What Does it Actually Cost to Send Certified Mail?

So, you want to send a Certified letter but you’re not sure what the cost will be. Before we begin talking about that, let’s do a quick overview of what Certified Mail is, shall we?

What is Certified Mail?

Certified Mail is the right product when you need proof of mailing, proof of delivery and detailed tracking of the letter as it travels to its intended recipient. You can choose to have the recipient must sign for the letter. That is, as long as you choose to add a Return Receipt to your mailing. More on that later.

Certified Mail is only available for letters bound for addresses within the United States and can only be used on letters that weigh less than 13 ounces. This service is often used from important legal documents or for legal matters where you need to prove that you mailed something.

USPS Certified Mail Cost

Ok, so now that you have a brief understanding of what sending a letter by certified mail is, let’s talk more about the cost.

The cost of Certified Mail varies depending on the weight of your mail and whether you want a Return Receipt included. Again, we’re still saving that for a little later on.

Now keep in mind, if you’re sending Certified Mail the traditional way, through the United States Post Office (USPS), then you have some work to do on your end as well.

Not only do you have to provide the letter itself, through creating it and printing it, but you have to get an envelope, seal it, drive to the post office, wait in line, fill out the Certified Mail label, add postage to it, pay for it and then drive back home or to the office. Remember, time is money.

Keeping all of that in mind here is the breakdown cost of what the USPS charges to send a Certified Mail piece:

First-Class Postage $.66 (up to 1 ounce (roughly 5 pieces of paper))
Certified Mail: $4.35
Optional Return Receipt – Green Card: $3.55
Optional Electronic Return Receipt: $2.20

Here’s an example of what it would cost: If you want to send a 1-ounce letter with Certified Mail rates and a Return Receipt, the total cost would be $8.56. This includes the $4.35 certified mail fee, the $3.55 return receipt fee, and the postage for a 1-ounce letter.

Return Receipt Vs Electronic Return Receipt

Can we talk about a Return Receipt already?

Ok, ok. Now that we’ve broken down what the post office charges. Let’s do a quick overview of what a Return Receipt and Electronic Return Receipt (ERR) are and how they are different.

What is a Return Receipt? A Return Receipt is a physical copy of the green card, also known as the “PS Form 3811,” that is mailed back to the sender to show that the recipient received and signed for the letter.

What is an Electronic Return Receipt (ERR)? On the other hand, an ERR is the same as a Return Receipt except it is electronically sent back to the sender showcasing that the recipient received and signed for it.

A Different Approach to Mailing Certified Mail

Remember above where we talked about the extra time and effort that goes into sending a Certified letter by going directly through the postal service?

What if we told you there was an easier, more convenient and overall affordable way to send a Certified letter or letters?

LetterStream makes the process so efficient you’ll be asking yourself why you haven’t done this sooner. Instead of buying and using all of your supplies and instead of making the inconvenient trip to the post office, you can simply go to LetterStream.com, create or login to your account, upload your Certified Mail into our online portal (or create one from a template we offer) and send it on its merry way.

We handle all of the printing, inserting, and mailing so you don’t have to. Plus, we offer an Electronic Return Receipt that you can track right in your customer account.

Cost Breakdown

Your cost for sending a single Certified letter online through LetterStream includes:

Certified Mail Letter Fees
Postage
Printing and mailing your letters in less than two (2) business days
USPS Tracking Number
Electronic Return Receipt
Trackable Online Status
Along with never having to leave the comfort of your home or office

This comes out to only $9.49 for a single letter. If you don’t want the Electronic Return Receipt then you can get a certified letter starting at only $7.25.

Why Would I Use Certified Mail?

OnlineCertifiedMail.com is a related partner site to LetterStream but is dedicated exclusively to the process of processing, mailing and tracking Certified Mail. It has an easy-to-use interface to quickly send a single letter or two.

To learn more about OnlineCertifiedMail.com click here.

Comparing Costs for USPS Certified Mail

The cost of USPS certified mail is comparable to the cost of other secure mail services, such as UPS and FedEx Ground Economy. However, USPS certified mail is often the most affordable option for sending a certified letter the traditional way.

For sending certified mail online or as e-certified mail (a new term being used for online Certified Mail), our service is actually the cheapest. When you factor in the supplies we include (paper, envelope), labor and sending of the letter (so you don’t have to use gas to drive to the post office and wait in line) and Certified Mail fees, our price is unbeatable.

Is Insurance Offered When You Send Certified Mail?

Insurance is an optional service offered by the USPS and you might be wondering what the cost is for that. However, insurance actually is not offered for Certified Mail. Instead, you can purchase insurance using Registered Mail. Registered mail is similar to certified mail as you get the tracking and proof of delivery, but with Registered Mail, you are also able send it internationally and get the proof of insurance you may be looking for.

We do offer this as an option at LetterStream. However, please keep in mind that the cost is quite high, starting at about $30 per letter. Plus, it generally takes between 7–30 days to be delivered (possibly longer depending on location), and successful delivery and signatures are not guaranteed.

All-in-all, the cost of certified mail is a fair price for the peace of mind that it provides. If you need to mail important documents, certified mail is a secure and affordable option. If you want the ease and convenience without the hassle of going to the post office to send your letter, then check out our Certified Mail page to get started!

What Happens to Mail Delivery During a Powerful Hurricane?

You’ve heard the old adage, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” Well, while that goes to show the determination of the 300,000 plus fearless United States Postal Service (USPS) mail carriers, it doesn’t always reflect the full story of mail delivery.

Mail Delivery Disrupted

Mail delivery can be disrupted by a great many natural and not-so-natural causes. Take Hurricanes for instance. While mail carriers may be determined to show up and sort and deliver the mail, sometimes roads are closed or impassible due to high water and they aren’t able to make it to their designated Post Office.

Sometimes Post Offices are damaged by rising flood waters, a storm surge and even extra heavy rain that seeps into the building before it could drain away. When Post Offices are flooded, they need to be shut down and mail needs to be diverted to nearby postal facilities until the water has cleared and the Post Office can be used again.

What you might not know is that the USPS keeps an active list of all the Post Offices that are closed and the various reasons that cause them to be unable to sort or process mail.

USPS Service Page Alerts

At the time of this publication, the USPS website (USPS.com) has a link in the footer of their website called USPS Service Updates. Clicking the link will take you to their Service Alerts page.

Today, August 30, 2023, the USPS shows 50 Post Offices closed in the state of Florida for Hurricane Idalia, which has yet to make landfall. When Idalia comes to shore and pushes a storm surge towards the coast, we are likely to see even more Post Office closures.

Also, it’s not just current Post Office closures that show up on this page but also past ones. Consider this list of closures for Hurricane Ian on November 4 of 2022.

Keep in mind, it’s not just Hurricane’s that can disrupt mail delivery times. Any natural disaster, including fires, mudslides, tornados, floods, earthquakes and volcanos, to name just a few, can cause a Post Office to close and delay mail. Even non-weather events can close a Post Office. Here are a couple of post offices that were closed due to power outages.

Not all closures result in delayed mail. Sometimes our cherished mail pieces can be diverted to a nearby Post Office and mail carriers report for duty at this secondary facility and carry on with their work. However, just because the mail carrier can sort the mail, it doesn’t mean that the coast is clear for them to deliver mail to their entire mail route.

Mail Tracking

So, when you send USPS Certified Mail and follow the Certified Mail Receipts or tracking information, you might see odd delays and rerouting of the mail. Sometimes this is due to postal closures. First-Class Mail doesn’t have the same transparency in that tracking as it isn’t typically included in First-Class Mail service. But, you still may discover that a letter arrived a few days later than you anticipated. When wondering why, consider checking the USPS service alerts just to see what might be happening in that local area.

Given the number of storms and unforeseen circumstances that takes place around us, we have to give our local mail carriers a hand for working and doing their best, despite the weather, in order to get our mail delivered on time, every (or nearly every) time.

Is USPS Certified Mail Trackable?

When it comes to important mailings, United States Postal Service (USPS) Certified Mail is a popular choice for individuals and businesses alike. This service provides a level of security and accountability by offering tracking and proof of delivery. Let’s go on a little journey as we explore the trackability of USPS Certified Mail. We’ll talk about how to track it, the importance of certified mail proof of delivery, and what to do if your USPS Certified Mail tracking isn’t updating.

Understanding USPS Certified Mail Tracking

USPS Certified Mail is a service that provides added security for sensitive or important mail items. One of the key features of this service is the ability to track the progress of your mail piece. Each Certified Mail item is assigned a unique tracking number that allows both the sender and recipient to monitor its whereabouts. Pretty cool, right?

How to Track USPS Certified Mail Letter

Tracking USPS Certified Mail is a straightforward process. To track your Certified Mail item, follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Locate your USPS Certified Mail tracking number or mailing receipt. This number can be found on the receipt you received when you sent the mail or on the mailing label.

Step 2: Visit the USPS website or use the USPS mobile app.

Step 3: Type in the tracking number into the specified box and select the “Track” option.

Step 4: The website or app will display the current status and location of your USPS Certified Mail item. You will be able to see when it was sent, where it is in transit, and when it is delivered.

A Simple Solution for Sending and Tracking Online Certified Mail

Now that you know how to track Certified Mail, let’s talk about using LetterStream as a simplified solution to send your Certified letter. If you’re new to our website here is a quick overview of the LetterStream way to send Certified Mail.

Nearly two (2) decades ago (wow! time sure does fly by fast), we pioneered the industry by creating and implementing the first process for sending certified mail online. Our process is not only effective but it’s extremely convenient for our customers. Normally when sending a certified letter, you have to gather the supplies, print your documents, stuff them into envelopes and take a fun little trip down to the post office where you probably get to wait in a nice little line.

Instead, we take care of absolutely everything for you! Well, nearly everything. You are required to sign into your account and upload your document(s), but that’s all! Honestly! We manage all the other aspects for you.

Plus, we’re not like other companies where you can buy the label and supplies but still have to print and send the letter yourself. We do it all for you, from start to finish!

If you already use our online portal to send Certified Mail, then you know we make this process even easier. You can simply login to your online account and directly track your mailing there.

USPS Certified Mail Delivery Confirmation

Ok, let’s get back to it.

Certified Mail offers a USPS tracking number with delivery confirmation to both the sender and the recipient. The USPS delivery confirmation feature provides peace of mind by verifying that the mail item has been delivered via signature confirmation. The USPS updates the tracking information to reflect the delivery status once the item reaches its destination. This confirmation can be crucial, especially when dealing with important documents or legal correspondence.

Certified Mail Proof of Delivery

One of the significant advantages of a Certified letter is the ability to obtain proof of delivery or signature confirmation. This proves that your mail reached the right person. The USPS provides several options for obtaining proof of delivery, including:

Return Receipt: This is a physical document that is signed by the recipient or an authorized person at the delivery address. It is then mailed back to the sender, providing a tangible proof of delivery.
Electronic Return Receipt (ERR): This option provides an electronic confirmation of delivery. The recipient’s signature is captured electronically and can be viewed online. Both ERR and return receipt will also show that the mailman attempted delivery but had no luck.
USPS Tracking: The online tracking information provided by USPS can serve as proof of delivery. The status updates and delivery confirmation on the USPS website can be used as evidence.

Keep in mind, if you’re using our service, we offer an Electronic Return Receipt (ERR) that you can track right in your customer account.

USPS Certified Mail Tracking Not Updating

In some instances, you may notice that the USPS Certified Mail tracking information is not updating as expected. This can be concerning, but there are a few factors to consider:

Processing Delays: It’s possible that the tracking information is delayed due to processing delays at the USPS sorting facilities. In such cases, it’s advisable to wait a few days and check the tracking status again.
Incorrect Tracking Number: Double-check the tracking number you entered to ensure accuracy. Even a small error can prevent the tracking information from updating. Again, keep in mind, LetterStream’s online portal takes this option out of the mix since we house and provide the certified tracking number for you.
Technical Issues: Occasionally, technical glitches or system maintenance can disrupt the real-time tracking updates. If you suspect this to be the case, try tracking the item again later.

If you have followed these steps and still have concerns about the tracking status of your USPS Certified Mail, it is recommended to reach out to USPS customer support for further assistance.

To learn more about our hassle-free, easy and convenient way to send certified mail from the comfort of your home or office (or anywhere really) then click here.

What Does My Tracking Information Mean?

What Do Certified Mail Tracking Numbers Mean?

Using your LetterStream account you are able to track the entire process of your created Certified Mail – from job creation to successful delivery, and all other statuses in between.

Although we want nothing but the best for our customers, LetterStream cannot guarantee the success of a delivery or timeliness to your intended recipients since this is dependent upon the United States Postal Service (USPS). We do, however, offer real-time transit status and tracking information for each piece of Certified Mail, which provided directly from the USPS.

Here is a breakdown of the various status levels along the journey:

Mailed: Your Certified Mail piece has been printed, inserted into envelopes, and given to the USPS for processing and to attempt to be delivered. This begins the transit stage of your Certified Mail. Mailed pieces shouldn’t be confused with Delivered mail, as “mailed” simply means that your letter(s) are in the mail stream/system.

In Transit: Your Certified Mail is in the hands of the USPS. At this point, we are at the mercy of the USPS in regard to a successful delivery to the intended recipient.

Delivery Attempted: Delivery to the intended recipient has been attempted. The Post Office likely left a notice of attempted delivery for the recipient with instructions on how and where the item can be received.

Unclaimed By Recipient: After attempts of delivery had been unsuccessful, and the recipient does not make an attempt to receive the item, the status is changed to “Unclaimed By Recipient.”

Refused By Recipient: If the intended recipient refuses to accept and/or sign for the mail piece, the status is changed to “Refused By Recipient” and is returned to the sender.

Returned To Sender: In the event the mail piece is undeliverable due to a bad address, the recipient is no longer at the address, etc., then the status is changed to “Returned To Sender.”

Delivered: Your Certified Mail was successfully delivered to the recipient, and a signature was acquired. Once this status is achieved and the USPS gives you access to the electronic signature file, you can view the signature by clicking the “View” link to the right of the status indicators for each recipient.

You will also see 3 status boxes next to each recipient within your LetterStream account. These are color-coded by status.

See below for the color that represents the corresponding status:

White – No action has occurred, or the Post Office has not updated the tracking information

Lime Green – Recent status updated successfully

Light Yellow – Unclaimed/Business Closed

Orange – Out for Delivery/Attempted

Violet – Forwarded

Pink – Returned to Sender

Dark Green – Returned (2nd box will be pink)

Red – Refused (2nd box will be pink)

These rules are applied to the tracking status bar at the top of the page as well.

Never be out of the loop along the journey.

"Business Closed"

Business Closed Google Image Results

I was shocked to discover that my business closed the other day. For some reason I had assumed I wouldn’t be the last to know.

Well, that’s not exactly how it turned out, but it sure threw me. I was tracking a test piece of USPS Certified Mail that I sent to my office. And right there in the USPS tracking history were the words “Business Closed“. Wow, what a bummer.

Business Closed Certified Mail Tracking Status

When I see the words “Business Closed” on a piece of mail it reminds me of “Moved – Left no forwarding”, or “No longer at this address” or “No receptacle”. Those words conjure up “Out of Business” and, well, “Business Closed“. After all, the screenshot above is what Google found when I did an image search for “Business Closed”. Looks like they came to the same conclusion.

Seeing those words on a piece of mail to my own office caused me to wonder what sort of financial position we must have been in to just up and close our doors in the middle of the night.

Turns out all is fine (except for maybe the choice of words the Postal Service uses when tracking Certified Mail). Here is the explanation for this new tracking status: “Business Closed” simply means that the mail carrier arrived outside of the normal business hours. In our case, the mail carrier attempted to deliver a certified letter on a Saturday when we were closed for the day (key word, ‘day‘).

So when you see the words “Business Closed” in your tracking history, simply translate it to “No one at the office today, will try tomorrow“. Personally, I was happy to know that I can continue showing up and writing little tidbits about First-Class and Certified Mail on this blog.

*To track a certified letter, go to www.LetterStream.com and find the “Certified Mail Tracking” section on the lower right side of the page.