Short answer: a PO box is run by Canada Post, so only Canada Post reliably delivers to one. Private couriers like Purolator, UPS, FedEx, DHL, Canpar and Intelcom need a street address with someone to receive the parcel: they generally do not deliver to a PO box. If your recipient only has a PO box, choose a Canada Post service, or ask for a street address instead. Address validation at the quote step tells you which services are eligible.
Can you ship to a PO box in Canada?
Yes, but only through Canada Post. PO boxes are part of Canada Post's own infrastructure: parcels are routed to the post office that holds the box, and the box holder picks them up there. That is why a PO box address works with Canada Post services but is a problem for private couriers, which do not serve PO boxes. Before you buy a label, confirm that the service you pick accepts your recipient's address type.
Do private couriers deliver to a PO box?
As a rule, no. Purolator, UPS, FedEx, DHL, Canpar, Intelcom and other couriers work with street addresses and a physical delivery point where a parcel can be handed over or dropped off. A PO box is not a street address, so the driver cannot reach it. Worth noting: even though Purolator is majority-owned by Canada Post, it is still a separate courier service and does not deliver to Canada Post PO boxes. If you enter a PO box address for a courier service, the shipment may be refused, returned or delayed.
| Carrier | Delivers to a PO box? |
|---|---|
| Canada Post | Yes: PO boxes are its own network |
| Purolator | Generally no: street address required |
| UPS | Generally no: street address required |
| FedEx | Generally no: street address required |
| DHL | Generally no: street address required |
| Canpar / Intelcom | Generally no: street address required |
What if the recipient only has a PO box?
You have a few options. The simplest: ship with a Canada Post service, which is built to deliver to PO boxes. Otherwise, ask the recipient for a street address (home or business) where a courier can deliver. Some box holders also have a street address tied to their post office; confirm that with the recipient or the local post office. Finally, a pickup point or courier locker can work as an alternative where one is available in the area.
Compare before you ship to a PO box
Because a PO box narrows the choice to Canada Post, it pays to compare services and prices before you print the label: between Canada Post speeds, or between a PO box delivery and a courier delivery to a street address, the arrival date and the cost can differ. Comparing side by side avoids paying an unnecessary surcharge or creating a label for a service that, in the end, does not serve the address.
With a free MesColis account and no contract, you compare Canada Post, Purolator, UPS, FedEx and others for the same shipment: address validation screens out services that do not fit, and each option shows its estimated delivery date and price.