For most small parcels the cheapest route is not the counter price at any carrier. It is a discounted rate bought through a shipping consolidator or an online label service, which pools volume to negotiate lower prices.
Your options, cheapest first for typical small parcels
- Consolidators that collect parcels in Canada and inject them into the US postal system.
- Discounted online labels for Canada Post, UPS or FedEx purchased through a reseller.
- Retail counter rates at a post office or courier store.
Costs people forget
- Dimensional weight: large light boxes are billed by size.
- Brokerage and duties charged to the US recipient if the shipment is not prepaid.
- Address correction and return fees from incomplete labels.
Get the paperwork right
Describe the contents clearly, give an honest value and include the correct origin. Vague descriptions are the most common cause of customs delays on cross-border parcels.