Oversize lettermail rates (Canada)
Within Canada, oversize lettermail costs $2.61 up to 100 g, then $4.29 (200 g), $5.98 (300 g), $6.85 (400 g) and $7.36 (500 g). If your item is flat, flexible, and under 380 × 270 × 20 mm, it travels at these prices instead of parcel rates — often a $10+ saving.
Size limits — standard: max 245 × 156 × 5 mm and 50 g · oversize: max 380 × 270 × 20 mm and 500 g · minimum 140 × 90 mm. Bigger or heavier than the oversize maximum is a parcel, not a letter.
Oversize / non-standard rates by destination
| Weight | Canada | USA | International |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 100 g | $2.61 | $4.29 | $8.60 |
| Over 100 g, up to 200 g | $4.29 | $7.49 | $14.99 |
| Over 200 g, up to 300 g | $5.98 | $14.99 (to 500 g) | $29.96 (to 500 g) |
| Over 300 g, up to 400 g | $6.85 | ||
| Over 400 g, up to 500 g | $7.36 |
The 2 cm rule every seller should know
Oversize lettermail allows a maximum thickness of 20 mm — and Canada Post tests mail through a slot gauge. A bubble mailer that puffs past 20 mm, or a rigid item that won't flex, can be surcharged or bumped to parcel pricing. Practical tips from sellers who ship flat goods (cards, coins, banknotes, decals, fabric) daily:
- Keep the packed mailer at or under ~18 mm to leave margin for puff and tape.
- Thin contents, spread flat — a lump in one corner reads as thickness.
- Weigh after packing: at 101 g you jump from $2.61 to $4.29. A lighter mailer can be worth $1.68 per shipment.
- Coins and other hard items are fine in lettermail when they're flat, secured so they can't shift, and the envelope stays flexible.
- Write the postage clearly with the right combination — $2.61 is a single oversize stamp, or build it from smaller stamps with the combination finder.
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Questions
Is oversize lettermail tracked?No. Lettermail has no tracking or delivery confirmation at any size. If tracking matters, you need a parcel service.
Standard envelope, but 60 g — what do I pay?The oversize rate: $2.61 within Canada. Standard pricing stops at 50 g no matter how small the envelope is.
What if it's 501 g?Letter rates end at 500 g. Over that, it's a parcel — expect $18+ depending on distance.