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.