Feeling overwhelmed trying to find the best option for sending mail to Canada? You’re not alone.
As the first direct mail automation platform in Canada, we spend a lot of time studying the best ways of sending mail to the country.
If you are a US-based company looking to break into international markets, the Canadian market is a great way to expand your business. 67% of purchases by Canadians are made in other countries, including the U.S.
Canadians are very similar to their American neighbors. For example, they primarily use the English language to do business, and they love American products, making Canada one of the most accessible international markets to tap into.
One of the most effective ways to target new customers is by using direct personalized mail. Direct mail gives marketers a way to stand out and make a bigger impact than digital or email alone. Sending a personalized physical item to a prospect or customer is far more effective than an email that is easily ignored.
If you’d like to take advantage of this opportunity and plan to send postcards, letters, or even packages to Canadians, you need to know how to send mail to Canada.
Below, we will detail your postage to Canada options, pricing, and how long it takes to send your mail to Canada.
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Are you looking to generate more leads in Canada?
If you’re a direct mail marketer, then using the right direct mail automation and local mailing service is crucial for generating more leads and improving sales in Canadia.
If you’re building a direct mail campaign in Canada, arm yourself with the best direct mail solutions by creating your free account today. With our revolutionary tech and competitive prices, you’re bound to stand out and grow your business.
How to send direct mail to Canada
If you plan to send direct mail to Canada to promote your business, it is important to choose the best option available. Marketing costs can run high otherwise.
If you use the USPS to send mail to Canada, the First Class Mail service offered by the post office is more expensive than printing and mailing natively in Canada and does not include a practical tracking service. You are also paying for international delivery when there is no need to.
Businesses will be far better off using mailing services like Postalytics to send their direct mail campaigns to Canada.
Postalystics uses the reliable services of Canada Post, and in addition, tracking is offered as part of the service. Each postcard you design with the free postcard templates is tagged with a unique barcode scanned by Canada Post, allowing you to track each mailpiece via a personalized online dashboard from Postalytics. That way, you’ll know exactly when your mail sent arrives at its destination.
How to ship to Canada with USPS
Sending mail and packages to Canada is just as easy as sending mail in the U.S. with USPS postage. The process is almost identical to what you are used to, but a package or envelope sent to Canada is considered an international shipment when sent from the United States. This means that you will need to factor in shipping costs for your small or large envelopes or packages, even if they do not have to travel far. It is treated as international mail delivery, and international shipping rates apply.
But, don’t worry, as we will provide you with a far better solution than using the United States postal service for your mail delivery.
How to address mail to Canada
Stick to this format when addressing your envelope or package to Canada. Put down the entire address neatly in capital letters, use a pen or permanent marker on the package, and do not use commas or periods.
Write sender address
Write your U.S. address (the “return address”) in the upper left corner.
Include the following information on separate lines: Your full name or company name, apartment or suite number, full street address, city, state, and Zip +4 Code, USA.
Write delivery address
Write the complete address in the center of the label or package in English.
Include the following information on separate lines: Recipient’s full name or company name, full street address, city, subdistrict (such as province, state, county), and postal code, Canada.
Canadian address format, example:
Canadian addresses use the format below.
| First line | Mr./Mrs. X |
| Second Line | 1010 Clear Street |
| Third line | OTTAWA ON K1AOB1 |
| Fourth line | Canada |
What if mail to Canada is incorrectly addressed?
Again this is where the benefit of using Postalytics comes to the fore.
If you are unsure of Canada’s correct post office postal codes, then there is no need to fear. The Postalytics software will automatically check the Zip/Postal Codes and State/Province entries for each contact and validate whether they are properly formatted for mailing in Canada.
In addition, when using Postalytics for your Canada direct mail, the automation manages invalid addresses and prevents you from wasting your time and money on incorrect Canadian addresses.
Canada Postage Rates
Canada Postage rates differ based on the service you choose to send your mail. Personalized Mail is one of Canada Post’s most affordable services and is recommended for direct mail campaigns. It allows businesses to send personalized mail to individuals or key audience members. For example, a real estate agent can send mail to anyone looking to sell or buy property in the area. Similarly, a supermarket may send mail to everyone in its area as part of its marketing plan.
Letter and postcard mail to Canada
Here are some of the options you have for sending a letter or postcard to Canada in more detail.
Sending a letter to Canada: postage prices
Postage prices for Personalized Mail depend on several factors. The maximum weight of a letter or package, the dimensions, and shape of your package, the delivery time, and the destination all affect the price. The distance between departure and delivery is also a significant factor determining postage rates.
Canada Post Personalized Mail offers postage rates starting at $0.505 for standard machinable items up to 50g. Personalized mail must meet all requirements to qualify for personalized mail rates, including the correct sizes, address accuracy, and mail preparation.
Sending a postcard to Canada: postage to Canada prices
A postcard can be a very effective marketing tool for your business when done correctly. If you have never created a postcard before then, you can take advantage of the marketing tools that Postalytics offers.
With pre-designed templates available for free from Postalytics, you can be sure your postcards and mailers meet the size specifications required for Personalized Mail. Along with automatic verification of mailing address and address format, your mail will qualify for the lowest rates every time. Working with Postalytics ensures you receive the best postage rate using Canada Post Personalized Mail.
You can choose from Postalytics’ month-to-month subscription options for Personalized Mail: Free Plan, Pro & Agency Plans, or Marketer Plan. All offer complete solutions for sending Canada Post personalized mail for one unit price.
First Class Mail International postage to Canada
We do not advise using First Class international postage to Canada. Instead, utilize the Postalytics mailing tool in conjunction with the local services of Canada Post, so you only need to pay the cost of domestic mail. You will also avoid the need to print shipping labels or deal with a customs form.
How many stamps do I need to send a letter to Canada?
If you’re sending a letter to Canada, basic postage fees will cover the first three ounces of your mail. There are two options for letters over three ounces: Global First Class Forever Stamps priced at $1.20 a piece or three US First Class Forever Stamps.
When you use the Posalytics online tool to send letters, you will also have the peace of mind that you are paying the correct postage without visiting the local post office.
Can I mail a letter to Canada with Forever Stamps?
You can mail a letter to Canada from the United States with Domestic Forever Stamps, but this is not recommended to anyone targeting Canadian customers as there is no need to pay international prices.
The use of Domestic Forever Stamps or even a Global Forever Stamp results in higher prices for your letter postage. Forget about calculating whether you need one global forever stamp, two global forever stamps, three global forever stamps, or more. When using the Postalytics system, there is no need to use a domestic forever stamp, ensuring you save with your postage online.
Sending mail to Canada: What you need to know
Canada Post is the only postal service that delivers to every address in Canada. With 6,200 postal offices, it’s easy to reach your customers no matter where they are. Combine the power of Canada Post with the Postalytics Mailing Automation tool for excellent rates, shipping automation, and other benefits.
Now we’ve covered the basics, let’s cover some of the common questions about this service.
How long does it take for mail to get to an address in Canada?
Canada is a large country, and delivery times and delivery speed will vary.
Canada Post also recognizes federal holidays, and on those days, packages are temporarily held in transit. Occasionally, there may be a backlog, especially during peak times such as Christmas. Weather-related delays can also play a role. Due to these factors, it can sometimes take longer for mail to arrive than expected.
We advise factoring in some flexibility in your campaign delivery times to allow for unexpected delays. The good news is, with the Postalytics tracking system, you will be able to see exactly where your mail is at any time.
Can I track my mail in Canada?
Not all Canada Post mailing services offer mail tracking, but Personalized Mail does. Each item is barcoded so the sender can track where it is in the postal system and when it will be delivered. When you combine this with Postalytics’ tracking software, you can track your mail in Canada and can also use the data generated on your personalized dashboard to optimize a campaign. This is perhaps one of the most useful tools for any business owner or marketer.
Does mail to Canada have to go through customs?
If you send your mail with the USPS, it will need to go through U.S. Customs and the Canadian Border Services Agency. A customs declaration is printed on the label of every international package you send to Canada. Letters and large envelopes will need these declarations if they contain anything of real value.
Of course, any mail sent from within Canada using our mailing tool avoids USPS postage and the need to print customs forms. There may also be more delays at the border, which could hamper your campaign.
The solution here is simple, take advantage of the solution offered by Postalytics by automatically routing Canadian addresses to print and mail in Canada. This will alleviate the stress out of dealing with the customs process and also ensure your mail reaches your target customers quicker.
Final thoughts: Mail to Canada
We have walked you through the steps to send mail to Canada and the postage costs involved. There is the option to send your direct mail from the United States or from Canada. When sending letters and postcards, we do not recommend USPS shipping to Canada as it is not an efficient and cost-effective approach for U.S.-based companies sending bulk direct mail to Canada.
For anyone looking to send direct mail to Canada, there can be only one choice: Postalytics.
Direct mail automation from Postalytics turns direct mail into a digital marketing channel and offers a convenient, accessible, and cost-effective for businesses wishing to tap into the Candian market. It offers the best marketing solution for businesses of any size.
If you want to learn how to send direct or bulk mail to Canada without increasing postage, then sign up with a mailing service like Postalytics to send mail to Canada straight away. In addition to the benefits of different designs, tracking, and preferential rates, you will not have to waste your time with addresses, postage stamps, or envelopes. Postalytics automates most of the process for you, giving you the time to reach more potential customers than ever before in Canada while offering a real-time dashboard to ensure you are up to date with all your campaigns.
Are you looking for new tech to generate more leads?
If you’re a direct mail marketer, then using the right direct mail automation and local sending service is crucial for successful performance.
If you’re building a direct mail campaign in Canada, arm yourself with the best direct mail solutions by creating your free account today. With our revolutionary tech and competitive prices, you’re bound to stand out and generate more leads in Canada.
About the Author
Dennis Kelly
Dennis Kelly is CEO and co-founder of Postalytics. Dennis joined Boingnet, the predecessor to Postalytics, in 2013. Boingnet was focused on providing print and direct mail marketing service providers the ability to add digital marketing channels to their direct mail campaigns. Postalytics is Dennis’ 6th startup. He has been involved in starting and growing early-stage technology ventures for over 30 years and has held senior management roles at a diverse set of large technology firms including Computer Associates, Palm Inc. and Achieve Healthcare Information Systems.