province, USPS Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail services offer the lowest rates in most cases. Their commercial rate discounts and flat rate packaging options also help reduce costs for high volume shipments.

Regional carriers like Purolator can be even cheaper than USPS for packages going to eastern Canada. For very large or heavy shipments, freight and package consolidation services are worth considering to get the best prices. But for the average package, USPS Priority Mail is usually the most budget-friendly way to ship to Canada if you want reliable delivery in 2-5 days.

Whichever carrier you choose, be sure to compare all the rates carefully for your specific shipment. But when cost is the primary concern, USPS tends to be the cheapest shipping option from the US to Canada overall.