Certified Mail fee
$5.55
Added to eligible postage
USPS service guide
USPS Certified Mail: How It Works, Cost & Tracking
Certified Mail is a USPS extra service that provides a mailing receipt and, upon request, electronic verification of delivery or attempted delivery. USPS maintains a delivery record that includes the recipient's signature. The sender can obtain a copy of the delivery record by purchasing Return Receipt at the time of mailing.
Choose your next step
What do you need to know?
Learn the basics
What Certified Mail is and how the mailing process works.
Track a mailing
Find the tracking number and understand USPS status updates.
Check current costs
See postage, Certified Mail, and Return Receipt pricing.
Understand the proof
Separate the mailing receipt, tracking, and signature record.
Compare mail services
Decide when Certified or Registered Mail better fits the job.
Handle failed delivery
Learn what refused, unclaimed, and returned statuses mean.
The documentation trail
How Certified Mail documents a mailing
These records answer different questions. Certified Mail provides the first two; Return Receipt is the optional third layer.
- Record 1
Mailing receipt
Certified Mail provides the sender with a mailing receipt.
- Record 2
Delivery or attempt record
Upon request, USPS provides electronic verification of delivery or attempted delivery for Certified Mail.
- Record 3
Optional Return Receipt
The sender can obtain a copy of the delivery record by purchasing Return Receipt at the time of mailing.
Need the legal-context nuance? Read how to evaluate Certified Mail evidence. Legal sufficiency depends on the governing law, contract, or rule. USPS source: USPS DMM 503 (Certified Mail description) (opens in new tab).
Current fee snapshot
How much is Certified Mail?
The Certified Mail fee is added to postage. Return Receipt is optional; choose one only when you need a sender-facing copy of the signature record.
Electronic Return Receipt
$2.91
Optional signature copy
Mailed Return Receipt
$4.65
Optional hard-copy record
Registered Mail starts at
$20.90
Declared-value baseline; added to postage
Rates effective July 12, 2026. Source: USPS July 2026 Notice 123 price files (opens in new tab). Official references: USPS Notice 123 (opens in new tab) and USPS extra services (opens in new tab).
Quick comparison
Certified Mail vs. Registered Mail
Choose for documentation
Certified Mail
Certified Mail provides the sender with a mailing receipt. Upon request, USPS provides electronic verification of delivery or attempted delivery for Certified Mail. The fee is $5.55 in addition to postage.
Choose for declared value
Registered Mail
Registered Mail uses a declared-value fee schedule and separate handling rules. Fees start at $20.90 in addition to postage.
Neither service by itself determines whether a notice is legally sufficient. Compare more options in the Certified Mail alternatives guide.
Explore the topic
Certified Mail guides
How Does Certified Mail Work? The Life of a Letter
Certified Mail doesn't change how your letter travels — it builds a record around the trip. The whole system, stage by stage: what USPS writes down, who can sign, and what you can prove at each point.
Certified Mail Cost 2026: Fees & Return Receipt
Certified Mail cost in 2026: current USPS fees, Return Receipt options, and worked totals for a 1 oz letter.
What Happens If Certified Mail Is Refused or Unclaimed
Learn what happens when certified mail is refused, returned unclaimed, or not delivered. Understand your options and the legal implications of failed delivery.
Certified Mail Returned Unclaimed: What to Do Next
What unclaimed certified mail means legally and your next steps. State-specific rules, case law precedents, and alternative service options explained.
Certified Mail Alternatives: When Other Options Work Better
Compare certified mail to signature confirmation, certificate of mailing, and registered mail. Learn which USPS service fits your needs and budget.
Certified Mail Evidence: What Courts Accept as Proof
What courts accept as certified mail evidence. Federal rules of evidence, proof of mailing vs proof of delivery, and how to build admissible records.
How to Fill Out a Certified Mail Receipt (PS Form 3800)
Every field and checkbox on the green Certified Mail form — who fills what, what each costs as of July 12, 2026, and when you can skip the form entirely.
Can You Send Certified Mail to a PO Box?
Yes—USPS delivers certified mail to PO boxes. Most recipients get a pickup notice and sign at the counter, but Signature on File can change the pickup flow.
Postmark vs Proof of Mailing: What a USPS Postmark Actually Means in 2026
USPS postmarks don’t always equal the day you dropped mail. Here’s what a postmark means in 2026—and how to get real proof of mailing (with the right USPS services).
Electronic Certified Mail: What It Documents and Legal Caveats
What electronic certified mail means and what it documents and key legal caveats. Covers USPS Electronic Return Receipt, online mailing services, and court acceptance.
Electronic Return Receipt vs Green Card: Which to Choose
Compare USPS electronic return receipt and physical green card options for certified mail. Learn the cost difference, delivery times, and which works best.
More practical answers
How to Track Certified MailWhere to find the number and how to read tracking events.Electronic Return Receipt vs. Green CardCompare the two sender-facing signature record options.Sending Certified Mail to a PO BoxHow delivery and pickup records work for PO Box mail.Electronic Certified MailUnderstand online preparation and electronic record options.
Related Topics
USPS Rates
Compare Certified Mail fees with current USPS postage
Send a Letter Online
Use Postmarkr for tracked First-Class letters that do not require Certified Mail.
First-Class Mail Guide
Understand the base postage that certified mail builds on
USPS Postmark Guide
When the postmark date matters for legal deadlines
Certified Mail frequently asked questions
Need to send a letter today?
Postmarkr sends tracked First-Class letters today—Certified Mail is coming soon.