ShipTime Canada Inc.

Effective October 27, 2025 to January 18, 2026

Purolator has released its Peak Season Surcharge schedule for 2025. These temporary fees help manage the significant increase in parcel volume and operational strain during the holiday rush. During this period, surcharges apply to shipments requiring special handling, oversized items, heavyweight residential deliveries, large packages, and parcels that exceed Purolator’s maximum size or weight limits.

All Peak Season Surcharges are applied in addition to Purolator’s standard service rates and any additional charges applicable to the shipment.

Compare Peak Surcharges Across All Couriers

To view peak season surcharges from other couriers, click here. ShipTime allows you to compare Purolator rates alongside trusted national couriers like Canada Post, FedEx, UPS, GLS, DHL, Canpar, Loomis, and more. This helps you choose the right courier, manage peak-season costs, and keep deliveries moving during the holiday rush.

Surcharge Descriptions

Peak Additional Handling

Applied to shipments that require manual, non-standard processing due to their shape, packaging, or materials. This includes:

• Items not fully enclosed in an outer shipping container

• Shipments packed in non-corrugated materials (canvas, leather, metal, wood, plastic, foam, etc.)

• Shipments with banding, wheels, casters, handles, or protruding contents

• Items wrapped in shrink wrap

• Cylindrical or irregular-shaped goods such as tubes, pails, drums, mailing cans, duffle bags, buckets, or tires

• Soft-sided packs (courier packs, poly bags, poly mailers) exceeding:

  • 18 inches on the longest side

  • 13 inches on the second-longest side

  • 5 inches in height

• Items processed through Purolator’s irregular package sortation

• High-risk items not packaged according to Purolator standards

• Any other shipment requiring additional handling, as determined by Purolator

Peak Oversized

Applied when a package:

• Weighs more than 50 lbs (23 kg) but less than or equal to 150 lbs (68 kg), or

• Measures more than 48 inches (122 cm) but less than or equal to 108 inches (274 cm) on its longest side

Peak Residential Heavyweight

Applied to shipments destined for residential or low commercial density areas that:

• Weigh more than 70 lbs (32 kg) but up to 150 lbs (68 kg)

Peak Large Package

Applied when a package measures between:

• 130 inches (330 cm) and 165 inches (419 cm) in total size (length + girth)

Each Large Package is subject to a minimum billable weight of 90 lbs (41 kg).

Peak Over Maximum Limit

Applied when a package exceeds Purolator’s allowable size or weight limits:

• More than 150 lbs (68 kg)

• Total size exceeding 165 inches (419 cm)

• Longest side measuring over 108 inches (274 cm)

Each Over Maximum Limit shipment is subject to a minimum billable weight of 120 lbs (55 kg).

What This Means for ShipTime Members

All Purolator Peak Season Surcharges will automatically appear in your ShipTime rate results during this timeframe. This ensures full transparency so you can compare Purolator’s peak pricing against all available couriers and choose the most cost-effective option.

If you have questions about sizing rules, surcharge implications, or selecting the best Purolator service during the holidays, our Heroic Support™ team is here to help you Ship Smarter.