Does Amazon Canada Ship to the U.S In 2024? Everything Americans Need to Know
As the second largest country in the world by total area, Canada‘s proximity, economic ties and established shipping routes with the United States make cross-border e-commerce extremely viable for online shoppers. With Amazon‘s continuous expansion in reach and selection globally, U.S. customers may wonder: does Amazon Canada ship to the US?
The answer is yes – American shoppers absolutely can browse and buy from Amazon‘s Canadian website, Amazon.ca as of 2023. While international shipping fees and potential customs charges apply, unlocking the Canadian selection can be worthwhile for savvy U.S. buyers.
Steady Growth in Canada to U.S. E-Commerce
Canada shipped over USD $21 billion in goods to the United States in 2020 alone according to Statista. While total e-commerce transactions dipped in 2020 amid COVID-19 impacts, Statista forecasts over 8% annualized growth from 2021-2025 as markets rebound and cross-border online shopping continues to accelerate.
Within this overall trend, e-commerce leaders like Amazon are poised to capture an increasing share of Canada to U.S shipments. Already in 2020, Amazon Canada represented 4.7% of total Canadian online sales. With the seamless account integration across Amazon‘s country sites, growth prospects look bullish.
How Shipping from Amazon Canada to U.S. Works
As an American customer, the experience of browsing and buying on Amazon Canada is the same familiar process – the key difference is your items ship internationally rather than domestically.
Once purchased, items will ship directly from Canadian sellers and Amazon fulfillment centers to your address in the United States. Delivery times average 5-8 business days for standard shipping and 3-5 days with priority methods.
You‘ll want to factor in a few key considerations for cross-border Amazon orders:
- Currency conversion – Amazon handles conversion from Canadian (CAD) to U.S dollars (USD) automatically based on daily exchange rates
- Duties & import fees – For goods valued at over $800 CAD, expect to pay added customs duties around 2-10% on top of shipping costs
- Taxes – Sales tax varies by state, while states like Alaska and Oregon have no state sales tax
- Returns – 30 day return window still applies, with refunds within 7 days of Amazon receiving
To offset costs, focusing your Amazon Canada orders on goods priced desirably even after currency fluctuation, duty and shipping fees makes economic sense.
Tips for U.S. Shoppers to Save on Amazon Canada Shipping
Take advantage of the favorable exchange rate between USD and CAD by following these tips:
- Price check unique items – Some specialty, rare or limited edition products exclusive to Amazon.ca can justify added shipping fees
- Leverage Amazon Global program – Simplified duties/shipping/returns through Amazon make buying international easier
- Consider Amazon CanadaPrime – Access faster shipping for CAD $99/year
Additionally, the de minims threshold before duties kick in for Canada to U.S. orders is a generous USD $800. So for many everyday purchases from Amazon Canada, no import charges apply at all.
How Other Canada to U.S. Shipping Carriers Compare
Beyond Amazon itself, U.S. buyers have additional options for smooth Canada cross-border delivery:
| Carrier | Average Shipping Time | Tracking | Extra Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS | 1-3 days priority | Yes | ~$10 brokerage on mid-size packages |
| DHL Express | 1-3 days | Yes | $10-$20 for duties/processing |
| FedEx | 3-5 days | Yes | $20+ duties + clearance entry |
| Purolator | 3-5 days | Yes | $10+ duties + brokerage |
Third party logistics providers like Borderfree can also help facilitate duties payments and imported tracking. However, top carriers now offer improved visibility and duty pre-payment themselves. This makes them competitive options vs. Amazon Canada‘s branded shipping for U.S. buyers willing to forgo free Prime terms or easy returns under Amazon Global.
For American consumers, Amazon Canada unlock considerable added e-commerce selection with reliable cross-border shipping in 2024. As exchange rates, expanded Prime benefits and improving carrier options combine to reduce costs, buying from Canada becomes increasingly compelling vs. U.S. only selection.
Savvy shoppers stand to realize significant savings and product variety by tapping into the advantages of shopping Amazon‘s Canadian site. While added fees still apply, fast delivery times make Amazon.ca to U.S. shipping a smooth process overall.
