Loomis vs Purolator: Which Is Better for You?

Q: Loomis vs Purolator, what are the weight limits?

The same. Both cap a package at 150 lb (68 kg), 108 in on the longest side and 165 in in total size (length plus twice the width plus twice the height). On size and weight the choice comes down to timing, guarantees and reach.

Loomis vs Purolator: Which Is Better for You?

When it comes to package size, Loomis and Purolator are the same. Both take packages up to 150 lb, 108 in on the longest side and 165 in in length plus girth. The real differences are in timing, guarantees and what happens when something goes wrong.

Purolator gives you more delivery times to choose from, including 10:30 a.m. and evening, and even some Ground services with a guaranteed time, as its Service Guide shows. Loomis has fewer options, but it gives back more when a guaranteed shipment is late, and if it can't deliver the first time, it tries again for free.

The best choice depends on your shipment, so compare both on Secureship and see the price and options side by side in one quote.

Loomis vs Purolator at a Glance

How the two carriers compare on the factors that actually change your cost and delivery experience:

Factor	Loomis	Purolator
Max weight and size	150 lb, 108 in longest side, 165 in total size	150 lb, 108 in longest side, 165 in total size
Timed delivery within Canada	Express 9:00, 12:00 and 18:00, between major cities	Express 9AM, 10:30AM, 12PM and Evening; Ground 9AM, 10:30AM and Evening
Guarantee on standard ground	No (Loomis Ground is not guaranteed)	No (plain Ground is not money-back guaranteed)
Guaranteed timed Ground	Not offered	Ground 9AM, 10:30AM and Evening, on automated shipping systems
Refund on a late guaranteed shipment	The transportation charges, packages up to 75 lb	Half of the service rate plus taxes, no piece over 70 lb
Liability without a declared value	$2.00/lb, up to $100 per shipment, whichever is less	$2.00/lb on the total shipment weight
Coverage	Extended area charge on published remote postal codes; may use other carriers	Almost every postal code in Canada
Saturday	Delivery and pickup, select Canadian cities	Pickup or delivery, Canadian and U.S. destinations (no Saturday pickup for U.S.-bound shipments)
Fuel surcharge	Set weekly, from Kalibrate's average diesel price	Set monthly, from a four-week average of Natural Resources Canada diesel prices
U.S. services	Express 10:30, Economy Select (1 to 6 days) and Express Worldwide	Express U.S. 9AM, 10:30AM, 12PM, Express U.S. and Ground U.S.

Two rows need a second look. On liability, both charge the same $2.00 per pound when no value is declared, but Loomis caps it at $100 per shipment, so on an undeclared parcel over 50 lb Purolator covers more. And the fuel rows differ in cadence, not just amount: Loomis's surcharge can move every week, while Purolator's courier surcharge is fixed for a month, so compare Loomis's and Purolator's current percentages on the day you ship.

Sources: Loomis Express Rate Guide 2026, Loomis Terms and Conditions, Purolator Service Guide, Purolator Terms and Conditions

On the four fees both carriers publish, Purolator is cheaper on three. Loomis's amounts are from its 2026 rate guide; Purolator's are as published in its rate guide effective 1 September 2025, the version purolator.com serves today.

Fee	Loomis	Purolator
Residential delivery	$5.00 per shipment	$4.65 per shipment (not on Express Evening or Ground Evening)
Saturday delivery	$28.00 per shipment	$25.00 per shipment
Redirect	$10.00 per attempt	$6.00 per shipment
Another delivery attempt	Second attempt free; $10.00 from the third	Redelivery, $6.00 per shipment

The exception is a missed delivery: Loomis's rate guide includes the second attempt at no charge, where Purolator charges for a redelivery. Loomis's full fee list is in our Loomis Surcharges & Fees guide.

Full refund if late

75 lb guarantee limit

$0 2nd attempt

Weekly fuel updates

For guaranteed shipments and missed deliveries, Loomis stands out:

A bigger refund when it is late. Loomis refunds or credits the transportation charges on a late Express 9:00, 12:00 or 10:30 shipment, for packages up to 75 lb, per its Terms and Conditions. Since 30 March 2026, Purolator refunds half of the service rate plus taxes, and only if no piece is over 70 lb, per its terms amendment. Both carriers can suspend their guarantee at their discretion.
A free second delivery attempt. Loomis's rate guide includes a second attempt on the next business day at no charge. Purolator charges $6.00 for a redelivery.
A fuel surcharge that tracks prices weekly, from Kalibrate's average diesel price, rather than Purolator's monthly setting.
Published remote-area rates: Loomis publishes its extended-area postal codes and charges, so you can check a remote address before you ship. See our Loomis Services guide for the full lineup.

10:30 a.m. Express slot

Timed Ground

$4.65 residential

Almost all postal codes

For timed deliveries and reach, Purolator has the edge:

More timed slots. Purolator publishes Express 9AM, 10:30AM, 12PM and Evening. Loomis publishes Express 9:00, 12:00 and 18:00, between major metropolitan cities.
Guaranteed timed Ground. Neither guarantees its plain Ground service, but Purolator sells guaranteed Ground 9AM, 10:30AM and Evening for shipments prepared on an automated shipping system.
Coverage. Purolator says it delivers to almost every postal code in Canada. Loomis charges extra for remote areas and may hand those deliveries to another carrier.
Timed U.S. delivery and lower fees. Purolator publishes Express U.S. 9AM, 10:30AM and 12PM, and its published residential, Saturday and redirect fees are each lower.

When to Use Loomis vs Purolator

Use Loomis when...	Use Purolator when...
A late guaranteed shipment should refund the full charge	It has to arrive by 10:30 a.m. or in the evening
The receiver might miss the first delivery attempt	You want a guaranteed delivery time on a Ground service
You want to check a remote postal code's charge before booking	The destination is a remote postal code
You prefer a fuel surcharge that follows weekly prices	You need a timed delivery to the U.S.

⏰

Check the deadline

Need 10:30 a.m., an evening delivery, or a guaranteed time on Ground? Purolator has the slots. A 9 a.m. or noon deadline between major cities? Both carriers cover it, and Loomis refunds more if it is late.

🛡️

Check the value

Without a declared value both pay $2.00 per pound, but Loomis stops at $100. Over 50 lb, Purolator covers more; either way, declaring a value is the safer choice for anything worth more.

📍

Check the postal code

A remote destination can add Loomis's extended area charge. Price the exact postal code with both before you book.

🚀

Let Secureship do the math for you

Secureship pools shipping volume from thousands of businesses to negotiate rates neither carrier offers on its own. Enter your shipment once, no separate accounts, contracts, or minimum volume.

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Is Loomis cheaper than Purolator?

Not on most published fees. Purolator's residential, Saturday and redirect fees are each lower than Loomis's, per Purolator's rate guide effective 1 September 2025. The exception is a missed delivery: Loomis's rate guide includes a second attempt at no charge, where Purolator charges $6.00 for a redelivery. The base rate for your exact route decides the total, so compare both live.

Are Loomis and Purolator the same company?

No. Loomis Express is part of TFI International, which bought it in 2011. Purolator is a separate carrier with its own services, rates and terms, which is why the two differ on timed delivery, guarantees and fees. See our Loomis Express guide for more on the company.

Loomis vs Purolator, what are the weight limits?

The same. Both cap a package at 150 lb (68 kg), 108 in on the longest side and 165 in in total size (length plus twice the width plus twice the height). On size and weight the choice comes down to timing, guarantees and reach.

Which money-back guarantee is better, Loomis or Purolator?

Loomis's pays more. On a late guaranteed shipment, Loomis refunds or credits the transportation charges, for packages up to 75 lb. Since 30 March 2026, Purolator refunds or credits half of the service rate plus taxes, and only if no piece weighs more than 70 lb. Purolator, though, guarantees more services, including timed Ground. Both carriers can suspend their guarantee at their discretion.

Does Purolator deliver earlier than Loomis?

Both sell a 9 a.m. delivery. Loomis Express 9:00 arrives by 9 am the next possible business day between major cities, and Purolator publishes Express 9AM. Purolator adds a 10:30AM slot, Express Evening and guaranteed timed Ground tiers that Loomis does not offer. See our Loomis Delivery Times guide.

Can I compare Loomis and Purolator rates in one place?

Yes. Secureship shows live Loomis and Purolator rates side by side for your exact shipment, along with every other major carrier, with no separate accounts or contracts.

More Loomis Guides

Loomis Guide
Shipping in Canada

Complete guide to Loomis Express 9:00, 12:00, 18:00 and Ground, pickup and drop-off, weight limits, and how to save on every shipment.

Loomis Guide
Shipping Rates

How Loomis prices a shipment, including zones, cube weight and extended area charges, plus how to get a live quote.

Loomis Guide
Services Overview

Loomis Express 9:00, 12:00, 18:00 and Ground compared, plus CollectShip, US Economy Select and international.

Loomis Guide
Delivery Times

Loomis delivery commitments by service, Saturday delivery, and the holiday schedule explained.

Loomis Guide
Customs & Duties

Who pays duties on Loomis shipments to the US and abroad, and what customs paperwork you need.

Loomis Guide
Surcharges & Fees

The Loomis fuel surcharge and the residential, non-standard and OverMax fees, explained.

Loomis Guide
Alternatives

When Loomis is the right call, and when Canpar, Canada Post, Purolator or UPS fits your shipment better.

Loomis vs
Canada Post

Weight limits, timed delivery, liability and per-incident fees compared between Loomis and Canada Post.

Loomis vs
Canpar

Two TFI International carriers compared: services, liability, delivery attempts and the fees that differ.

Sources

Loomis figures are sourced from official Loomis Express documentation. Purolator figures are Purolator's own published claims. Last updated: November 3, 2026.

Loomis Express Domestic & International Rate Guide 2026, valid from 16 October 2026. loomisexpress.com
Loomis Express Terms & Conditions, effective 9 July 2026. loomisexpress.com
Purolator Service Guide, effective 30 June 2026. purolator.com
Purolator Terms and Conditions of Service, effective 1 April 2024, with Amendment #1, effective 30 March 2026. purolator.com and amendment
Purolator Rate Guide, rates effective 1 September 2025. purolator.com
Purolator, courier fuel surcharges. purolator.com

Loomis vs Purolator

Same weight limits, different promises. Compare timed delivery, guarantees and fees head-to-head, then see both rates side by side with Secureship.

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Loomis vs Purolator: Which Is Better for You?

Loomis vs Purolator at a Glance

Published Fees Side by Side

Top Reasons to Choose Loomis

Where Purolator Wins

When to Use Loomis vs Purolator

How to Choose Between Loomis and Purolator

Loomis vs Purolator, Frequently Asked Questions

Is Loomis cheaper than Purolator?

Are Loomis and Purolator the same company?

Loomis vs Purolator, what are the weight limits?

Which money-back guarantee is better, Loomis or Purolator?

Does Purolator deliver earlier than Loomis?

Can I compare Loomis and Purolator rates in one place?

More Loomis Guides

Sources