Purolator Ground

What Purolator Ground is

Purolator Ground is Purolator’s ground courier service within Canada. Its terms describe it as “delivery from most points in Canada to most points in Canada by End of Day within one or more business days based on the origin and destination selected,” and its website lists it as one or more business days, by 9 pm, to all provinces and territories.

It suits parcels that don’t need to arrive the next day, heavier boxes within a region, and rural addresses: Purolator says it delivers to 100% of Canadian postal codes. Purolator also sells Ground 9AM, Ground 10:30AM and Ground Evening to shippers using an automated shipping system; ProtonShip quotes include plain Purolator Ground.

Purolator Ground delivery times

Purolator sets Ground’s transit time route by route, from the origin and destination postal codes, and delivers by end of day, which its terms define as 9 pm in the receiver’s time zone. The table above shows typical business days by distance in ProtonShip quotes, and each quote shows the delivery date for your own postal codes. Weekends and statutory holidays don’t count.

Ground has no delivery guarantee. Purolator’s terms are explicit: “In no event is a Shipment tendered using Purolator Ground service eligible for a delivery guarantee.” If the date matters, Purolator Express commits to the next business day by end of day to most points.

Size limits and dimensional weight

A Ground piece can be up to 108 in long and 165 in in total size, measured as length plus twice the width plus twice the height. Purolator’s limit is 150 lb a piece, but anything over 70 lb has to be booked in advance as Heavyweight service, which ProtonShip doesn’t sell, so Purolator Ground in ProtonShip quotes goes up to 70 lb.

For dimensional weight, Purolator uses a cube factor of 12.4 lb per cubic foot for Ground, which works out to dividing the volume in cubic inches by about 139. Since July 19, 2026, it rounds each side up to the next whole inch first. An 18 × 14 × 10 in box weighing 6 lb therefore bills at about 18.1 lb. Purolator Express by air uses a heavier factor, so the same box bills at about 21.9 lb there. Check any box in the parcel size calculator.

Weekends and holidays

Purolator’s terms limit its paid Saturday Service to Purolator Express. Its Shipping in Canada page mentions Saturday pickup and delivery under Ground, but the terms govern, so plan Ground deliveries for Monday to Friday. Purolator observes Boxing Day 2026 on Saturday, December 26 and Monday, December 28; the other holiday dates are in our Purolator holiday schedule, and our Purolator weekend delivery guide covers Saturdays.

Addresses it reaches

Purolator doesn’t deliver to PO boxes, so a Ground parcel needs a street address. Points that Purolator considers remote, or doesn’t serve directly, carry an extra Beyond Point charge, and agents in those areas can have tighter size limits. Homes and other mostly residential areas carry a residential charge. ProtonShip’s quoted price includes the surcharges known at booking.

A rural route address, such as RR 2, needs a carrier that accepts one. In ProtonShip quotes, UPS and FedEx take them when the recipient’s phone number is included.

Signature and claims

Parcels to businesses are signed for at no extra charge. Parcels to homes are left without a signature unless the shipper asks for one, which costs extra.

Purolator’s claim limits are 21 days from delivery for concealed damage, 60 days for damage seen on delivery or missing contents, and 9 months from the ship date for a lost parcel. Since March 30, 2026, only the party that pays Purolator for the shipment can file. With ProtonShip, that means filing from the shipment page in your account. Read how to file a Purolator claim.

Purolator Ground or Purolator Express

Purolator Express delivers the next business day by end of day to most points, with 10:30AM and 9AM options to select points. Express parcels that travel by air have tighter limits and a heavier dimensional weight, so a large, light box bills at a higher weight by Express than by Ground. For anything that can wait a day or two, Ground is the one to price first.

Questions about Purolator Ground