In my experience sending/recieving cigars from the states, I have a few guidlines I like to follow:

US to Canada:

-Either send it USPS Air (4ish dollars and less than 2 weeks)
or
-USPS Global Priority (under a week, 8-10 dollars) I prefer this method when I have a large order of sticks. If it is only a couple sticks, it is a little expensive.
-on the declaration form, mark it as a gift and get creative with the description. I have had success with 'wedding videos', 'candles', or even 'opus, anejo, padron'. If you don't want to outright lie on the form you can just scribble 'humidor accessories' on it and they won't clue in. Make sure to declare it as something around 10 dollars so we don't have to pay tax on it.

Canada to US:

-The only cost-effective option is Canada Post Airmail. It will cost 10-? dollars depending on the size of the package. The smaller you can get it the better. Weight doesn't matter too much when all you are sending is sticks.
-Same as the American declaration form. Gift, low value and get creative on the description.


I like to pack the crap out of the boxes, so that it gives them one less reason to open it. I usually completely cover the box in packing tape and then put that box into a bubble mailer.

So far I have had 100% success rate using the described method. I have yet to have a package intercepted at the border and have so far paid $0 in duties.

The most important thing is to never declare it as tobacco, or cigars. They will either take it at the border, or let it through and assess us 100-300% tax on it. Since it would not have the proper tobacco importation paperwork with it, they will automatically asses it the maximum tax, which varies from province to province but is generally about 8 dollars per stick.