2026 USPS Mail Rates for Certified Mail, Priority Mail, and First-Class Mail

USPS Postage Rates & Special Services	Old Rates	July 2026 Rates
Certified Mail Fee	$5.30	$5.55
Electronic Delivery Confirmation Receipt (PDF)	$0.95	$0.95  (unchanged)
Return Receipt — green card (PS Form 3811 Domestic Return Receipt)	$4.40	$4.65
Return Receipt — Electronic signature (PDF)	$2.82	$2.91
First Class Postage (1 oz) (Metered Rate)	$0.74	$0.78
Additional OZ First Class Postage (*Under 3.5 oz)	$0.29	$0.29  (unchanged)
Flats 1 oz rate (9″ X 12″ or 10' X 13')	$1.63	$1.69
Flats rate over 1 oz. and Letter Rates over 3.5 oz.	2 oz.  $1.90  3 oz.  $2.17  4  oz. $2.44  5  oz. $2.72  6  oz. $3.00  7  oz. $3.28  8  oz. $3.56  9  oz. $3.84 10 oz. $4.14  11 oz. $4.44  12 oz. $4.74  13 oz. $5.04	2 oz.  $1.98 3 oz.  $2.27  4  oz. $2.56  5  oz. $2.85  6  oz. $3.14  7  oz. $3.43  8  oz. $3.72 9  oz. $4.02  10 oz. $4.32 11 oz. $4.62  12 oz. $4.93  13 oz. $5.24
Restricted Delivery	$8.40	$8.80

**Updated September 2026.** Rates above reflect the USPS price change effective July 12, 2026, 12:01 AM.

Certified Mail Label prices are estimated based on a 1 oz letter, specific USPS service, and the size of the envelope. Get an Estimate for your mailing by clicking the button below. 

How to Calculate Certified Mail Rates – 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 by USPS for the Certified Mail service. Proof of acceptance, tracking, and proof of delivery. 

3. Proof of Delivery — Optional service; if you need Return Receipt services, you can add the USPS Return Receipt electronic service (PDF) that provides a signature upon delivery. 

How Much Does Certified Mail Cost in 2026 

A one-ounce USPS Certified Mail label with Electronic Delivery Confirmation costs $7.28 through Certified Mail Labels. You get USPS tracking, 10-year data storage of acceptance, mailing, and delivery events. The same letter mailed at a Post Office counter with the PS-3811 Return Receipt costs $11.02 — a difference of $3.74 per piece.

Here’s an example for a 1-ounce letter

• First-Class Postage (Metered Rate): $0.78
• Certified Mail Fee: $5.55
• Certified Mail Labels Electronic Delivery Confirmation™ service/report: $0.95 

Total Cost: $7.28 (with Electronic Delivery Confirmation) 

Instead, the same letter mailed at a Post Office counter with the old green card Return Receipt costs $11.02. 

Our service was created for compliance and business. We store evidence that you sent something, when you sent it, and what happened when USPS attempted or tried to deliver it. Certified Mail Labels has assembled all that evidence into our Electronic Delivery Confirmation report. This report provides evidence of USPS acceptance, tracking and delivery events. This delivery of your mail and this data is authored by USPS. This proof of mailing is a PDF report that is automatically generated and emailed to you for each Certified Mail Label when delivered. 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 $3.74 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. 
   

2026 USPS Certified Mail Labels Rates & Service Summary

• Certified Mail Labels with Electronic Delivery Confirmation: $7.28 for the current 1-ounce example ($0.78 metered postage + $5.55 USPS Certified Mail fee + $0.95 Certified Mail Labels Electronic Delivery Confirmation service). The report uses USPS acceptance, tracking, delivery, or attempted-delivery data authored by USPS.
  Compliance proof that displays the complete postage transaction, label address, date of mailing, Certified Mail receipt, USPS mail piece acceptance, in-route tracking, and the delivery event dates and times. This report can be automatically emailed for each mailing, plus a searchable archive is kept inside your account for 10 years.
   
• Certified Mail Labels with Electronic Return Receipt: $10.19 for the current 1-ounce example ($7.28 base Electronic Delivery Confirmation price + $2.91 USPS electronic Return Receipt fee).  At a retail USPS Post Office counter, the comparable 1-ounce stamped-letter example with Certified Mail and a hardcopy Return Receipt is $11.02.  In addition, Certified Mail Labels include the Electronic Delivery Confirmation PDF as proof of mailing and compliance. The report uses USPS acceptance, tracking, delivery, or attempted-delivery data authored by USPS. Compliance proof that displays the complete postage transaction, label address, date of mailing, Certified Mail receipt, USPS mail piece acceptance, in-route tracking, and the delivery event dates and times. This report can be automatically emailed for each mailing, plus a searchable archive is kept inside your account for 10 years.
   
• Restricted Delivery add-on to Certified Mail: $8.80. The combined USPS Certified Mail Restricted Delivery fee is $14.35 before postage. The current USPS combined Certified Mail Restricted Delivery fee is $14.35 before postage and any Certified Mail Labels service charges. Certified Mail with Return Receipt Signature with RESTRICTED DELIVERY cost is $16.08  The Certified Mail Extra Service described above includes additional evidence of the delivery of the letter. USPS delivers the item only to the addressee or the 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). We keep a record of the transaction, including USPS postage, Special Service, mail piece acceptance, tracking, and delivery or the delivery attempt record, in your account for 10 years.

USPS Certified Mail rates increased to $5.55 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 $4.65 per mailing. The cost of using the Return Receipt Signature Electronic increased to $2.91 per mailing. USPS Certified Mail Return Receipt service must be purchased at the time of mailing. USPS no longer offers Return Receipt After Mailing. If a previously purchased Return Receipt does not arrive, the mailer may request information from the delivery record within 90 days of the purchase date using PS Form 3811-A from your local Post Office.

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 timely mailing, 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. A Trip to The Post Office – Which Is Better? 

If you’re still standing in lines at the Post Office to send Certified Mail, it’s time to save time and money. Certified Mail Labels gives you all the same benefits faster and without the long lines. 

Feature	Certified Mail Labels	USPS Post Office
Proof of Delivery	$2.91 (Electronic)	$4.65 (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 Use Certified Mail Labels Online: 

• 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 2026

How much does Certified Mail cost in 2026? 

$11.02 at the Post Office for a 1-ounce letter using Certified Mail with PS Form 3811 Domestic Return Receipt (green card). $10.19 for Certified Mail with Return Receipt Signature (PDF). $7.28 for Certified Mail with Electronic Delivery Confirmation online at www.certifiedmaillabels.com. 

What is the cheapest way to send Certified Mail? 

Based on your compliance requirements or legal guidance, $7.28 is the cost for Certified Mail with Electronic Delivery Confirmation. $10.19 if you need Certified Mail Return Receipt (PDF). 

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 $10.19 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 $10.98. 

Do you have to pay extra for Certified Mail? 

Yes, USPS Certified Mail has a fee of $5.55. 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 $0.78, plus a Certified Mail fee of $5.55 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 2026? 

The base fee for Certified Mail is currently $5.55. If you add a Return Receipt (Green Card), it costs an additional $4.65 for a mailed receipt or $2.91 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 $0.82 for a standard 1 oz. letter) plus the Certified Mail and Return Receipt fees. 

Save $3.74 per letter with Certified Mail Labels and pay just $7.28 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 $7.28. Here’s the break down: 

• First-Class Postage: $0.78
• Certified Mail Fee: $5.55 
• Electronic Delivery Confirmation Receipt: $0.95 

Is Certified Mail cheaper than Registered Mail? 

Yes, Certified Mail is generally much cheaper than Registered Mail. While Certified Mail starts at $5.55, 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 $3.74 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 July 2026 rate change affect your budget. Sign up with Certified Mail Labels today and enjoy lower rates, better tracking, and complete control of your mail process.