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Delivery standards
Here’s an overview of delivery standards for Parcel Services shipping in Canada.
Parcel Services shipping in Canada delivery standards overview
Delivery area | PriorityTM | XpresspostTM | Expedited ParcelTM | Flat rate box | Regular ParcelTM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Major Urban Centres 1, 2 | |||||
Local | Next day | Next day | 1 - 2 days | 1 - 2 days | 1 - 3 days |
Regional | Next day | Next day |
1 - 4 days | 1 - 4 days | 3 - 6 days |
National | Next day | 2 days | 2 - 8 days | 2 - 8 days | 4 - 10 days |
Non-Major Urban Centres 1, 2 | |||||
Local | Next day | Next day | 1 - 2 days | 1 - 2 days | 2 - 3 days |
Regional | 1 - 2 days | 2 days |
2 - 5 days | 2 - 5 days | 3 - 7 days |
National | 1 - 3 days | 3 days |
4 - 12 days |
4 - 12 days |
4 - 13 days |
Northern Regions and Remote Centres 1, 2 | |||||
Local | 5 days | 5 days | 6 - 7 days | 6 - 7 days | 6 - 9 days |
Regional | 5 - 7 days | 5 - 7 days |
6 - 14 days | 6 - 14 days |
6 - 14 days |
National | 5 - 8 days | 5 - 8 days |
6 - 14 days | 6 - 14 days |
7 - 14 days |
1 Some exceptions apply. See Delivery standards for details.
2 Exact delivery standards exist for every origin-destination combination. Find the specific delivery standard from your postal code to a Canadian destination at canadapost.ca/deliverytool.
Actual delivery times depend on origin, destination, weather conditions and other factors.
Definition of terms
Regional: An item moves within the same region. For example, Vancouver to Winnipeg.
National: An item moves between Canadian regions. For example, Vancouver to Halifax.
Major Urban Center: An area with a processing facility for sorting, processing, and distributing parcels and mail.
Non-major urban centre: An area without a processing facility.
Canadian regions
Atlantic
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Prince Edward Island
- Nova Scotia
- New Brunswick
Central
- Quebec
- Ontario (including Northwestern Ontario Postal CodesOM P7A to P7L, P8N, P8T, P9A, P9N, and P0T to P0Y)
Western
- British Columbia
- Alberta
- Saskatchewan
- Manitoba
- Northwestern Ontario (Postal CodesOM P7A to P7L, P8N, P8T, P9A, P9N, and P0T to P0Y)
Nunavut East
- X0A
Nunavut West
- X0B
- X0C
Northwest Territories
- X0E
- X0G
- X1A
Yukon
Yukon is its own region
Important information about Parcel Services shipping in Canada delivery standards
- Priority service isn’t available to or from air stage offices.
- On-Time Delivery Guarantee isn’t available 1 to or from air stage offices for:
- Xpresspost™
- Expedited Parcel™
- Flat rate box
1 Exceptions apply.
Delivery standards are the expected transit time – in business days – from the next business day after deposit to the first delivery attempt. Delivery standards exclude the day of mailing, weekends, and statutory holidays. We consider any item deposited on a statutory holiday, on a weekend, or after local cut-off times (for example, after the last collection time specified on the street letter box or after the post office cut-off time), as deposited on the next business day.
Delivery standards don’t apply to:
- Redirected or returned items
- Improperly packaged or prepared items
- Incorrectly addressed items
Other exceptions apply.
Delivery standards are subject to change without notice. Terms and conditions apply. For more information, visit our Delivery standards page.
Our On-Time Delivery Guarantee applies to some services (see the table on the Features and options overview page). Except where the On-Time Delivery Guarantee applies, all delivery standards are estimates only and aren't guaranteed. The On-Time Delivery Guarantee may be modified during a peak period or suspended due to causes beyond Canada Post’s reasonable control, including, but not limited to:
- Acts of God
- Inclement weather
- Epidemics
- Acts of terrorism
- Acts of war
- Flight or ferry delays or cancellations
- Riots
- Labour disruption
- Customs or other regulatory authorities
- Unanticipated surges in volume
- Any act or default of the customer,
- or any failures or fluctuations in electrical power, heat, light, air conditioning or telecommunications equipment or lines, or other equipment if applicable.
The On-Time Delivery Guarantee is subject to terms and conditions. For more information, see the General Terms and Conditions.