Metal Guides
Straight answers about buying, cutting, and shipping metal in Canada, written by the sales team that cuts it.
What shipping options does Metals 'R' Us offer? Price, speed, and the honest trade
You pick from what the couriers actually quote for your cart: usually three or four options, most often Canpar, Purolator, GLS, or UPS. Canpar carries 44.8% of our orders because the value is real, and it's also the option we...
Why buy metal from a Canadian supplier? Duties, exchange rates, and lead times in 2026
As of June 2026, a US metal order usually lands in Canada at 1.85-2.4x its sticker price once the exchange rate, the 25% surtax on US-melted steel and aluminum, GST, and courier brokerage stack up. Our comparable six-piece basket landed...
How accurate are custom metal cuts? Saw tolerances explained
Every cut we ship lands within ±1/8″ of the length you ordered, and most land closer. That's the standard saw-cut class at metal service centres. Need ±0.005″? That's machining, not sawing, and we'll say so. Here's what a bandsaw really...
What is a mill test report (MTR), and can you get one on a small order?
An MTR is the certificate the mill issues for a heat of metal: measured chemistry, mechanical results, and the spec it was made to. And yes, you can get one here on request at any order size, a single 12″...
How does metal shipping work across Canada?
Metal ships fine by courier when it's cut smart. We ship pieces up to 96″ anywhere in Canada, pieces under 48″ ride the best parcel rates, and rates quote live at checkout for your postal code. Pickup in Dartmouth is...
How much does metal cost in Canada? (July 2026 prices)
Most 12″ pieces of common stock run about $5-30 CAD as of July 2026: $5.30 for a 1/8″ steel round, $5.30 for a 1/4″ aluminum round, $26.11 for a 304 stainless flat. The metal, the alloy, and the cross-section set...
Already know your metal?
Each guide covers the grades we stock, what they're good for, and what they cost. Or skip the reading and go straight to the shelf.