Notary Cost: Average Fees Explained

A notary public confirms who signed a document and that they signed it willingly. The fee is small, but it is not the only cost. A mobile notary adds a travel charge, an online notary charges a platform fee, and a bank may notarize for free if you are a customer. Which option you choose changes the price more than the state does.

Most states cap what a notary may charge per notarial act, and the cap is usually low. Those caps apply to the notary's fee for the act itself, not necessarily to travel or convenience charges. Figures below carry a check date of Oct 11, 2026.

Each state sets a maximum fee for in-person notarization. A notary can charge less, and many banks, libraries, and shipping stores do. The table shows a sample of states, so yours may not be listed.

The maximum is set by state law, so it may change. Check your state's Secretary of State website for the current schedule, since that office usually regulates notaries. Caps can change, so confirm the current figure before you rely on a published number.

The cap applies to each notarial act. A document with two signers who each need an acknowledgment may count as two acts, so the total can be double the single-act fee. Some states also let a notary charge a separate travel fee if both sides agree on it in advance, which is why the same document can cost more at your kitchen table than at a bank counter.

Remote online notarization lets you sign in front of a notary over video. It suits people who cannot travel, and it is available in many states. Pricing is usually set by the platform, and it often includes a fee for the first seal and a smaller fee for each extra signer.

Online notarization is not accepted for every document or in every state, so check that the receiving party will accept it. Some documents, such as certain real estate or court filings, may have extra requirements.

A mobile notary comes to your home, office, or hospital. You pay for the convenience, not only the act, so the total is higher than the state cap on the notarial fee alone.

After-hours and weekend calls cost more. A long drive, a rush request, or several signers can raise the price. Ask for a total quote before the notary travels.

• Banks and credit unions often notarize for account holders.
• Public libraries and some city offices offer notary services, sometimes free.
• Shipping and office-supply stores charge the state fee or close to it.
• Insurance agents, real estate offices, and law offices sometimes provide the service to customers.

Call ahead and ask what ID they accept and whether you need an appointment. You must sign in front of the notary in most cases, so do not sign beforehand.

• State fee cap. The legal maximum sets the ceiling for the act itself.
• Number of acts. Each signature or acknowledgment may be a separate act.
• Convenience. Mobile and after-hours service add to the base fee.
• Online or in person. Platforms set their own prices.
• Document length. A notary charges per act, not per page, in most states.
• Special services. Loan signing agents are paid separately for real estate closings.

The state caps are legal maximums, while the online and mobile figures come from a market survey and a platform's pricing page, so they describe different things. A notary can charge below the maximum, and a mobile notary's price includes travel and time. Online pricing also depends on the platform and the number of signers. The headline range is a broad one, drawn from one source, that blends all of these.

A few small steps save a second trip. Bring a current government-issued photo ID, because a notary cannot proceed without acceptable identification. Leave the signature line blank until you are in front of the notary. Fill in every other field first, since a notary generally will not notarize a document with blank spaces. If the document needs witnesses, ask the notary whether they can provide them or whether you should bring your own.