Note: USPS prices are retail prices as of October 2026 (USPS Notice 123, effective October 4, 2026). Customs rules are as published by USPS, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Canada Border Services Agency as of October 19, 2026. International rules change often, so check the destination’s requirements before you ship.

International Shipping Guide: USPS, DHL, FedEx for Global Packages

For a small, light package going abroad, USPS is usually the cheapest choice. As of October 2026, First-Class Package International Service started at $19.40 to Canada and $23.05 to the United Kingdom for packages up to 8 oz. It is limited to 4 lb and contents worth less than $400, and it includes no insurance. Priority Mail International (6-10 business days) adds tracking and up to $200 of merchandise insurance, and its Flat Rate boxes cap the price for heavy items. Express carriers (FedEx, UPS and DHL Express) are faster and handle customs clearance door to door, at higher prices.

The biggest changes in 2026 are on the customs side:

Since July 1, 2026, the European Union charges a flat €3 duty on low-value parcels it used to let in duty-free.
Canada added a surtax on certain U.S.-origin goods in September 2026.
USPS now requires a detailed description of every item on international customs forms.

Key Takeaways

Under 4 lb and under $400 in value: USPS First-Class Package International Service is the budget option. There’s no insurance, and tracking is available only to some destinations.
Heavier or valuable items: Priority Mail International (6-10 business days) or Priority Mail Express International (3-5 business days) include tracking and up to $200 of merchandise insurance.
Speed and customs handling: FedEx’s international services include door-to-door customs clearance, and FedEx says its network reaches more than 220 countries and territories.
Describe every item specifically on the customs form, for example “men’s cotton shirt,” not “clothes.” The receiving country can return or destroy packages with vague forms.
Budget for duties. EU countries now apply a €3 flat duty per item type on parcels up to €150, and Canada applies a 2026 surtax to some U.S.-origin goods, even below its duty-free thresholds.

USPS International Services (as of October 2026)

Service	Starting retail price	USPS delivery estimate	Weight limit	Tracking	Insurance
First-Class Package International Service	$19.40	Varies by destination	4 lb; contents under $400	Only to select destinations	Not available
Priority Mail International	$32.65 (Flat Rate Envelope to Canada)	6-10 business days	Flat Rate Envelope and Small Box 4 lb; Medium and Large Flat Rate Boxes 20 lb; by weight up to 70 lb (country limits may be lower)	Included	Up to $200 for merchandise; buy up to $5,000
Priority Mail Express International	$62.70 (Flat Rate Envelope to Canada)	3-5 business days	Flat Rate Envelope 4 lb; boxes up to 70 lb (country limits may be lower)	Included	Up to $200 for merchandise; buy up to $5,000. Money-back guarantee to some destinations.
First-Class Mail International	$3.30 (large envelope)	Varies	Documents only, under 1 lb	Not available	Not available

Country weight limits vary. For example, Priority Mail International allows 66 lb to Canada and the United Kingdom, 70 lb to Germany and Mexico, and 44 lb to Australia.

First-Class Package International Service: sample prices

Destination	Up to 8 oz	9-16 oz	17-32 oz	49-64 oz (4 lb)
Canada	$19.40	$26.00	$29.05	$47.60
Mexico	$20.15	$26.60	$29.70	$51.05
United Kingdom	$23.05	$31.95	$35.70	$64.25
Germany	$21.80	$29.95	$32.85	$66.25
Japan	$24.15	$33.95	$37.90	$71.90
Australia	$24.80	$41.25	$46.05	$79.10

Priority Mail International Flat Rate: sample prices

Destination	Flat Rate Envelope	Small Flat Rate Box	Medium Flat Rate Box	Large Flat Rate Box
Canada	$32.65	$33.75	$61.80	$75.15
Mexico	$48.80	$50.45	$90.85	$102.55
United Kingdom	$52.30	$54.00	$95.95	$108.85
Germany, France	$54.55	$56.35	$93.15	$110.60
Australia	$53.00	$54.75	$112.70	$139.55

International Flat Rate boxes have lower weight caps than domestic ones: 4 lb for the envelope and Small box, and 20 lb for the Medium and Large boxes. Weight-based Priority Mail International can still be cheaper for light items. A 1 lb package cost $43.55 to Canada and $69.70 to the UK by weight. For a heavy box going to Canada, the Medium Flat Rate Box ($61.80, up to 20 lb) beats weight-based pricing from 6 lb, which costs $64.35 by weight.

For step-by-step USPS procedures, see our USPS international shipping and customs guide.

FedEx International

FedEx sells several international tiers from the U.S.:

FedEx International First
FedEx International Priority Express
FedEx International Priority
FedEx International Economy: FedEx’s lower-cost option, which it says reaches more than 210 countries and territories
FedEx International Connect Plus: an e-commerce service

FedEx includes door-to-door customs clearance and offers online tools to estimate duties and taxes, suggest HS codes and prepare commercial invoices.

Points to know in 2026:

Money-back guarantee: reinstated for U.S. payors from February 12, 2026 on International First, International Priority, International Priority Express and International Priority DirectDistribution. It stays suspended on other international services.
Duty advances: When FedEx pays duties and taxes on your behalf, its disbursement fee became the greater of $17.50 or 2.5% of the amount on July 20, 2026.
Rates: FedEx’s U.S. export list rates rise an average of 5.9% on January 4, 2027. Its export fuel surcharge was 44.50% for the week of October 19, 2026.

UPS and DHL Express

UPS offers Worldwide Express, Worldwide Saver and Worldwide Expedited for faster or more economical delivery. It accepts packages up to 150 lb and 165 inches in length plus girth. Rates and transit times depend on the route, so check UPS’s quote tool.

DHL Express specializes in international express shipments. Its U.S. rate guides calculate dimensional weight with the same 139 divisor as UPS, FedEx and now USPS, and list a maximum of 150 lb per standard piece. DHL quotes rates by account and route, so get a quote for your lane.

All three express carriers price large, light boxes by dimensional weight and add fuel and other surcharges. Compare total landed cost, not just the base rate.

Customs Forms: What USPS Now Requires

Every package going outside the U.S. needs a customs form. That includes gifts and mail to APO/FPO/DPO addresses. The only exception is First-Class Mail International envelopes containing only documents and weighing under 15.994 oz. USPS’s requirements:

Describe every item specifically: what it is, what it’s made of and what it’s for. USPS’s examples of acceptable descriptions include “men’s cotton shirts,” “remote-controlled toy car” and “lithium batteries.” Category words like “clothes,” “gifts” or “electronics” are not enough.
List a separate value for each item, plus the total value and the package’s gross weight.
Use full names, addresses and contact details for both sender and recipient, with no abbreviations.
HS codes: if you use USPS tools (Click-N-Ship, Customs Forms Online or the international price calculator) and give acceptable descriptions, USPS assigns the Harmonized System code for you.
At the counter: if you didn’t complete the form online, fill out PS Form 2976-R at the Post Office.

USPS warns that customs officials in the receiving country may reject, return or destroy packages whose forms don’t meet the rules.

Exports over $2,500. Under the International Mail Manual, you must file Electronic Export Information (EEI) through the Automated Export System when goods of one kind exceed $2,500 per Schedule B or HTS number, from one sender to one recipient on one day, unless an exemption applies. Look up Schedule B numbers at census.gov.

Never undervalue items. The value on the form determines duties, and a false value can lead to delays, penalties or seizure.

Duties and Taxes at the Destination

The recipient’s country sets duties and taxes. Unless you prepay them, the recipient usually pays before delivery. Three 2026 changes matter most:

European Union (from July 1, 2026): Countries following EU customs rules now apply import duties to business-to-consumer parcels worth up to €150, and to gifts worth over €45 and up to €150. Both used to be exempt. USPS says the receiving country assesses a flat, nonrefundable €3 duty for each unique HS code in the package, plus any national taxes and fees. USPS recommends prepaying through its Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) service where available.
Canada: For courier shipments from the U.S., such as FedEx or UPS, Canada’s thresholds are CAD $150 for duties and CAD $40 for taxes. For mail, such as USPS delivered by Canada Post, the threshold is CAD $20. Since September 8, 2026, certain U.S.-origin goods also face a Canadian surtax of 15%, 25% or 50% of value, and it applies even to shipments under those thresholds.
Prepaying: USPS’s DDP service lets you prepay duties, taxes and fees at the counter or in Click-N-Ship for eligible countries, for an added service fee. Its Landed Cost Guarantee covers the difference if customs assesses more. FedEx and UPS let account shippers bill duties to the sender.

Coming the other way (imports and returns to the U.S.): The U.S. $800 de minimis exemption is suspended for all countries and all modes, including the postal network, under 2025-2026 executive orders and CBP rules. The statutory repeal takes effect July 1, 2027. So goods mailed or shipped into the U.S., including some customer returns, can owe duties regardless of value.

Cheapest Option by Situation

Under 8 oz to Canada, the UK or Europe: First-Class Package International, from $19.40 to $23.05 as of October 2026.
A dense 3-20 lb box to Canada: the Priority Mail International Medium ($61.80) or Large ($75.15) Flat Rate Box.
A dense box to Europe, the UK or Australia: compare the Medium Flat Rate Box ($93.15 to $112.70) with FedEx International Economy or UPS quotes for your weight.
Anything urgent or high-value: an express carrier with customs clearance, or Priority Mail Express International, which carries a money-back guarantee to some destinations.

Cost-Saving Tips

Buy labels online. USPS commercial prices for international services are lower than retail. Priority Mail Express International’s commercial Flat Rate Envelope to Canada was $60.05, against $62.70 at retail.
Consolidate. One box costs less than two, and goods of different Schedule B numbers in one package don’t add up toward the $2,500 EEI threshold.
Prepay duties for customers. DDP avoids refused deliveries and surprise charges at the door.
Check restrictions before packing. Each country has prohibited and restricted items, listed in USPS’s Individual Country Listings.

Next Steps

Check the destination’s prohibitions in USPS’s country listings or with your carrier.
Weigh and measure the packed box, then price it with the USPS international calculator and FedEx, UPS or DHL quotes.
Complete the customs form online with specific item descriptions and values.
Decide whether you or your recipient will pay duties and taxes.
For more on USPS procedures, read our USPS international customs guide.