Buying gym equipment from US stores: a Canadian's guide

A rack that's US$600 on an American store looks like a steal next to the Canadian price. By the time it reaches your driveway, it often isn't. Here's every cost between a US checkout and your garage, with the rules straight from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). We checked them on November 7, 2026.

First: does it even ship to Canada?

Many US gym stores don't ship to Canada at all, or only ship small items. Some brands run a separate Canadian store with its own prices. If there's a Canadian store, compare against it first: it often includes shipping and customs fees, which the US price never does. On BYG, Canadians see Canadian stores by default for exactly this reason.

The five costs on top of the US price

1. The exchange rate, and your card's cut

Your bank converts US dollars at its own rate, and most Canadian credit cards add a foreign transaction fee of about 2.5% on top. A card with no foreign transaction fee saves that.

2. Sales tax at the border

Imports are taxed like anything you buy in Canada: GST, or HST in the provinces that use it, and provincial sales tax where it applies. For courier deliveries from the US, CBSA's current thresholds are:

Almost every rack, bench or set of plates is over $150, so plan on paying tax at the border.

3. Duty: it depends where it was made

Under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), goods made in Canada, the US or Mexico are generally duty-free. Goods only sold from the US but made elsewhere (a lot of gym gear is made in Asia) can owe duty at the rate in Canada's Customs Tariff. Check the product's “made in” label before you assume it's duty-free.

4. Counter-tariffs on some US goods

Since 2025 Canada has charged surtaxes (counter-tariffs) on certain US goods, and the list has changed several times. CBSA says a new set took effect on September 8, 2026, and that its 25% surtax on US steel and aluminum products isn't included in its online estimator. Before a big order of steel equipment, check CBSA's current list.

5. Brokerage fees

Someone has to clear your parcel through customs. Canada Post charges a small handling fee. Couriers like UPS, FedEx and DHL usually act as your customs broker and bill a brokerage fee, which can be a surprise on top of the tax. Ask the store which carrier it uses, and whether it ships “duties paid” (DDP), meaning those costs are prepaid.

Picking it up at the border

Lots of Canadians ship heavy gear to a parcel-receiving shop in a US border town, drive down, and declare it on the way home. It's how BYG's founder got their own gear. The rules that matter:

• Same-day trips get no personal exemption. You pay tax (and any duty) on everything.
• After 24 hours away, you can bring back up to $200 tax-free, but if the goods are worth more than $200, the exemption doesn't apply at all.
• After 48 hours away, up to $800 is exempt, and you only pay on the amount above $800.
• Goods marked “made in” Canada, the USA or Mexico owe no duty for personal use. You still pay tax beyond your exemption.
• Always declare it, and keep the receipt handy. Bring a vehicle that can actually carry it: freight-size boxes over 150 lb are common.

Each product page on BYG that's only sold in the US shows the border towns closest to your province, forwarding options, and close Canadian alternatives.

Warranty and returns

Read this part before you buy. Returning a 200 lb rack across the border can cost more than you saved, and some US warranties don't cover shipping replacement parts to Canada. A Canadian store or a brand's Canadian storefront is worth a little extra for that alone.

Official sources

• CBSA duty and taxes estimator
• CBSA: paying duty and taxes, and personal exemptions
• CBSA: low-value shipment thresholds under CUSMA

This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rules change; CBSA's pages are always the final word. Found something out of date? Tell us.