The short answer: $80–$90 CAD from our Mississauga warehouse. But the real total includes Jamaica customs fees — and most people aren't told about those upfront. This guide covers everything: Canada shipping costs, pickup fees, Jamaica customs duties, GCT, clearing agent fees, and real examples so you know the full cost before you book.
The cost to ship a barrel from Canada to Jamaica depends on two things: the barrel size and whether you want us to pick up from your door or you're dropping off at our Mississauga warehouse.
Unlike most couriers, barrel shipping to Jamaica is priced by the barrel — not by weight. Fill it to the top and you pay the same flat rate.
| Barrel Size | Dimensions (approx.) | Shipping Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 55-Gallon Barrel (Standard) | 23″ diameter × 36″ tall | $80 CAD |
| 77-Gallon Jumbo Barrel | 24″ diameter × 48″ tall | $90 CAD |
These rates are from our Mississauga warehouse to Kingston, Jamaica port. No fuel surcharge, no re-weighing, no handling fees. The rate you see is the rate you pay.
💡 Pro tip: A 77-gallon jumbo barrel is only $10 more than a 55-gallon, but holds roughly 40% more volume. If you're sending a full load, the jumbo is almost always better value.
Dropping off your barrel at our 3670 Odyssey Drive Unit 3, Mississauga warehouse is always free. If you want us to come to your home or business, pickup fees apply based on your distance from the warehouse:
| Location | Pickup Fee |
|---|---|
| Warehouse drop-off (Mississauga) | FREE |
| Mississauga / Brampton | $30 CAD |
| Toronto / North York / Scarborough / Etobicoke | $40 CAD |
| Oakville / Burlington / Milton | $50 CAD |
| Pickering / Ajax / Whitby / Oshawa | $100 CAD |
| Caledon / Bolton / Barrie area | $100 CAD |
| Montreal / Ottawa / Gatineau | $100 CAD |
Pickup fees cover one visit to collect your items. If you have multiple barrels or a combination of barrels and furniture, it's all one pickup fee.
Here's what most barrel shippers either don't know or don't mention upfront: your receiver in Jamaica will have to pay fees to Jamaica Customs before they can collect the barrel from Kingston port. These costs are separate from the shipping rate and are paid directly to Jamaican authorities.
The receiver will typically need a licensed customs broker (called a "clearing agent") to handle the paperwork and pay duties on their behalf.
| Fee | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Clearing Agent Fee | ~JA$6,500–10,000 (~$55–75 CAD) | Almost all barrel receivers pay this. It's the customs broker's fee for processing the barrel through the Jamaica Customs Agency. This applies specifically to unaccompanied personal effects in barrels. |
| GCT (General Consumption Tax) | 15% of assessed CIF value | Jamaica's equivalent of HST/GST. Applied to most goods. The CIF value = declared value of goods + insurance + freight cost. |
| Customs Duty | 0–30% of CIF value | Rate varies by type of goods. Used personal effects owned for 6+ months may be duty-exempt. New goods attract full duty. Food attracts approximately 40% duty. |
| Stamp Duty | JA$100 (~$0.80 CAD) | Minimal. Applied to shipments above JA$5,500 in value. |
| Port Storage / Demurrage | Accrues daily | Applied if the barrel is not cleared promptly after arrival. Usually avoidable by having a clearing agent ready and clearing within 5 business days of arrival. |
| Typical Total — Clothing & Household Goods Barrel | JA$7,000–25,000 | ~$50–175 CAD equivalent. Varies significantly based on declared value, contents, and whether goods qualify as personal effects. |
⚠️ Important: Customs fees in Jamaica are assessed by the Jamaica Customs Agency and are completely outside our control. The amounts above are estimates based on typical shipments. We help prepare shipping documentation to support smooth clearance, but the receiver handles all Jamaican fees directly.
Jamaica Customs calculates GCT and duty based on the CIF value — that's the Cost of the goods, plus Insurance, plus Freight (shipping cost). This means the $80–$90 barrel shipping fee actually gets added to the assessed value of your goods when calculating what your receiver owes in Jamaica.
For example: if your barrel contains $300 CAD worth of goods and costs $80 to ship, the CIF value is approximately $380 CAD. GCT of 15% on that is ~$57 CAD.
Here's what three common shipments actually cost in total — Canada side plus Jamaica side.
Book online in 5 minutes. See the exact Canada-side cost before you commit.
Sending a barrel full of food to Jamaica is very common — especially rice, flour, canned goods, cornmeal, oats, and spices. The shipping cost from Canada is the same regardless of what's inside. However, food attracts higher customs duty in Jamaica than clothing and household goods.
Most packaged, non-perishable food items imported into Jamaica attract approximately 40% customs duty plus 15% GCT on the CIF value. This means a barrel packed primarily with food will have significantly higher Jamaica-side fees than an equivalent barrel of clothing.
For example: a 55-gallon barrel packed with $400 CAD worth of food (rice, flour, canned goods, cornmeal):
CIF value: ~$480 CAD (goods + freight)
Duty at 40%: ~$192 CAD equivalent
GCT at 15% on CIF + duty: ~$102 CAD equivalent
Clearing agent: ~$60 CAD equivalent
Total Jamaica fees on a food barrel: ~$354 CAD equivalent — roughly what you paid to ship it in the first place.
This doesn't mean you shouldn't send food — many people do it gladly because the food items are simply not available or are much more expensive in Jamaica. Just budget for the Jamaica-side costs if food makes up a significant portion of the barrel.
While we can't control what Jamaica Customs charges, there are things you and your receiver can do to minimize fees and avoid delays: