2025 USPS Mail Rates – Certified Mail Rates & Postage Costs

New USPS Certified Mail® Rates begin January 19, 2025:

The United States Postal Service (USPS) postal rate increase begins Sunday, January 19, 2025. The rate change was proposed by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on November 15, 2024, and will go into effect on Sunday, January 19, 2025, at 12:01 AM.    

The postage meter rate to send a 1-ounce USPS Certified Mail® letter with a Return Receipt (old-fashioned Green Card) will cost $9.64 at the Post Office. If you use online services from Certified Mail Labels with Electronic Delivery Confirmation, the cost can be reduced to $6.49. Additional options such as Return Receipt Electronic Signatures cost $2.62. First Class postage stamps will cost $0.73 at the Post Office. 

In summary, purchasing your postage online can save you $3.15 per mailing off the old-fashioned green cards and forms.  

How Much Does Certified Mail® Service Cost in 2025?

2025 USPS Mail Rates for Certified Mail, Priority Mail, and First-Class Mail

USPS Postage Rates & Special Services	New Rates (January 2025)	Old Rates (July 2024)
Certified Mail Fee	$4.85	$4.85
Electronic Delivery Confirmation Receipt	$0.95	$0.95
Return Receipt Green Card (Old Fashioned Green Card)	$4.10	$4.10
Return Receipt Electronic Signature (PDF) (replaces Green Card)	$2.62	$2.62
First Class Postage (1 OZ) (Metered Rate)	$0.69	$0.69
Additional OZ First Class Postage (*Under 3.5 OZ)	$0.28	$0.28
Flats 1 OZ rate (9″ X 12″ or 10' X 13')	$1.50	$1.50
Flats rate over 1 OZ. and Letter Rates over 3.5 OZ.	2 oz.  $1.77  3 oz.  $2.04  4  oz. $2.31  5  oz. $2.59  6  oz. $2.87  7  oz. $3.15  8  oz. $3.43  9  oz. $3.71 10 oz. $4.01  11 oz. $4.31  12 oz. $4.61  13 oz. $4.91	2 oz.  $1.77 3 oz.  $2.04  4  oz. $2.31  5  oz. $2.59  6  oz. $2.87  7  oz. $3.15  8  oz. $3.43  9  oz. $3.71  10 oz. $4.01  11 oz. $3.31  12 oz. $4.61  13 oz. $4.91
Restricted Delivery	$7.90	$7.90

This postal rate increase will begin Sunday, January 19, 2025, at 12:01 AM. The individual services listed in the table above will not be affected by the January 2025 USPS Certified Mail rate increase.

Certified Mail Rates for 2025 – What You Need to Know

When it comes to Certified Mail, it’s important to understand the different costs involved. USPS rates are made up of three main charges: 

1. Postage for the Letter — The cost to send a First-Class letter, which depends on weight and size. 

2. Certified Mail Fee — A flat fee charged to add tracking and proof of delivery to your mail. 

3. Return Receipt Fee — Optional, but if you need proof of the recipient’s signature, you’ll pay an additional fee. 

Save $3.15 per mailing by switching from the traditional, physical USPS green card to an Electronic Return Receipt through Certified Mail Labels. 

Certified Mail Postage Price vs. Retail USPS Rates

If you’re searching for “How much does Certified Mail cost in 2025?”, the short answer: 
The total cost depends on the weight of the letter, the Certified Mail fee, and whether you select a Electronic Delivery Confirmation or a Return Receipt Electronic Signature (PDF) (replaces green card). 

Here’s an example for a 1-ounce letter: 

• First-Class Postage: $0.69 
• Certified Mail Fee: $4.85 
• Electronic Delivery Confirmation Receipt: $0.95 

Total Cost: $6.46 (with Electronic Delivery Confirmation) 

Instead, if you choose a traditional green card Return Receipt Green Card (Old Fashioned Green Card) at the Post Office, the total cost rises to $9.64. Avoid paying extra by using an Electronic Delivery Confirmation with Certified Mail Labels.  

Certified Mail Labels Electronic Delivery Confirmation™ is a receipt that provides evidence of mailing and proof of USPS Certified Mail letter delivery. Certified Mail Labels provides a PDF report that is automatically generated and emailed for each Certified Mail Label when it is delivered. The PDF reports can be accessed and printed for up to 10 years. What’s included on the Electronic Delivery Confirmation?  

USPS retail rates are significantly higher than what you’ll pay using Certified Mail Labels. USPS also charges for extra tracking and data storage under their "Tracking Plus" service. Certified Mail Labels includes all of that in the label cost. 

Here’s how we help you save: 

• Avoid Green Card Fees — Save $3.15 on postage for each Certified Mail® green card receipt. 
• Discounted USPS Rates — Pay less than USPS retail for First-Class postage. 
• 10-Year Data Archive — Access tracking, receipts, and proof of delivery for up to 10 years at no additional cost. 
• Skip the Trip to the Post Office — Print labels from your home or the office. 

2025 USPS CERTIFIED MAIL RATES & SERVICE SUMMARY: 

• Certified Mail with Electronic Delivery Confirmation $6.49  (Electronic Delivery Confirmation Report Example). A USPS Special Service that provides the sender with a mailing receipt or proof of mailing and an electronic verification the article was delivered or that a delivery attempt was made. Customers receive 'Electronic Delivery Confirmation' which is a printed report that displays the postage transaction, date of mailing, Certified Mail receipt, USPS mail piece acceptance, in-route tracking, and the final delivery date and time or delivery attempts.  This report is available by email for each mailing, plus a copy for compliance reporting is kept inside your account for 10 years.
   
• Certified Mail with Return Receipt Requested (Signature) $9.11 (Return Receipt Electronic Signature) and the Electronic Delivery Confirmation as proof of mailing and compliance. The Certified Mail service includes what is described above plus the Return Receipt Electronic Signature from USPS displaying who signed for the delivery at the delivery address. Customers can receive both Electronic Delivery Confirmation and the Return Receipt Signature by email. A receipt of the transaction including USPS postage purchase, Special Service, mail piece acceptance, tracking, and the delivery or the delivery attempt is also kept in your account for 10 years to print as proof of compliance.
   
• Certified Mail with Return Receipt Signature with RESTRICTED DELIVERY $17.01 (RRE-Signature Signed by the addressee or authorized agent + Electronic Delivery Confirmation Report). The Certified Mail Special Service described above plus additional evidence of the delivery of the letter. USPS enables the delivery of the item only to the addressee or addressee’s authorized agent. The addressee must be an individual (or natural person) specified by name. Restricted Delivery may be used only when combined with Certified Mail, Insured Mail over $200, and Registered Mail. Customers receive Electronic Delivery Confirmation by email (see the attached report). A record of the transaction including USPS postage, Special Service, mail piece acceptance, tracking, and delivery or the delivery attempt record is kept in your account for 10 years.

USPS Certified Mail rates increased to $4.85 per mailing.  The cost of using the old-fashioned green cards with the traditional U.S. Postal Service Return Receipt service (PS Form 3811) is $4.10 per mailing. The cost of using the Return Receipt Signature Electronic increased to $2.62 per mailing. 

You can save money by using Certified Mail Labels with Electronic Delivery Confirmation. This provides proof of mailing, in-route letter tracking, and final evidence of USPS delivery information authored by the U.S. Postal Service. This report also works for compliance reporting. It provides evidence of mailing timely, proof that postage and fees were properly paid, in-route letter tracking, and the final USPS proof of delivery. This report is used for compliance mailings to IRS Certified Mail, financial services, healthcare, property management, asset recovery, collection, and other critical forms of notification. 

USPS Certified Mail® Return Receipt Requested service can only be purchased at the time of mailing. USPS has discontinued the Return Receipt After Mailing product.

Certified Mail Labels vs. USPS – Which Is Better? 

If you’re still using USPS to send Certified Mail, it’s time to save time and money. Certified Mail Labels gives you all the same benefits (and more) but at a much lower cost. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of Certified Mail Labels vs. USPS. 

Feature	Certified Mail Labels	USPS Post Office
Price Per Return Receipt	$2.62 (Electronic)	$4.10 (Green Card)
Trip to the Post Office	Not Required	Required
Data Retention	10 Years Included	Tracking Plus Fee
Online Label Creation	Yes (Just Print and Mail)	No
Batch File Processing	Yes, for Bulk Mailings	No
Tracking Alerts	Real-Time Alerts	No, Unless Pay Extra

Why Certified Mail Labels Wins: 

• Save Time — Skip the trip to the Post Office. Easily print labels from your home or office. 
• Save Money — Pay as you mail, with no contracts, subscriptions, or special equipment. 
• Track Smarter — Receive complimentary tracking updates and a 10-year compliance archive. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Certified Mail Rates 

How much does Certified Mail cost in 2025? 

The total cost is when mailed at the Post Office is $9.64 for a 1-ounce letter with Return Receipt (Green Card). Save $3.15 and pay just $6.49 from Certified Mail Labels with Electronic Delivery Confirmation. 

What is the cheapest way to send Certified Mail? 

Use Certified Mail Labels to send your letter with an Electronic Delivery Confirmation and save $3.15 per mailing. 

How many stamps are needed for Certified Mail? 

Certified Mail requires a label, not stamps. Use Certified Mail Labels to easily create USPS Certified Mail®, Priority Mail, and Express Mail labels with live USPS Postage online from the comfort of your home or office.  

How much does Certified Mail with a Return Receipt cost? 

The total cost is $8.06 for a 1-ounce letter using a Return Receipt Electronic Signature (PDF) from Certified Mail Labels. When mailed through the Post Office, a Return Receipt Green Card costs $9.64. 

Do you have to pay extra for Certified Mail? 

Yes, USPS Certified Mail has a fee of $4.85. Certified Mail® is a United States Postal Service (USPS) service that provides the sender with proof of mailing and proof of delivery or delivery attempt. This proof includes: 

• The date an item was mailed 
• USPS tracking 
• Delivery confirmation 

How much is Certified Mail postage? 

Postage for a 1-ounce letter is $0.69, plus a Certified Mail fee of $4.85 and a Return Receipt fee if applicable. 

How much is delivery confirmation USPS? 

An Electronic Delivery Confirmation Receipt is $0.95. 

How much is it to send a certified letter in 2025? 

The base fee for Certified Mail is currently $4.85. If you add a Return Receipt (Green Card), it costs an additional $4.10 for a mailed receipt or $2.62 for an electronic receipt. The total cost of sending a Certified Letter will include the price of the postage (typically a First-Class Mail stamp, currently $0.69 for a standard 1 oz. letter) plus the Certified Mail and Return Receipt fees. 

Save $3.15 per letter with Certified Mail Labels and pay just $6.46 per letter. 

How much postage does USPS charge for Certified Mail? 

For a 1-ounce letter with Electronic Delivery Confirmation send through Certified Mail Labels the total cost is $6.46. Here’s the break down: 

• First-Class Postage: $0.69 
• Certified Mail Fee: $4.85 
• Electronic Delivery Confirmation Receipt: $0.95 

What is the current USPS Certified Mail fee? 

The base fee for Certified Mail is $4.85, with the option to add Return Receipt (electronic or physical) as outlined above. 

How to pay for Certified Mail? 

When sending Certified Mail online with Certified Mail Labels, skip the trip to the Post Office and pay at you mail. Just log on, address, print, and mail!  

When paying at the Post Office, customers pay at the counter. 

Is Certified Mail cheaper than registered mail? 

Yes, Certified Mail is generally much cheaper than Registered Mail. While Certified Mail starts at $4.85, Registered Mail costs significantly more. Rates start at $10 (without postage) and increase based on the value of the item being mailed. Registered Mail offers enhanced security and tracking, while Certified Mail is used to prove mailing and delivery. 

What is the cheapest way to send a certified letter? 

The most inexpensive way to send Certified Mail is with an Electronic Delivery Confirmation through Certified Mail Labels vs. a physical green card through USPS. Certified Mail Labels is the industry leader in online Certified Mail services and offers even cheaper rates than mailing directly through the Post Office.  

Why Use Certified Mail Labels for Certified Mail? 

Certified Mail Labels isn’t just another mailing service. It’s the industry leader in online Certified Mail solutions, trusted by hundreds of thousands of customers. Here’s why: 

• Skip the Trip to the Post Office — Print Certified Mail labels from the comfort of your home or office. 
• Save $3.15 Per Mailing — Use Electronic Return Receipts instead of physical green cards. 
• No Long-Term Contracts or Subscriptions — Only pay for what you mail. 
• 10-Year Archive — Store proof of delivery, tracking, and receipts for 10 years available 24/7, 365 at no additional cost. 
• Batch File Processing — Mail in bulk with easy file uploads. 
• Automations — API & SFTP transfer data and letter files automatically for processing and mailing. 
• Industry-Leading Customer Service — Schedule a free Demo Call to learn more about our services today. 

Start Saving on Certified Mail Postage with Certified Mail Labels 

Don’t let the USPS January 2025 rate increase affect your budget. Sign up with Certified Mail Labels today and enjoy lower rates, better tracking, and complete control of your mail process. 

Create your free Certified Mail Labels account now!