Purolator shipping in Canada

What Purolator is good for

Purolator is a Canadian courier that claims delivery to 100% of Canadian postal codes. It runs a ground service and next-day express, with 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. options to select points. It suits business deliveries, rural addresses and parcels that need to arrive by a set time the next morning.

It doesn’t deliver to PO boxes, and homes cost more than businesses. For a PO box, use Canada Post.

Services and delivery commitments

These are the Purolator services in ProtonShip quotes, with Purolator’s own commitments within Canada:

Purolator’s terms define end of day as 9:00 p.m. in the receiver’s local time. Purolator’s guarantee covers pieces of 70 lb or less, excludes points it considers remote, and doesn’t apply to labels bought through a reseller, ProtonShip included. Each service has its own page: Purolator Ground and Purolator Express.

From November 1, 2026 to March 14, 2027, morning deliveries to Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories run one hour later: 9 a.m. service arrives by 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. service by 11:30 a.m. End-of-day commitments don’t change. Purolator says this winter schedule repeats every year.

Size and weight limits

Each piece can weigh up to 150 lb. Limits on size depend on whether the parcel flies. Ground parcels, and Express parcels that stay on the road, can be up to 108 inches long and 165 inches in total size (length plus twice the width plus twice the height). Express parcels that travel on Purolator’s air network are limited to 96 inches long and 144 inches in total size.

Pieces over 70 lb travel as Heavyweight shipments, which Purolator arranges in advance, and they lose the delivery guarantee. Purolator applies an Oversized charge to pieces over 50 lb or longer than 48 inches, and treats anything between 130 and 165 inches in total size as a Large Package billed at a minimum of 90 lb.

Purolator prices bulky boxes with a cube factor rather than a divisor. It works out to about 139 cubic inches per pound for Ground and road Express, and about 115 for Express by air. Since July 19, 2026, Purolator rounds every dimension up to the next whole inch. Try a box in the parcel size calculator, and see how Purolator shipping rates work for the rest of what sets a Purolator price.

Weekends and holidays

Purolator sells Saturday Service on Purolator Express within Canada. A parcel picked up on Friday is delivered by end of day Saturday to an eligible delivery point, and Purolator also offers Saturday pickup. Each piece must be 70 lb or less, the parcel can’t go in a drop box, and remote points are excluded. Purolator’s terms limit Saturday Service to Express, and we found no standard Sunday delivery.

Purolator observes Boxing Day 2026 on Saturday, December 26 and Monday, December 28. Our guide to Purolator weekend delivery has the detail, and which carriers deliver on weekends compares all five.

Holiday dates

Purolator publishes the holidays it observes each year and marks the list subject to change. Remembrance Day is a closure everywhere except Ontario and Quebec.

Purolator hasn’t published its 2027 dates after New Year’s Day yet. The Purolator holiday schedule explains each date, and are carriers open today? checks a single day.

PO boxes, homes, rural and remote addresses

“Purolator does not deliver to PO Boxes.” Our guide to shipping to a PO box covers what to do instead. Rural addresses are part of its network. Where the origin or destination is remote or not served directly, Purolator adds a charge it calls Beyond Point, and the delivery guarantee doesn’t apply.

Deliveries to homes carry Purolator’s Residential Area surcharge, which its rate guide calls Residential Delivery. Business deliveries are signed for at no extra charge. Home deliveries booked through a shipping system skip the signature unless one is requested.

Drop-off and pickup

Purolator has more than 3,000 retail agents and Quick Stop locations, including shipping centres, kiosks and parcel lockers. Find one with the Purolator location finder. Many drop boxes and lockers are open 24/7; lockers take parcels up to 50 lb and 37 inches long.

Purolator also picks up parcels in its pickup areas. More on both in our Purolator drop-off and pickup guide.

With a ProtonShip label, hand the parcel to the Purolator driver if one already collects from you; otherwise drop it off at one of the locations above.

What Purolator won’t carry

Without written approval, Purolator won’t take currency, fresh or frozen fish, seafood or meat, tobacco or alcohol across provincial lines, cannabis, or firearms and weapons. Liquids, perishables, jewellery, artwork, antiques and glassware travel at the shipper’s risk with no claim. Lithium batteries count as dangerous goods, which only pre-approved account customers can ship. Compare all five carriers on our prohibited items page.

Guides for Purolator

• Does Purolator deliver on weekends?
• Purolator holiday schedule
• Purolator drop-off and pickup
• How Purolator shipping rates work
• How to file a Purolator claim

Purolator through ProtonShip

ProtonShip quotes include Purolator Ground, Purolator Express, Express 10:30AM and Express 9AM, next to the other carriers. Prices are per label, with fuel and the surcharges known at booking, such as home delivery, already in the quoted price. Your quote shows the carrier’s own delivery date where it gives one for your addresses, which can be a Saturday where it delivers then; otherwise the estimate counts business days. Saturday Service isn’t sold through ProtonShip yet.

Signed-out quotes show prices by speed; sign in to see which carrier runs each one. If a Purolator parcel is lost or damaged, you file the claim with us. See coverage and claims.