Canada Post is launching a flat-rate shipping box for users of eBay designed to make it easier to buy and sell using the online auction website.

The Crown corporation and eBay issued a joint announcement Thursday, saying the service would do away with the need to weigh and measure items before shipping, allowing sellers to include shipping costs in their listings.

"Canadian eBay users ship millions of parcels through Canada Post each year," Canada Post's John Swettenham said in a release. "That makes the eBay community an extremely important customer base."

The service is available for items up to five kilograms that fit inside the box, which measures 28 by 21.5 by 14 centimetres.

Shipping costs depend on the destination: $9.99 for regional shipping, $12.99 for national and $17.99 for shipments to the United States.

Sellers will also be able to print shipping labels, making it easier for them to drop their packages in any street letterbox or post office.