How to Send Certified Mail to a PO Box

As experts in the mail industry, we often encounter questions regarding Certified Mail, especially when it comes to sending them to P.O. Boxes. Well, we’re about to shed some light on the very popular question: Can you send Certified Mail to a PO Box?

The quick answer is yes, you can send Certified Mail to a P.O. Box, however, there are things to consider when doing so but we’ll talk more about that later.

Understanding and Tracking Certified Mail

Before getting into the specifics of sending to P.O. Boxes, let’s first understand what a Certified Mailing entails. It’s a service offered by the United States Postal Service (USPS) providing senders with a level of assurance that their important documents have been sent, delivered or attempted for delivery. When sending mail via Certified you can also get a Green Card, also known as a Certified Mail Return Receipt or an Electronic Return Receipt (ERR) and get a copy of the signature of the recipient sent back to you.

Who Would Send a Certified Letter?

Sending a Certified letter is a popular choice for individuals and businesses dealing with crucial documents, legal papers, contracts, or sensitive information. It offers proof of mailing and delivery, which can be invaluable in various scenarios, such as legal proceedings, contract disputes, or important communications where a record of receipt is essential.

Can You Send Certified Mail to a P.O. Box?

Like we mentioned above, the answer is yes, you can send Certified Mail to a PO Box. However, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind to ensure a smooth and successful delivery.

When addressing Certified letters to a P.O. Box, it is crucial to include the P.O. Box number in the address. This ensures that the postal service can accurately route the mail to the correct destination within the post office. The recipient’s name and the P.O. Box number is essential for a precise delivery.

It’s worth noting that Certified Mail sent to a P.O. Box requires the recipient to visit their local post office to retrieve the mail. Unlike regular mail, which is placed directly in the P.O. Box, Certified letters often involve a signature upon receipt (ERR), adding an extra layer of security and accountability. And if you’re wondering, “Does Certified Mail require a signature?” No, it does not but you can definitely choose it as an option for added tracking and security.

Certified Mail tracking is included. As a sender, you’ll receive a receipt with a unique tracking number. This tracking number allows you to monitor the delivery status, giving you peace of mind about the progress of your important documents or packages.

All-in-all, Certified Mail is a versatile and secure option for sending important items, and yes, it can be sent to a P.O. Box. By following the proper addressing guidelines and understanding the additional steps involved, you can ensure that your letter reaches its destination with precision and reliability.

Using LetterStream

To avoid unnecessary trips to the Post Office and to take the hassle out of sending any type of mail then use our website! Once you upload your job, we do the rest for you, including printing, inserting and mailing your letters. When sending USPS Certified Mail online through LetterStream, the Certified Mail cost starts at $7.34, which includes the Certified Mail fees and then goes up depending on the add-on services and type of envelope you’d like to use.

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 $7.27.

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!

How Does USPS Certified Mail Work?

Do you ever feel confused by the different options when it comes to sending mail or even just the terminology itself? Don’t feel bad, you’re not alone. It can be hard to know when to send something as First-Class Mail over Certified Mail, or when to send via FedEx vs United States Postal Service (USPS). In this article we’re not going to break down each type of mailing (we’ll save that for another day), but we will give you a little breakdown of Certified Mail and how it works.

What Is Certified Mail?

Certified Mail is a secure and reliable service offered by the United States Postal Service (USPS) that provides proof of mailing and delivery. Whether you’re sending important documents, legal papers, or sensitive information, Certified Mail offers an extra layer of assurance and peace of mind.

Sending Certified Mail

You may be wondering what the USPS Certified Mail process entails. In order to send Certified Mail, you need to fill out PS Form 3800, which serves as proof of mailing. The USPSP Certified Mail requirements includes a form to be filled out with the recipient’s address, your return address, and additional details such as insurance and registered mail options if necessary.

The Certified Mail fees are the same no matter how many or how few pieces of paper are in the envelope. However, First-Class postage does increase with each additional ounce of weight.

When you hand over the item at the Post Office counter, the clerk will provide you with a stamped proof of mailing. Once the payment is made, you will receive a receipt with a unique tracking number. This receipt includes the date and time of mailing, as well as the tracking number. It is crucial to keep this receipt safe as it serves as evidence of your sending the item.

Tracking and Delivery

The great thing about USPS Certified Mail is that it comes with a tracking feature that allows you to monitor the progress of your mail piece. Using the unique tracking number provided on the receipt, you can look up your tracking number by accessing the USPS website or mobile app to check the delivery status.

The tracking information typically includes the date and time of acceptance, arrival at various postal facilities, and final delivery confirmation.

Once the Certified Mail item reaches the recipient’s local post office, the carrier will attempt delivery. They will bring the Certified Mail to the recipient’s front door looking for someone to be available to accept it. If the recipient is unavailable, a delivery notice will be left, informing them about the arrival of a Certified Mail item. The recipient can then choose to either pick it up from the post office or schedule a redelivery.

Keep in mind, if you want additional proof of delivery, you can request a USPS Certified Mail signature, also known as a Return Receipt or Green Card or more technically as PS Form 3811. This service provides a copy of the recipient’s signature and date of delivery, which is mailed back to you.

There is also an Electronic Return Receipt, which is the same as the Return Receipt except in digital form. A copy of the recipient’s signature gets emailed directly to you instead of being sent via regular mail.

Both options serve as concrete evidence that the item was delivered to the intended recipient.

Using LetterStream to Send Certified Mail

So now that you know how sending Certified Mail works, let’s go over another way to send your certified letter. Through us!

LetterStream offers a different approach to sending Certified Mail. It’s not only easier but also way more convenient than the traditional way. It’s so convenient that you don’t have to leave your home, office, or wherever you are in that moment. Pretty nifty, huh?

Ready for how easy it is? You can literally upload your documents in just minutes and then have your Certified letter sent through our online portal without doing any other work, without wasting anymore time and without having to go to the post office. That’s it! Easy, right?

And, like we mentioned above, we also offer USPS Certified Mail tracking right inside of your online portal for quick and easy access. There’s never a need to keep track of, or enter, your tracking numbers because we keep track of them for you.

Click here to learn more about sending your Certified letter as Certified Mail through us.

Benefits and Considerations

Let’s talk about some benefits and considers when it comes to sending Certified Mail. The primary benefit of using the USPS Certified Mail process is the proof of delivery it offers. With the stamped proof of mailing and the tracking information, you have tangible evidence that you sent the item and that it was delivered to the recipient.

Certified Mail is often used for legal documents, court papers, and official correspondences, as it provides a level of assurance that is crucial in these contexts. It can be used to establish timelines, fulfill legal requirements, and maintain records of important communications.

While USPS strives to deliver Certified Mail promptly, it is essential to consider the timeframe for delivery. Depending on the distance and other factors, delivery may take several days.

Just be prepared; Certified Mail is not an overnight or expedited process. Actually, it could be slower than First-Class Mail as the mail carrier attempts to catch someone at home in order to collect a signature. If all goes well, a Certified Mail letter can be delivered in less than 5 business days, but don’t be alarmed if the process takes 15 business days or ever more in some cases.

To sum it up, USPS Certified Mail is a valuable service that adds an extra layer of security and proof of mailing (and sometimes delivery) when sending important documents or sensitive information. By going through the traditional way of sending certified mail or by using our online portal, you can easily track your item’s journey and ensure its delivery to the intended recipient.

How To Send USPS Certified Mail Online

USPS certified mail letters

Have you ever wondered if you can send certified mail online, without having to go to the post office? Well it is possible; but only a few websites exist that can make it happen.

Generally to send certified letters you would need to take your letter to the post office, fill out certified mail forms, apply a certified mail tracking barcode to your letter, and present the finished product to the postal clerk for them to calculate charges and collect payment.

But with LetterStream.com and OnlineCertifiedMail.com, you can completely eliminate the trip to the post office!

Caution: Some companies claim they can do this too, but they often require you to purchase special software, forms or labels. So before signing up for any services for certified mail online, make sure you determine what extra work or purchases might be required of you.

With LetterStream and OnlineCertifiedMail the process is extremely easy. All you need is your document in electronic form (Word, PDF, etc.) and the address you need to send it to. The entire process of creating and sending a certified letter online takes less than 2 minutes.

In addition to saving the time and hassle of going to the local post office, these two sites allow you to track the status of your certified mail online, showing each of the USPS scans of the certified mail barcode and even the signature of the person who signed for the letter. You don’t even have to enter the 20-digit tracking number; you simply click on the letter you need to track. All mailings are neatly saved and organized online.

LetterStream.com has the added bonus of an online search tool that allows you to search by recipient name or mailing name so you can quickly find the information you need. The LetterStream site is much better for mailing large quantities of certified letters as well, as you can upload entire mailing lists in CSV and Excel formats.

So the next time you bemoan the idea of going to the post office and standing in line to send certified mail, take a moment to review these two sites. You’ll be glad you did!