Does Canada Post Deliver on Weekends? Guide For 2024
Online shopping has become a way of life for many Canadians. The convenience of ordering anything you need and having it delivered right to your door is hard to beat. But with this convenience comes an expectation for faster and more flexible delivery options.
One question I get asked a lot is: Does Canada Post deliver on weekends?
The short answer is: No, Canada Post does not offer regular weekend delivery.
However, the fuller explanation has a lot more nuance. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore Canada Post’s weekend delivery options, hours of operation, holiday schedules, and how to get your packages delivered on Saturdays and Sundays.
More specifically, we’ll cover:
- An overview of Canada Post and its delivery services
- Canada Post’s standard delivery hours
- Their holiday closure schedule
- How to get weekend delivery through Canada Post
- Alternative courier options for Saturday and Sunday delivery
- Tips for shipping with Canada Post on weekends
- Key takeaways on their weekend delivery services
Let’s get into the details!
Canada Post Overview
Canada Post is this country’s national postal service, connecting Canadians from coast to coast.
Every year, Canada Post delivers over 8.4 billion mail and parcel items to over 16 million addresses across the country.
To make these massive numbers of deliveries possible, Canada Post has an extensive network including:
- Over 6,000 post offices and franchise retail postal outlets
- Almost 474 processing facilities and depots
- 21 major processing plants handling mail and parcels
Canada Post offers a wide range of delivery services including:
- Regular lettermail
- Expedited parcels
- Xpresspost fast delivery
- Priority courier
- Tracked packets and parcels
- Registered mail
- Valuable item insurance
For both individuals and businesses, Canada Post provides affordable and dependable mail and parcel delivery all across Canada. Their reach extends internationally as well to the United States and other global destinations.
Canada Post Delivery Hours
Now that we’ve covered the scope of Canada Post’s operations, what are their standard delivery hours?
The normal Canada Post delivery hours are:
- Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm for commercial addresses
- Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 8:00pm for residential addresses
So Canada Post delivers mail and parcels for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.
You’ll notice Saturday and Sunday are not included in their regular delivery hours.
Unfortunately, Canada Post does not offer any standard weekend delivery service on Saturdays or Sundays. Their post offices and delivery operations are closed on weekends.
However, there are some limited exceptions, which we’ll discuss shortly.
First, let’s talk about their holiday schedule.
Canada Post Holiday Schedule
Another time when Canada Post suspends delivery is on national, provincial and territorial statutory holidays.
On these holidays, Canada Post post offices and delivery operations are fully closed:
2023 Holidays
- New Year’s Day – January 2
- Good Friday – April 7
- Easter Monday – April 10
- Victoria Day- May 22
- Canada Day – July 1
- Civic Holiday – August 7
- Labour Day – September 4
- Thanksgiving Day – October 9
- Remembrance Day – November 11
- Christmas Day – December 25
- Boxing Day – December 26
2024 Holidays
- New Year’s Day – January 1
- Good Friday – March 29
- Easter Monday – April 1
- Victoria Day – May 20
- Canada Day – July 1
- Civic Holiday – August 5
- Labour Day – September 2
- Thanksgiving Day – October 14
- Remembrance Day – November 11
- Christmas Day – December 25
- Boxing Day – December 26
As you can see, Canada Post observes all major federal holidays. They also honour most provincial and territorial holidays on these dates.
When one of these holidays falls on a Saturday or Sunday, Canada Post may observe the holiday on the following Monday instead.
So when planning your Canada Post shipments, be sure to account for these holidays in your delivery timeline estimates.
How To Get Weekend Delivery from Canada Post?
Now you may be wondering, with Canada Post closed on weekends, how can I get my packages delivered on Saturdays or Sundays?
The answer is, unfortunately, Canada Post does not offer guaranteed weekend parcel delivery. Their service standards are for Monday to Friday only.
However, there are some limited options:
- Some Canada Post franchise locations are open weekends at certain stores like Shoppers Drug Mart. These outlets provide limited weekend delivery depending on your location.
- During peak periods like Christmas and the holidays, Canada Post expands deliveries to include some Saturdays. This helps them manage the high volumes of holiday parcels and cards.
- You can drop off packages for Canada Post at their franchise locations open weekends. However, keep in mind your item will not be picked up or shipped until the next business day.
So if you need reliable delivery specifically on Saturdays or Sundays, Canada Post may not be the best option. For guaranteed weekend delivery, read on for some alternative couriers.
Alternative Couriers for Weekend Delivery
If you need a package delivered on Saturday or Sunday, other private courier companies offer more reliable weekend shipping and delivery services.
Some popular options include:
- FedEx offers Saturday delivery for no extra fee. Dropoffs and deliveries are available on Saturdays at regular FedEx rates.
- UPS provides Saturday delivery for an additional charge. You can select and pay for this service when booking your shipment.
- Purolator guarantees delivery by Saturday evening if your item is picked up by the Friday before. They also offer a same-day Saturday option if you book a pickup by a certain Saturday morning cutoff time.
The benefits of these private courier services are they offer guaranteed delivery on the specific day you select, including weekends. This comes at an added cost, but provides certainty.
Tips for Shipping with Canada Post on Weekends
If you plan to use Canada Post for your deliveries, here are some tips to ensure smooth weekend shipping:
- Build extra time into your delivery estimates to account for the two day weekend lag in service
- Drop off packages before the weekend at Canada Post outlets open on Saturdays and Sundays
- Use Canada Post for affordable, reliable Monday to Friday deliveries
- Switch to FedEx, UPS or Purolator for time-sensitive items that must arrive on the weekend
- Check the Canada Post website for their delivery time calculators to estimate timelines
- Factor in holidays and potential weather delays which can also hold up weekend deliveries
- Set expectations with customers on delivery windows if sending via Canada Post over a weekend
Key Takeaways: Does Canada Post Deliver on Weekends?
To summarize what we’ve learned:
- Canada Post does not offer standard delivery on Saturdays or Sundays
- Limited weekend delivery is available through select Canada Post franchise locations, but not guaranteed
- Canada Post is closed and does not deliver on major national, provincial and territorial holidays
- To ensure delivery on a specific Saturday or Sunday, use FedEx, UPS or Purolator courier services
- Build at least an extra 1-2 days into estimated delivery timelines when shipping with Canada Post on a weekend
- You can drop off packages 7 days a week at partner Canada Post locations for next business day shipping
- Canada Post provides reliable, affordable delivery Monday to Friday across Canada
Conclusion
I hope this guide has helped explain Canada Post’s weekend delivery services and limitations. The takeaway is that while Canada Post does not offer regular weekend deliveries, there are some workarounds like select retail outlets or private couriers.
Planning your parcel shipping timelines with Canada Post’s hours and holiday closures in mind will set you up for success. Delight customers by setting clear expectations around delivery days and times. Leverage the right carrier for your particular delivery requirements, whether that’s affordable Canada Post rates or guaranteed weekend service from UPS.
Does this help explain whether Canada Post will deliver your package on a Saturday or Sunday? Let me know if you have any other questions!
