New August 2021 USPS Certified Mail Costs

2021 USPS Certified Mail Rates

New USPS Certified Mail® Postal Rates began August 29th:

New U.S. Postal Service rates were approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) and went into effect Sunday, August 29, 2021, 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 be $7.33. If you use Certified Mail Labels with Electronic Delivery Confirmation, the cost can be reduced to $5.13. Additional options such as Return Receipt Electronic Signatures will cost $1.85. First Class postage stamps will cost $0.58 at the Post Office.

In summary, by purchasing your Certified Mail Label online and using our approved automation to replace those old-fashioned Certified Mail green card forms and stickers can save you $2.20 per mailing.

How Much Does Certified Mail® Service Cost

USPS Postage & Special Services New Aug 2021 Rates Old Rates (Jan 2021)
Certified Mail Fee $3.75 $3.60
Electronic Delivery Confirmation Receipt $0.85 $0.80
Return Receipt Green Card (Old Fashioned Green Card) $3.05 $2.85
Return Receipt Electronic Signature (PDF) (replaces Green Card) $1.85 $1.75
First Class Postage (1 OZ) (Metered Rate) $0.53 $0.51
Additional OZ First Class Postage (*Under 3.5 OZ) $0.20 $0.20
Flats 1 OZ rate (9″ X 12″ or 10' X 13') $1.16 $1.00
Flats rate over 1 OZ. and Letter Rates over 3.5 OZ. 2 oz.  $1.36
3 oz.    1.56
4  oz.   1.76
5  oz.   1.96
6  oz.   2.16
7  oz.   2.36
8  oz.   2.56
9  oz.   2.76
10 oz.  2.96
11  oz. 3.16
12  oz. 3.36
13 oz.  3.56		 2 oz.    $1.20
3 oz.    $1.40
4  oz.   $1.60
5  oz.   $1.80
6  oz.   $2.00
7  oz.   $2.20
8  oz.   $2.40
9  oz.   $2.60
10 oz.  $2.80
11  oz. $3.00
12  oz. $3.20
13 oz.  $3.40
Restricted Delivery Service $6.00 $5.55

The new postal rates began Sunday, August 29, 2021.

New USPS Certified Mail Postal Rate Summary:

• Certified Mail with Electronic Delivery Confirmation will cost $5.13  (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' that 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) $6.98 (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 $12.98 (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 will increase to $3.75 per mailing.  The cost of using the old-fashioned green cards with the traditional U.S. Postal Service Return Receipt service (PS Form 3811) will remain at $3.05 per mailing. The cost of using the Return Receipt Signature Electronic will increase to $1.85 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.