Certified Mail Cost: Current Prices & Fees

Certified Mail is a USPS extra service that gives you a mailing receipt and a record of delivery. People use it for legal notices, tax documents, lease terminations and other letters where proof matters. It is added to First-Class Mail or Priority Mail, so the total is always postage plus the Certified Mail fee plus any options you choose.

The fees on this page come from the official USPS price list (Notice 123, effective October 4, 2026) and the USPS extra services page, checked on Oct 11, 2026. USPS changes these fees from time to time, so confirm the price at the counter or on usps.com.

The basic Certified Mail fee is $5.55. With it you get a receipt stamped at the time of mailing, tracking, and a delivery record that USPS keeps. The carrier gets a signature from the person who accepts the letter.

Restricted Delivery and Adult Signature options each cost $14.35. Restricted Delivery means only the named addressee, or an agent the addressee has authorized, can sign. Adult Signature Required means someone 21 or older must sign. The combined Adult Signature Restricted Delivery option costs $14.35.

Certified Mail proves the letter was delivered. A Return Receipt shows you who signed for it, which is what many legal and business situations call for.

You can choose between two versions:

• Hard copy (PS Form 3811, the green card). Costs $4.65. The signed card is mailed back to you.
• Electronic. Costs $2.91. You get the signature record by email.

Both carry the same information. The electronic version arrives faster and costs less. Some courts or agencies ask for the physical green card, so check what the recipient of your proof expects before you choose.

Add three parts together: postage, the Certified Mail fee and any options. For a 1-ounce letter, postage is $0.82. The Certified Mail fee is $5.55. A Return Receipt adds $2.91 for email or $4.65 for the green card.

Heavier envelopes cost more in postage, and Priority Mail costs more than First-Class Mail. Certified Mail is not available on every service, so ask the clerk if you plan to use something other than First-Class or Priority Mail.

A Certificate of Mailing (PS Form 3817) costs $2.45. It proves only that you mailed the item on a given date. It has no tracking and no delivery record. It is a cheaper choice when a rule requires proof of sending and nothing more.

Certified Mail does not include insurance. If the contents have monetary value, look at Registered Mail or insured mail instead, which are priced separately.

1. Fill out PS Form 3800 (the Certified Mail label) and attach it to the envelope. You can get forms at the Post Office.
2. Add PS Form 3811 if you want a hard-copy Return Receipt, or ask for the electronic version.
3. Take the letter to the counter so the clerk can postmark your receipt. This dated receipt is your proof of mailing.
4. Keep the receipt and track the letter with the number on it.

You can also print Certified Mail labels through some online postage services. If you rely on the mailing date for a legal deadline, check that the method you choose produces the proof you need. For legal questions, consult a licensed attorney.