01
Everyday clothing and shoes
Start with dimensional weight and brand status. First-tier luxury, registered, or counterfeit brands cannot be assumed eligible.
CLOTHING SHIPPING TO CANADA
Ship clothing to Canada: calculate volume before choosing air or sea
Clothing, shoes, down jackets, and bedding are often assessed as standard goods first, but freight is commonly determined by the greater of actual and dimensional weight. Bulky garments, shoe boxes, brands, batteries, and irregular cartons can change the final route and charge.
- Length x width x height / 6000
- Brands and battery-powered clothing need review
- Full postal code determines east or west Canada routing
START WITH VOLUME
The key question is usually not whether clothing can ship
Standard clothing and footwear can often be screened as standard goods, but brand status, built-in batteries, parcel volume, single-piece dimensions, and postal code still control the final route.
02
Downwear, duvets, and bedding
They can be light but bulky, so the carton volume can determine the chargeable weight. Recheck after compression and packing.
03
Heated clothing and special footwear
Built-in batteries, heating, or other electronic features require battery-goods review rather than standard-clothing assumptions.
WEIGHT AND PACKING
Calculate dimensional weight from the final carton
Most routes charge the higher of actual and dimensional weight, calculated as length x width x height / 6000 in centimetres. Vacuum compression, consolidation, reinforcement, and keeping shoe boxes all affect the final carton.
Standard-goods air freight references 7-10 days; west Canada standard sea freight references 30-45 days and east Canada 35-45 days. All are planning windows affected by goods, postal code, capacity, customs, and local delivery.
Compare sea-freight ratesCompress with care
Down jackets, quilts, and bedding can be compressed where safe, but use the measured final carton rather than an expected size.
Manage shoe boxes
Boxes protect shape but add volume. Balance product protection against dimensional cost.
Control carton size
Air routes commonly reference a 100cm longest side and 76cm second side; sea rules differ and oversize may add charges.
Confirm special attributes
Luxury, registered, counterfeit, magnetic, and battery-powered clothing requires product information before routing.
SHIPMENT CHOICES
Choose the next step by scenario
| Scenario | Initial route decision | Prepare before shipping | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urgent clothing, books, daily necessities | Review east or west Canada air freight when standard-goods conditions apply. | Final carton data, full postal code, brand, and product characteristics. | Air rates |
| Seasonal clothes, downwear, bedding | Calculate dimensional weight first; compare sea freight if timing is flexible. | Compressed-carton dimensions, total weight, and protection needs. | Sea rates |
| Multiple cartons or heavier goods | Small-parcel rates may not apply; compare large-cargo rules. | Every carton weight, dimensions, piece count, and delivery address. | Large cargo |
| Branded or heated items | Confirm brand and battery content first. | Product photos, brand, model, and battery/heating details. | Eligibility rules |
CLOTHING FAQS
Common clothing-shipping questions
What weight is used for clothing?
Most services charge the higher of actual and dimensional weight. Bulky clothing and large cartons commonly increase the dimensional result.
Can down jackets and duvets be vacuum packed?
They can be compressed where material and protection permit. Recalculate using final carton dimensions and protect against moisture and damage.
Should I choose air or sea?
Use air for eligible urgent small parcels. Compare sea for non-urgent cartons of clothing, bedding, or heavier goods, considering chargeable weight, postal code, and route limits.
Confirm with final carton dimensions and full postal code
This prevents pricing differences caused by dimensional weight, oversize, or brand characteristics.