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To send USPS Certified Mail in the United States, prepare and address your mailpiece, attach and complete the Certified Mail label, pay the normal postage plus the extra-service fee, then hand it to a USPS employee if you want a postmarked mailing receipt. Certified Mail provides evidence of mailing and a USPS delivery record; add Return Receipt if you want a signature record returned to you.
What Certified Mail does—and what it does not
USPS Certified Mail is an extra service for eligible domestic mail. USPS provides a mailing receipt and maintains a delivery record. Certified Mail does not include insurance, and the service alone does not give you a returned recipient signature. For a signature record, purchase Return Receipt as well. See the USPS Quick Service Guide 503 and the USPS Certified Mail overview.
How to send Certified Mail: 12 steps
- Confirm it is a domestic mailing. These steps cover USPS mail sent within the United States; international mailing requirements differ.
- Prepare and seal your mailpiece. Put the letter or documents in an addressed envelope or other suitable mailpiece and seal it.
- Address the recipient completely. Write the recipient’s name and full delivery address on the mailpiece. PS Form 3800 also calls for the recipient’s name and complete address.
- Add your return address. Include a complete sender address on the mailpiece, especially if you are requesting Return Receipt.
- Get the Certified Mail label. Use the barcoded green label portion of PS Form 3800, or an eligible electronic label arrangement under USPS rules.
- Complete the mailing receipt. Enter the recipient’s name and complete address on the PS Form 3800 receipt. Keep the detachable sender portion legible.
- Attach the label in the right place. For a letter, place the green label above the delivery address and to the right of the return address. For a parcel, USPS permits placement to the left of the delivery address. Do not cover the delivery address.
- Decide whether you need Return Receipt. If you want an electronic or physical delivery record showing a signature, add Return Receipt. The electronic option has geographic exceptions.
- Prepare PS Form 3811 for hardcopy Return Receipt. Enter the Certified Mail number, address the return portion, and attach the card without covering the delivery address. USPS also offers an electronic Return Receipt option.
- Pay the full mailing cost. Pay the postage for the mail class, the Certified Mail fee, and any fees for options you selected. USPS’s 2026 fee table lists Certified Mail at $5.55 per item, in addition to postage and other fees. Check the current USPS Notice 123 fee table for updated charges.
- Hand it to a USPS employee for a postmarked mailing receipt. Attach the completed receipt to the address side and present the item to an employee. Under USPS rules, the employee round-dates the receipt to show acceptance.
- Keep the receipt and track the item. Your receipt records the mailing; USPS maintains the delivery record. If you purchased Return Receipt, retain the returned physical record or electronic copy when it becomes available.
Choose the service that matches the proof you need
| What you need | Service | What it provides |
|---|---|---|
| Evidence the item was mailed and a USPS delivery record | Certified Mail | A mailing receipt and delivery record; it does not include insurance or automatically return a recipient signature. |
| A record showing the recipient’s signature | Certified Mail plus Return Receipt | An electronic or physical signature record. The electronic option has geographic exceptions. |
| Delivery limited to the named addressee | Certified Mail Restricted Delivery | An additional service with its own fee. Consult the USPS Domestic Mail Manual 503 for current service rules and eligibility. |
How much does Certified Mail cost?
USPS’s 2026 Notice 123 lists the Certified Mail extra-service charge as $5.55 per item. That is not the total mailing price: add the postage for the mail class and any optional-service fees. The same table lists Certified Mail Restricted Delivery at $14.35, Certified Mail Adult Signature Required at $14.35, and Certified Mail Adult Signature Restricted Delivery at $14.35. These are listed extra-service charges, not postage-inclusive totals; fees can change, so check Notice 123 before mailing.
Quick Recap
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