To ship a package from Canada to the USA: pack it securely, weigh and measure it, write the full US address with the two-letter state, the ZIP code and a phone number, fill in the customs declaration item by item (description, quantity, value, country of origin), then compare the services available for your parcel before buying the label. The former US$800 duty-free exemption is suspended, so decide before you ship who pays any duty: you or the recipient.
The steps, in order
- Pack in a rigid box, pad the contents and tape every seam.
- Weigh and measure the sealed parcel: the higher of actual or dimensional weight is billed.
- Prepare the recipient’s address and your own (details below).
- Fill in the customs declaration, item by item.
- Compare the services that serve the Canada-US lane, choose who pays the duty, then buy and print the label and customs documents.
- Drop the parcel off or book a pickup where offered, and keep the tracking number.
The address in the United States
A US address reads: recipient’s name, street number and name, any extra line (apartment, suite, unit), then the city, the two-letter state abbreviation and the five-digit ZIP code. The ZIP code sets the zone, and therefore the price and the services available: double-check it, and do not confuse it with a Canadian postal code.
Add a phone number and, if possible, an email for the recipient. Carriers use them to announce the delivery and, where needed, to collect duty before handing the parcel over. If the address is a PO box or a military address, check that the service you choose accepts it: not all of them do.
The customs declaration
Every parcel crossing the border must be declared, gifts included. For each item, give a precise description ("wool sweater" rather than "clothing"), the quantity, the unit value, the country of origin and, for a commercial shipment, the HS code. The country of origin is where the goods were made, not where they ship from: it is the detail that weighs most on US duty.
The exact document depends on the service: a postal customs declaration for a postal service, a commercial invoice for most courier services. At the quote step, the MesColis form collects this information and sends it with the label.
| Item | Why | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Used to classify the goods | Material and use, not a generic word |
| Quantity and value | Basis for the duty calculation | The real value, never understated |
| Country of origin | Drives the tariff treatment | Where it was made, not Canada by default |
| HS code | Precise tariff classification | Recommended for any commercial shipment |
| Type of shipment | Sale, gift, return, sample | Pick the real one |
Duty: how much, and who pays
For years, low-value parcels entered the United States duty-free up to US$800. That exemption is suspended for commercial shipments: a sale shipped to a US customer can owe duty whatever its value. The amount depends on what the goods are and where they were made; it can be zero or more than zero.
Goods that qualify as originating in Canada, the United States or Mexico under the CUSMA rules may get preferential treatment. Shipping from Canada is not enough: a product made elsewhere and resold from here keeps its country of origin. Gifts between private individuals follow separate rules; declare them at their real value all the same.
By default, the recipient pays the duty and the carrier’s clearance fees, before or at delivery. If you sell to US customers, a surprise bill hurts the sale: where the option is offered for your lane, MesColis lets you prepay duties and taxes (DDP) when you buy the label.
US customs rules have changed several times since 2025 and may change again. This guide is neither customs advice nor a price: confirm the rules with US Customs and Border Protection (cbp.gov) or a broker, and the total price, duty included, at the quote step for your parcel.
Choosing the carrier and service
On the Canada-US lane, MesColis quotes most often show services from carriers such as UPS, FedEx, Canada Post and DHL; the exact offer depends on the parcel, the postal codes and the day. Those services fall into three families, which do not handle customs the same way.
| Family | How it generally works | What to check at the quote |
|---|---|---|
| Postal service | Accepted by the post office, then handed to the US postal service for delivery | Weight and size limits, level of tracking, how duty is collected |
| Ground courier | Travels mostly by truck, with the same carrier end to end | Expected date, clearance or brokerage fees |
| Express courier | Travels mostly by air, with the same carrier end to end | Expected date, what the clearance includes |
No carrier is the cheapest for every parcel. Compare the total price, including surcharges such as fuel, the expected date and how duty is handled, for your specific parcel. You can get a quote without an account, then buy the label, add insurance and track the shipment in one place.
What to avoid sending
Some items cannot cross the border or need a permit: cannabis products (even though they are legal in Canada), alcohol, tobacco and vaping products, medication, food, animal or plant products, loose lithium batteries, flammable liquids, perfumes and aerosols. In the United States, agencies other than customs regulate some categories, such as food, cosmetics and medication. The rules also differ by carrier: check the chosen service’s list before you pack, because a refused item can be returned or destroyed at your expense.
Free MesColis account, no contract and no minimum volume: compare the services that serve the Canada-US lane before you buy the label.