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Finding the best shipping options for shipping your parcels domestically or internationally doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, once you figure out which services work best for local deliveries, shipments heading across Canada, or crossborder, you’ll be able to develop a workflow of automatically selecting the best carrier service and package type for each parcel. With ShipStation Canada, you can integrate with the world’s top ecommerce platforms. You can also save additional time by automatically generating customs forms for your international shipments.
Finding the best shipping options for shipping your parcels domestically or internationally doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, once you figure out which services work best for local deliveries, shipments heading across Canada, or crossborder, you’ll be able to develop a workflow of automatically selecting the best carrier service and package type for each parcel.
With ShipStation Canada, you can integrate with the world’s top ecommerce platforms.
You can also save additional time by automatically generating customs forms for your international shipments. We’ll go over all the best services based on when your customers need their order and maybe even give you a few new options to choose from!
Below are the carriers you can connect to ShipStation. They can serve similar functions or have unique purposes like international or express shipping. Regardless of what your shipping needs are, you can satisfy them with these carriers below.
With the broadest and most thorough delivery network available within Canada, Canada Post is a trusted shipping provider for many businesses and individuals alike. Businesses can sign up for a commercial shipping account with Canada Post or create a small business account. However, if you would like to upgrade your small business account, ShipStation offers discounted rates that are better than you’d find on small business accounts.
Purolator is a great carrier to use when you have specific time frames you need parcels delivered. They have both domestic and international shipping options available for both morning, by-noon, and afternoon delivery windows.
UPS is one of the most trusted carriers in the world. With parcel and express document services for all budgets, businesses and individuals trust UPS to deliver shipments in a timely manner. Whether domestic or international, UPS offers solutions for all types of shipping needs.
GlobalPost is a great international carrier that ships to 220+ countries with hassle-free delivery, flexible duty and tax options (DDP or DDU), and full tracking—seamlessly integrated with your shipping platform.
One of the most trusted names in international delivery, DHL delivers to countries all over the world in an affordable and timely manner that has kept them at the forefront of logistics. What’s more, ShipStation’s integration with DHL. ShipStation integrates with both DHL Express and DHL eCommerce, depending on which service best fits your shipping needs.
FedEx is a global leader in parcel delivery. Excelling in domestic and international delivery options, they are frequently used for day-definite delivery services the world over, even making final delivery on behalf of other Canadian couriers’ international express services.
CanPar Express offers shipping to all 10 provinces and the continental US. Best of all, ShipStation users get instant access to CanPar upon signup. Compare shipping rates between all carriers to find the best option for your domestic and crossborder shipping needs. For information about their international shipping options, check CanPar’s website for the most up-to-date transit times.
Sendle is a simple, reliable, and affordable national shipping service provider built for small businesses. They offer competitive rates (lower than commercial prices) with free pickups, easy drop-offs, 24/7 support, real-time tracking, and cover against loss or damage. Customers only pay for what they ship with no hidden fees and no subscriptions required.
One of the biggest factors that will increase a shipping rate is the distance between the ship-from location and the customer. Many metro areas have larger hubs and sorting facilities with a larger fleet of vehicles to make deliveries quicker and more affordable. However, shipping cross-country or to territories or First Nation reserves can cause shipping rates and transit times to increase dramatically.
A package’s weight and dimensions impact its shipping rate because of the space and mass it takes up on a plane or carrier truck. Every few hundred grams or so, a package’s rate will increase. Additionally, as a package grows in size, the more a rate will increase.
Domestic shipping can be tricky. Whether you’re shipping from Toronto to Montréal, or from Vancouver to a remote outpost, there is not usually a one-size-fits-all shipping solution. Whether you are sending a package out that is not time-sensitive, or your customer needs it tomorrow morning! there are a wide range of options available.
These are services that don’t have a specific date they will be delivered by. They can take up to 10 days to make final delivery depending on how remote the delivery area is. Occasionally, carriers will apply additional remote area/fuel surcharges to these parcels. Keep in mind that shipping between metro areas is generally much more affordable and quick—sometimes even making final delivery in a day or two! These are the most economical options available from our support carriers to ship domestically within Canada.
These services tend to take between 3–5 days to make final delivery. If you are shipping between metropolitan areas, it is likely that the transit time and shipping will not be on the higher end. However, the longer the distance and more remote the location, the more this will impact shipping rates and transit time.
These services tend to take between 2–4 days to make final delivery. As with other service types, these transit times and rates are quicker and more affordable when shipping to metro areas.
These are services that are day-definite, next-day delivery options for shipping within Canada. While other services listed above can make final delivery sooner, these services are guaranteed to reach their destination within the timeframe advertised by the carrier. If you are using a shipping service like ShipStation, the shipment will not process and we will not display a rate if a service is not available for a selected order. Keep in mind that there are situations where domestic express options will not be available for a desired order. This is particularly if it is late in the day or if the customer is in a remote area.
The US is Canada’s largest shipping partner. As such, being a successful ecommerce merchant means having a good shipping strategy for your customers south of the border. Luckily, you get access to a wide array of affordable crossborder shipping options when you sign up for ShipStation. Below are the best services available for you to easily and affordably ship to your American customers.
Luckily, ShipStation makes international shipping simple. If you want to learn more about how to get started with customers forms or taking your business to the next level of international shipping, read our Getting Started with International Shipping guide.
If you have lightweight parcels that you want to send crossborder, Canada Post has a couple of great options that you can choose from. Both of these are for parcels weighing less than 2 kg.
If your customer isn’t in a rush to receive their parcel, there are some great economical crossborder services available to you from ShipStation. These shipping options range anywhere from 3–7 shipping days without having day-definite guarantees.
There are many options available to merchants wanting to ship express parcels to customers in the US. Luckily, relationships with UPS, USPS, and FedEx are strong and allow for quick crossborder import with very little delays.
Expanding to global markets is a rewarding and challenging step that takes your business to the next level. Luckily there are many great carriers to choose from that can help you provide the best services for all of your customers, regardless of where they live.
Shipping globally takes more time than shipping to the US. Europe and Latin America generally take the shortest amount of time, while Asian, Australia, Africa, and Pacific islands can take longer.
These are the slower, more affordable shipping options that are generally reserved for lightweight items that don’t need to be delivered as urgently. There are many options available within ShipStation.
These are international shipping services that take between 3–5 business days to reach their final destination.
While there are a surprising number of international express shipping options available, many of them are only available to supported locations around the world. So, a label for an order going to London or Mexico City is a lot more likely to be produced than one going to Uzbekistan. These day-definite services are not only next-day or two-day services. Some of them are also available as 3-day services. And, given the way international shipping has been going lately, a money-back guarantee is nice to lean on when dealing with these high-dollar services and the items people want shipped internationally so quickly.
ShipStation is all about simplifying shipping. The less time you spend shipping, the more time you can spend building your brand and finding ways to grow your business into new markets. Or, you could also just relax more. Either way, with ShipStation, you have access to all the top carriers, selling channels, and automations you need to make shipping simpler.
When your orders import into ShipStation from wherever you sell your products, ShipStation is already working to configure the best shipping options. Whether it’s a shipping service your customer chose, an option you found in this blog, or your preferred shipping method, there’s no need to manually apply the service with ShipStation. This can all be set up to run like clockwork. That way, when you log into ShipStation, your orders are ready to ship.
International and crossborder shipping doesn’t have to be complicated! With ShipStation, you can create your required customs forms at the same time as the labels.
ShipStation not only helps your internal shipping processes. We can also help elevate the shipping process for your customers. Beyond the fact that we help you get your orders to customers quicker and for less money, you also get access to high-quality shipping confirmation emails, delivery confirmation emails, return portals, and tracking pages. There are so many unknowns during the shipping process, and great correspondence conveys your commitment to customers.
Find out how much time and money you can save by switching to ShipStation. Try it free for 30 days.
James Messer is a copywriter specializing in shipping, logistics, and ecommerce.