Ocean & Air Freight Shipping from the US to Canada

Canada and the U.S. have one of the largest trading relationships in the globe. In 2022, bilateral trade between the two countries reached a value of $1.3 trillion in goods and services. 

If you’re a U.S. business that wants to take advantage of your country’s trade relations with Canada, you’ve come to the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about ocean and air freight shipping from the U.S. to Canada. 

What Are the Options for Shipping Freight From the US to Canada?

To ship goods from the U.S. to Canada, you can engage ocean or air freight. 

Ocean Freight From the US to Canada

Ocean freight offers a versatile and cost-efficient way to ship your goods from the U.S. to Canada. Shipping by sea allows you two options: less than container load (LCL) and full container load (FCL)

In LCL, your goods will be consolidated with other shipments coming from the U.S. and bound for Canada. They will be shipped together in one container, which means that you share the cost with other shippers. However, the consolidation process makes LCL transit times much longer than FCL. 

FCL, on the other hand, allows you to rent an entire container for shipping solely your cargo. This makes it ideal for large and heavy shipments or shipping goods in high volumes. FCL’s isolated shipping makes transit times faster but is also more expensive than LCL. 

Air Freight from the US to Canada

Another option to ship goods from the U.S. to Canada is air freight. This is the fastest and most secure mode of shipment, but air freight does come with its cons. It has strict regulations and limitations when it comes to the type of goods that you can ship, as well as their size, weight, and volume. Air freight is also more expensive than ocean freight. 

How Much Does it Cost to Ship Cargo From the US to Canada?

The cost to ship goods from the U.S. to Canada will depend on the following factors: 

• Your choice of ocean or air shipping




• Your preference for door-to-door, port-to-port, port-to-door, or door-to-port deliveries




• Your consignment’s weight, volume, and size




• Weight and size limits

How long does it take to ship cargo from the US to Canada?

The transit time for shipping cargo from the U.S. to Canada will depend primarily on your chosen shipment mode: ocean freight or air freight. 

How long does it take to ship cargo by sea from the US to Canada?

It takes approximately 11-34 days to ship cargo by sea from the U.S. to Canada via FCL. LCL's transit time can go as far as 14-3 days. The table below provides estimated transit times for common trade lanes.

How long does it take to ship cargo by air from the US to Canada?

Air freight shipping from the U.S. to Canada will take around 8-13 days. Take a look at the table below for transit times according to airports of origin and destination.

Customs Clearance in the US and Canada

When your goods arrive in Canada, they will need to be inspected by Canadian customs before a successful import. This process should be a breeze, provided that you have submitted the following documents: 

• A commercial invoice
• A packing list
• A certificate of origin
• A letter of credit or other payment terms (depending on the contract between the parties involved)
• A bill of lading for ocean freight or an Airway Bill for air freight

You can refer to our full documents list for examples of these customs clearance requirements.

Should You Choose Ocean Freight or Air Freight?

Whether to ship with ocean freight or air freight is an important decision that must take your needs and priorities into account. Here are some considerations you should make. 

Ocean Freight

Ocean freight is the cheapest way to get your goods from the U.S. to Canada. It also allows you to ship any type of goods regardless of nature, size, weight, and volume. But remember that ocean freight has longer transit times than air freight. 

Considerations for LCL Freight Shipping

LCL freight shipping is best if you’re shipping cargo that is: 

• Small, lightweight
• Few in volume 
• Suitable for consolidation with other shipments 
• Not requiring special handling or careful movement 
• Not delicate, fragile, or high-value
• Not expected to arrive in Canada at a specified time

Considerations for FCL Freight Shipping

If LCL doesn’t work for you, you might consider FCL. This mode of shipment is a good choice for cargo that is: 

• Large, heavy, oversized, or overweight
• High in volume 
• Not suitable for consolidation with other shipments 
• Requiring special handling and careful movement 
• Delicate, fragile, or high-value
• Expected to arrive in Canada at a specified time

Air Freight

If speed is your top priority, you should go with air freight. This mode of shipment can get your cargo to Canada in only a couple of days and offers the most secure way of transporting cargo. However, keep in mind that these benefits come with an expensive price tag. Air freight also has restrictions that may limit what type of goods you can ship and how big or heavy they can be. 

Ocean Cargo Port Guide

Cargo ports of origin in the US

Port of Houston

The Port of Houston in Texas, USA, is the busiest in the country. It handles 284.9 million tonnes of cargo annually, both inwards and outwards. It has a trade operations value that amounts to a whopping $158.8 billion annually. 

Port of South Louisiana

The Port of South Louisiana is located in Laplace, with a floor area that extends from New Orleans to Baton Rogue. Its cargo operations have existed since the 1940s, handling 60% of grain cargo in the Midwest. 

Port of New York and New Jersey

The Port of New York and New Jersey has a 25-mile harbor, making it the largest natural harbor in the world. It is the U.S.’s most profitable port, with a net annual turnover of $5.5 billion. 

Cargo ports of arrival in Canada

Port of Montreal

The Port of Montreal is located in the Saint Lawrence River seaway and serves the areas of Quebec and Montreal. It has the shortest direct trade route between Europe, the Mediterranean, and North America. 

Port of Prince Rupert

The Port of Prince Rupert is a secondary port to the Port of Vancouver. Its facility can store over 200,000 tonnes of goods, primarily comprising Canada’s natural resources like grain, lumber, and metallurgical coal. 

Port of Halifax

The Port of Halifax is located at the gateway of cargo traffic in and out of North America. It connects 150 economies around the world and is known for its efficiency. The port has self-imposed deadlines that allow it to move cargo quickly. 

Air Freight from the US to Canada: An airport guide

Airports of origin in the US

Memphis International Airport

The Memphis International Airport serves civil and military operations in Shelby County, Tennessee. It is Memphis’ primary airport, handling both passenger and cargo traffic. The airport houses airlines such as Delta Air Lines and FedEx Express.

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport

The Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport is one of the USA’s major airports located in Alaska. It handles a range of airlines for cargo operations, including Alaska Airlines, Atlas Air, FedEx Express, Northern Pacific Airways, Polar Air Cargo, Ravn Alaska, and UPS Airlines.

Louisville International Airport

Formally called the Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport, this airport is located in Jefferson County, Kentucky. It is the second-busiest airport in the U.S. in terms of cargo traffic, handling 2.89 million tonnes of cargo per year. 

Airports of arrival in Canada

Calgary International Airport 

The Calgary International Airport serves Alberta, Canada. It is the fourth-busiest Canadian airport by passenger traffic and handles various cargo operations. Its cargo area spans 3,000,000 square feet of warehouse space for cargo handling. 

Edmonton International Airport

The Edmonton International Airport also serves the Canadian province of Alberta. It is the largest major airport in Canada by land area, spanning 28 square kilometers of land. It is also the 9th busiest airport by aircraft movement, including passenger and cargo traffic. 

Gander International Airport

The Gander International Airport is found in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is a hub for airlines such as Air Canada Express, Exploits Valley Air, PAL Airlines, and Sunwing Airlines.