Canpar and UPS cover the same needs with different service ladders: Canpar Ground delivers in 1 to 4 business days and Canpar Express next day, guaranteed; UPS Standard delivers in 1 to 7 business days and UPS Express Saver next business day, guaranteed. Neither delivers to PO boxes. Compare the price on the same parcel.
The two service ladders
Canpar, part of TFI International since 2002, offers three levels within Canada: Ground, Select and Express. UPS offers five: Standard, Expedited, Express Saver, Express and Express Early. Both also advertise services to the United States and internationally.
| Canpar | UPS | |
|---|---|---|
| Ground service | Ground: 1 to 4 business days (based on major centres, varies by route) | Standard: 1 to 7 business days, across all 10 provinces |
| Mid tier | Select: 1 to 3 business days | Expedited: by the second business day |
| Next day | Express: next day, guaranteed | Express Saver and Express: next business day, guaranteed, every address in Canada |
| Early morning | 10 AM and Noon options on certain Express services, select destinations | Express Early: next business day, major metropolitan areas |
| Saturday | Option on certain Express services, select destinations, marked on the waybill | UPS Standard: Saturday delivery to major metropolitan areas |
| Guarantee | Refund or credit when a qualifying Select, Express or Priority shipment is late | Express Early, Express and Express Saver, where available |
| PO boxes | A PO box address is a listed reason a package is undeliverable | UPS cannot deliver to a P.O. Box |
For the North, UPS's 2026 zone guides state that the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Yukon are served by UPS Express and UPS Express Saver only. Canpar's transit times are based on major centres; its Days in Transit tool gives the figure for your route.
To the United States and internationally
Canpar offers service to the continental U.S., an urgent Select USA service from Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver that Canpar says is guaranteed, and an international service. Brokerage and duty fees are paid to the broker by the shipper or the consignee, as stated on the pro forma invoice.
UPS publishes its own ladder to the U.S. (Express Early, Express, Express Saver, Expedited, Standard), covered in our post on UPS Expedited vs Express to the USA.
Which is cheaper?
Neither Canpar nor UPS is cheaper for every shipment. The total depends on actual or dimensional weight, size, both postal codes, the service and your account discounts. Canpar charges extra for residential pickup or delivery, and UPS charges an address correction when a shipment carries a PO box.
Compare the same packed parcel at the same service level: Canpar Ground against UPS Standard, or Canpar Express against UPS Express Saver, then the total with tax.
How to choose for your parcel
- Parcel to Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut: UPS Express or Express Saver.
- Delivery before 10 AM or noon tomorrow: Canpar Express with a time option, or UPS Express Early in major cities.
- Saturday delivery: the Canpar Express Saturday option, or UPS Standard in major metropolitan areas.
- PO box: neither one; use a street address or a postal service.
- Parcel that is not urgent: compare Canpar Ground and UPS Standard on the same route.
Official sources