Ordering Custom Outdoor Cushions to Canada: Duties, GST/HST and Delivery Explained

Quick answer: Orders to Canada ship DDP (delivered duty paid). We pay the import duty and the GST/HST, so there is nothing to pay on delivery. Delivery across Canada is free. Most custom cushions are made in 2–3 weeks, plus shipping time; custom shapes cut from your template take 5–6 weeks.

Ordering anything from outside Canada can feel like a gamble. Many Canadians have had a parcel turn up with a courier holding out a handheld terminal, asking for duty, tax and a brokerage fee before they will hand it over. When the order is a set of custom cushions you have already paid for, that is the last thing you want. Here is exactly how ordering custom outdoor cushions to Canada works with us, from checkout to the box on your porch.

What DDP means for you

DDP stands for delivered duty paid. It is a shipping term that decides who handles customs. When an order ships DDP, the seller clears it through Canadian customs and pays what is owed on the way in. The buyer simply receives the parcel.

The alternative, often called DDU or DAP, leaves those charges to the person receiving the parcel. That is where the surprise bills come from. The courier pays the duty and tax at the border on your behalf, adds a fee for doing it, and collects the total from you before delivery or sends an invoice afterward.

All of our Canadian orders ship DDP. In practice that means:

• Import duty: paid by us.
• GST/HST on import: paid by us.
• On delivery: nothing to pay.

GST and HST, briefly

Goods brought into Canada are subject to the federal Goods and Services Tax, or the Harmonized Sales Tax in provinces that combine federal and provincial sales tax into one. Which one applies depends on where the parcel is delivered. You do not need to work any of this out. Because the order ships DDP, the tax due on import is settled before the parcel reaches you, whichever province you live in.

Is delivery to Canada really free?

Yes. Delivery of complete cushions is free across Canada, from a Vancouver condo balcony to a cottage in Muskoka to a farmhouse in the Maritimes. If you are working to a deadline, order early and allow for both making and shipping time.

How long does it take?

Every cushion is cut and sewn to order, so the timeline has two parts: making and shipping.

Making

• Standard shapes (rectangles, trapezoids, L-shapes, chair and bench cushions built in the online builder): 2–3 weeks.
• Custom shapes cut from your own template: 5–6 weeks, because we work from the outline you send.
• Ultraleather and Gabriel fabrics: quote or pre-order only, 8–12 weeks.

Shipping

Once made, your order is shipped straight to your door. Shipping time depends on where in Canada you are, so allow for it on top of the making time. Foam and covers may arrive in separate boxes, and that is normal.

Planning around a Canadian summer

Our outdoor season is short, and everyone wants their cushions for the same few weeks. If you want them on the deck for the May long weekend or Canada Day, order in March or April. Ordering in the fall is a smart move too: you get a calm production window and cushions waiting for you in spring.

What happens after you order

1. Build your cushion. Choose a shape, enter your sizes in inches and pick a fabric. The price shows as you go.
2. Check the spec sheet. We email a spec sheet so you can confirm the size, foam and fabric before anything is cut.
3. We make it. Every cushion is cut within ±0.5″ of the measurements you send.
4. We ship it DDP. Customs, duty and GST/HST are handled for you.
5. Unpack. If your foam arrives vacuum-packed, take it out of the plastic and give it 12–18 hours to expand fully before you judge the size or zip the cover on.

Getting the size right first time

Because every cushion is made to order, accurate measuring matters more than anything else. Use a metal tape, measure in inches and round up to the nearest quarter inch. For a replacement, measure the old foam edge to edge rather than the cover, since covers stretch. Our measuring guide walks through every common shape.

If we cut outside the ±0.5″ tolerance, we remake the cushion free under our warranty and fit guarantee. Measuring errors on the customer's side cannot be returned, so take your time and measure twice.

Choosing fabric from a distance

Colours look different on every screen, and a sandy beige on your phone can turn out quite grey on a shaded deck. The simplest fix is to order swatches before you commit. Swatches are paid, and the cost is credited back on your cushion order with a one-time code.

Ordering for a business

Resorts, lodges, marinas, restaurants and designers across Canada order larger quantities for patios, docks and guest rooms. If you are fitting out a property, our trade and business program is the place to start. It is set up for multiple sizes, repeat orders and project timelines.

Ready to start?

Browse outdoor cushions to find your shape, or contact us with a photo and rough sizes if you are not sure where to begin. The same DDP delivery applies to indoor orders such as window seat and mudroom bench cushions. Our team answers at care@fabricakraft.com, weekdays 11am–7pm ET.

Frequently asked questions

Will I have to pay duty or GST/HST when my cushions arrive in Canada?

No. Orders to Canada ship DDP, so we pay the import duty and GST/HST. There is nothing to pay on delivery.

Is shipping to Canada free?

Yes. Delivery of complete cushions is free anywhere in Canada.

How long do custom outdoor cushions take to reach Canada?

Most orders are made in 2–3 weeks, then shipped to you. Custom shapes cut from a template take 5–6 weeks to make. Allow shipping time on top of the making time.

What if my cushion does not fit?

We cut every cushion within ±0.5″ of the size you send. If ours is outside that, we remake it free. Measuring mistakes on the customer's side are not returnable, so it is worth checking each number twice.

Why is my foam smaller than expected when it arrives?

Foam is often vacuum-packed for shipping. Take it out of the plastic and let it expand for 12–18 hours before you measure it or fit the cover.