Yes, FedEx ships to Canada from the United States, by ground and by air. FedEx International Ground delivers packages under 150 lbs in 2 to 7 international business days, while FedEx International Priority typically arrives in 1 to 3 business days and FedEx International Economy in 2 to 5.
Every shipment to Canada clears Canadian customs, so the paperwork, the declared value and who pays duties and taxes matter as much as the service you pick. This guide covers the FedEx services that go to Canada, how customs and brokerage work, what Canada’s low-value thresholds mean for your recipient, and the UPS and USPS alternatives.
Which FedEx Services Ship to Canada?
FedEx offers one ground service and several express services from the U.S. to Canada. The right one depends on how fast the package needs to arrive and how much it weighs.
| FedEx service | Delivery commitment | Package weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx International Ground | 2–7 international business days, time-definite | Under 150 lbs | Most parcels that can wait a few days |
| FedEx International Economy | 2–5 business days, time-definite | Up to 150 lbs | Faster than ground without paying for priority |
| FedEx International Priority | Typically 1–3 business days, time-definite | Up to 150 lbs | Time-sensitive business shipments and gifts |
| FedEx International First | Earliest delivery time, where offered | Up to 150 lbs | Urgent documents or parts to major business centers |
| FedEx Freight services | Varies by lane | Over 150 lbs | Palletized and heavy shipments |
FedEx’s published delivery times don’t include time for customs clearance, so a package held for missing paperwork arrives later than the commitment suggests. For a breakdown of each tier, see our guide to FedEx services, tiers and transit times.
How Does FedEx International Ground to Canada Work?
FedEx International Ground is FedEx’s ground service across the border, built for packages under 150 lbs, and FedEx says it needs no special setup for first-time international shippers. It runs on the same network as FedEx Ground in the U.S., which our comparison of FedEx Home Delivery vs Ground explains.
For customs, you can use FedEx’s broker-inclusive option, where FedEx handles transportation and clearance into Canada through FedEx Logistics, or name your own customs broker. Broker-inclusive shipments are billed a clearance entry fee that scales with the customs value and is billed with the duties and taxes. FedEx also offers International Ground Consolidation, which combines qualifying shipments into one customs entry, and International Ground Distribution for high-volume palletized shipments, with a minimum of 100 packages a day.
How Does Customs Work When FedEx Ships to Canada?
Every FedEx shipment to Canada needs a commercial invoice, or equivalent customs paperwork, that describes the goods, their value and their country of origin. A vague description such as “gift” or “parts” is the most common reason a package is held at the border.
- Describe each item specifically, including what it is, what it’s made of and how many units are in the box.
- Declare the true value in the currency stated on the invoice, since Canada calculates duties and taxes from it.
- State the country of origin, which decides whether goods qualify for duty-free treatment under CUSMA, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement.
- Decide who pays duties and taxes. By default the recipient pays, and unpaid charges can delay delivery.
- Upload documents electronically with FedEx’s electronic trade documents option so clearance can start before the package arrives.
What Duties and Taxes Will My Recipient Pay in Canada?
For courier shipments from the U.S., the Canada Border Services Agency charges no taxes on goods valued up to CAD 40, and no duty on CUSMA-originating goods valued up to CAD 150. Above those values, Canadian duty and sales taxes apply, and the recipient usually pays them along with any brokerage or clearance fees before delivery.
These courier thresholds are higher than the CAD 20 limit Canada applies to postal shipments and to couriers from most other countries. Splitting one order into several boxes to stay under a threshold isn’t allowed. If you want your customer to receive the package without paying anything at the door, ask FedEx to bill duties and taxes to you as the shipper.
What Can’t You Ship to Canada With FedEx?
Canada restricts or prohibits some goods regardless of carrier, including certain foods, plants and animal products, weapons, and items that need permits. FedEx adds its own limits, such as rules for lithium batteries and other dangerous goods, which must be declared and packed under air transport regulations.
Check the item against Canadian import rules before you ship, because a refused or seized package isn’t refunded. Our FedEx frequently asked questions page covers common restrictions, and the guide to FedEx shipping fees and what drives cost explains the surcharges that apply on top of the base rate.
Are UPS or USPS Alternatives to FedEx for Canada?
Yes. UPS ships to Canada with UPS Standard by ground and with UPS Worldwide Express and Expedited services by air, and USPS sends packages to Canada through Priority Mail International and Priority Mail Express International. If you’re open to UPS or USPS instead, ParcelPath offers up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS, with no subscription, per-label fee or minimums.
You can compare live UPS and USPS rates to Canada in the ParcelPath calculator for your package’s weight and size. For other cross-border lanes, our UPS shipping guide covers UPS’s services, and we also explain whether UPS ships to Puerto Rico and whether UPS ships to APO military addresses, where USPS is usually required.
How Do You Ship a Package to Canada With FedEx?
Shipping to Canada with FedEx takes a few more steps than a domestic label, almost all of them for customs.
- Weigh and measure the packed box, since FedEx bills the greater of actual and dimensional weight.
- Create the shipment on fedex.com, choose the service, and enter the recipient’s full Canadian address with postal code and phone number.
- Complete the customs details for each item: description, quantity, value and country of origin.
- Choose who pays duties and taxes and whether to use FedEx’s brokerage or your own broker.
- Print the label and commercial invoice, attach them, and drop the package at a FedEx location or schedule a pickup.
FedEx’s network reaches many more countries than Canada; our guide to whether FedEx delivers internationally covers the wider network, and our FedEx shipping guide covers rates, tracking and services at home. For more lanes beyond the U.S. and Canada, browse our international shipping guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does FedEx ship to Canada by ground?
Yes. FedEx International Ground ships packages under 150 lbs from the U.S. to Canada in 2 to 7 international business days, with time-definite delivery. FedEx can handle customs clearance through its broker-inclusive option, or you can name your own customs broker. Shipments over 150 lbs move through FedEx Freight services instead.
How long does FedEx take to deliver to Canada?
FedEx International Priority typically delivers to Canada in 1 to 3 business days, FedEx International Economy in 2 to 5 business days, and FedEx International Ground in 2 to 7 international business days. These commitments don’t include time for customs clearance, so a package with incomplete paperwork can take longer than the published window.
Does my recipient pay duties on a FedEx package to Canada?
Often, yes, unless the shipper pays. For courier shipments from the U.S., Canada charges no taxes on goods valued up to CAD 40 and no duty on CUSMA-originating goods up to CAD 150. Above those values, the recipient usually pays duties, taxes and any clearance fees, unless the shipper chooses to bill them to itself.
What is the weight limit for FedEx packages to Canada?
FedEx International Ground accepts packages under 150 lbs, and FedEx International Priority and International Economy accept individual packages up to 150 lbs. Heavier or palletized shipments go through FedEx Freight services. Every package is billed at the greater of its actual weight and its dimensional weight.
Sources
- FedEx: FedEx International Ground to Canada
- FedEx: International shipping services and delivery commitments (fedex.com)
- Canada Border Services Agency: Low-value shipments under CUSMA, courier and postal thresholds (cbsa-asfc.gc.ca)
- USPS: Priority Mail International
- UPS: International shipping services
Part of our Does FedEx Deliver Internationally guide. Related: FedEx Shipping: Rates, Tracking and Services.
