Efficient shipping is essential for any WooCommerce store. Offering reliable, cost-effective options improves customer experience and reduces abandoned carts. For Canadian WooCommerce merchants, Canada Post provides an easy solution. Lettermail handles small items like letters or compact products, while Parcel Services cover larger shipments.
In this guide, we’ll show how merchants can use Lettermail and Parcel services and set up Canada Post in WooCommerce to streamline fulfillment.
On This Page
- Why WooCommerce Stores Should Use Canada Post
- Understanding Canada Post Services
- Offer Canada Post Lettermail & Parcel Services in WooCommerce
- Real-World Scenario
- Conclusion
- FAQs
Why WooCommerce Stores Should Use Canada Post
Shipping is a crucial part of running a successful WooCommerce store. Choosing the right carrier ensures timely deliveries, reduces errors, and improves customer satisfaction. For Canadian merchants, Canada Post is a reliable and convenient option that integrates well with WooCommerce.
Using Canada Post, WooCommerce stores can:
- Offer accurate, real-time shipping rates at checkout based on product weight, size, and destination.
- Provide flexible shipping options, including Lettermail for small items and Parcel Services for larger or heavier shipments.
- Automate fulfillment tasks like label printing and tracking updates, saving time and reducing errors.
- Enhance the customer experience, as buyers receive reliable delivery times and automatic tracking notifications.
Let’s dive deeper into how Canada Post supports WooCommerce merchants with efficient and cost-effective shipping.
Understanding Canada Post Services
Canada Post offers multiple shipping options for WooCommerce merchants, covering both lightweight letters and larger parcels. The Letter Mail category includes Lettermail (domestic) and Letter-Post (international). For items that exceed letter-size or weight limits, Canada Post provides Parcel Services.
Canada Post Lettermail Service
Lettermail is designed for domestic shipments within Canada and is ideal for lightweight items such as greeting cards, invoices, or small flat products. Lettermail is ideal for lightweight shipments such as greeting cards, invoices, or small flat items.
Package Types and Dimensions:
- Standard Lettermail: Up to 0.05 kg, maximum size 24.5 cm × 15.6 cm × 0.5 cm
- Other / Non-standard (Oversize): Up to 0.5 kg, maximum size 38 cm × 27 cm × 2 cm
Delivery typically takes:
- Local: 2 business days
- Provincial: 3 business days
- National: 4 business days
Lettermail Shipping Rates:
| Weight Range | Type | Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 30 g | Standard Lettermail | 1.44 |
| Up to 50 g | Standard Lettermail | 1.75 |
| Up to 100 g | Oversize | 2.61 |
| Up to 200 g | Oversize | 4.29 |
| Up to 500 g | Oversize | 7.36 |
Canada Post Letter-Post Service
Letter-Post is used to send letters, cards, or small printed items outside Canada, including the U.S. These services are designed for small, flat items that meet specific size and weight limits.
Package Types and Dimensions:
- Standard Letter-Post Envelopes: Up to 0.05 kg, maximum size 24.5 cm × 15.6 cm × 0.5 cm
- Standard Letter-Post Cards / Postcards: Up to 0.05 kg, maximum size 23.5 cm × 16.5 cm × 0.5 cm
- Other / Non-standard (Oversize) Letter-Post: Up to 0.5 kg, maximum size 38 cm × 27 cm × 2 cm
Delivery typically takes:
- USA: 4-7 business days
- International: 6-14 business days (varies by country)
Letter-Post Shipping Rates:
| Weight Range | Type | USA Cost (CAD) | International Cost (CAD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 0.03 kg | Standard Letter-Post Envelopes | 1.75 | 2.61 |
| Up to 0.05 kg | Standard Letter-Post Cards / Postcards | 2.61 | 3.65 |
| Up to 0.1 kg | Other / Non-standard Letter-Post | 4.29 | 5.21 |
| Up to 0.2 kg | Other / Non-standard Letter-Post | 7.49 | 8.60 |
| Up to 0.5 kg | Other / Non-standard Letter-Post | 14.99 | 29.96 |
Canada Post Parcel Services
For items exceeding Lettermail limits, Canada Post offers several parcel options that provide tracking, insurance, and faster delivery speeds.
Common Parcel Services:
| Service | Coverage | Tracking | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Parcel | Within Canada | Yes | Standard ground delivery |
| Expedited Parcel | Within Canada | Yes | Faster delivery for businesses |
| Xpresspost | Domestic & International | Yes | Guaranteed delivery within 1-2 days |
| Priority | Domestic & International | Yes | Fastest delivery option |
These services automatically apply when the order exceeds letter-size or weight limits, ensuring accurate rates and proper tracking.
Offer Canada Post Lettermail & Parcel Services in WooCommerce
To offer Canada Post Lettermail and Parcel Services in WooCommerce, you can use the Canada Post Shipping Plugin for WooCommerce.
To get started with the plugin, visit the following guide: Canada Post Shipping Guide for WooCommerce.
Once the plugin is configured, you can set up Lettermail for small, lightweight items.
- Lettermail is available for domestic shipments.
- While Letter-Post covers international shipments.
Although the shipping costs for these services are predefined, the plugin provides flexibility to adjust the rates as per your requirements for both Lettermail and Letter-Post.
For larger or heavier shipments, you can enable Parcel Services in the plugin’s settings.
Based on your configuration, live rates will appear at checkout. For products eligible for Lettermail, those rates will be shown; otherwise, parcel service rates will appear if you have enabled them.
In addition, the plugin allows you to generate and print Canada Post shipping labels for Parcel Services directly from your WooCommerce orders.
Lettermail and Letter-Post rates are predefined in the plugin and are not part of the Canada Post API. Printing shipping labels and invoices is not available for Letter-Post services.
Real-World Scenario: WooCommerce Store Using Lettermail & Parcel Services
A Canadian WooCommerce store sells handmade greeting cards and small stationery items. Most of its domestic orders weigh less than 50 g and fit within the standard letter size.
To keep shipping costs low, the store integrates the Canada Post Shipping Plugin to get Lettermail rates.
At checkout, customers purchasing a few cards automatically see Lettermail rates such as $1.44 or $1.75 based on weight. When a customer adds multiple items that exceed the letter size or weight limit, the plugin seamlessly switches to Parcel Services like Regular Parcel or Expedited Parcel.
The store owner can:
- Offer affordable shipping for lightweight domestic and international orders using Lettermail or Letter-Post.
- Provide real-time parcel rates for heavier packages with tracking and delivery confirmation.
- Print and attach Canada Post Parcel labels directly from the WooCommerce dashboard.
- Automatically update customers with tracking numbers for parcel shipments.
This setup helps the merchant maintain low operational costs while delivering fast and reliable service across Canada and internationally.
To see how to use the Canada Post Shipping Plugin in WooCommerce, watch the video.
Conclusion
Canada Post provides a reliable way for WooCommerce stores to ship Lettermail for small items and Parcel Services for larger shipments. Proper setup ensures accurate rates, timely delivery, and tracking updates for customers, improving the overall customer experience.
For help setting up the Canada Post plugin in WooCommerce, contact PluginHive support.
FAQs
- Does the plugin support international shipping?
Yes, the Canada Post Shipping Plugin supports international shipping options, allowing you to offer services like Xpresspost International and Priority Worldwide to customers outside Canada. For more info, check out: Canada Post International Shipping Guide for WooCommerce.
- Can I ship multiple items in one Lettermail package?
Yes, multiple small items can be combined into one Lettermail package as long as the total weight and size stay within the allowed limits.
- Is insurance available for Lettermail or Letter-Post?
Insurance is only available for registered Lettermail or Letter-Post and for Parcel Services. Standard Lettermail and Letter-Post do not include insurance.
- Can I offer expedited shipping with Canada Post?
Yes. For parcels, you can use services like Expedited Parcel, Xpresspost, or Priority for faster delivery. Lettermail and Letter-Post are standard services without guaranteed speed.
