A USPS return receipt costs $4.65 in 2026, or $2.91 by email
A return receipt proves who signed for your mail. USPS charges $4.65 for the paper green card (PS Form 3811) and $2.91 for an electronic copy. You can only add it to another service, like Certified Mail or Registered Mail, so you also pay that fee and postage.
Return receipt prices from USPS
| Return receipt, paper (PS Form 3811) | $4.65 |
|---|---|
| Return receipt, electronic | $2.91 |
| Certified Mail (needed with it) | $5.55 |
| 1 ounce letter postage (stamp) | $0.82 |
| 1 ounce letter, Certified Mail and electronic return receipt | $9.28 |
|---|---|
| 1 ounce letter, Certified Mail and paper return receipt | $11.02 |
A return receipt is only sold together with another USPS extra service, such as Certified Mail. Source: USPS Notice 123, Price List, effective July 12, 2026 (Postal Explorer).
What changes your price
- Paper or email. The paper green card is mailed back to you and costs $4.65. The electronic version costs $2.91.
- The service it rides on. You must also buy Certified Mail ($5.55) or another extra service.
- Postage. Postage is extra and depends on weight.
Ways to pay less
- Choose the electronic receipt to save $1.74 on every letter.
- Keep the receipt with your records. It is your proof of who signed and when.
How we got these numbers
USPS sets one national price for return receipt. Every price on this page comes from USPS Notice 123, the official price list the Postal Service publishes. The prices we use took effect on July 12, 2026. Where we show a total, we simply add up the separate USPS fees, so you can see what one item costs all in. We do not add our own guesses or use a calculator, because USPS sets these fees and they are the same at every Post Office. USPS changes its prices from time to time, so check the price at the counter if your visit is far from September 26, 2026, the day we last checked.
Common questions
How much is a green card at the post office?
The paper return receipt, PS Form 3811, costs $4.65 in 2026.
Is an electronic return receipt cheaper?
Yes. It costs $2.91 instead of $4.65.
Can I buy a return receipt on its own?
No. It must go with another extra service such as Certified Mail.