Is USPS Change of Address Free at the Post Office?

Yes. A USPS change of address is free at the post office. Walk in with a completed PS Form 3575 and a valid photo ID, hand it to the clerk, and you pay nothing. The only version of this service that costs money is the online filing at usps.com, which charges $1.25 to verify your identity. That fee is not a service charge for forwarding your mail; it exists so someone else can’t reroute your mail by pretending to be you.1USPS. Change of Address – The Basics

Filing in Person Costs Nothing

Ask any post office clerk for a Mover’s Guide packet. Inside is PS Form 3575. Fill in your old address, your new address, the date you want forwarding to start, whether the move is temporary or permanent, and the names of everyone whose mail should be forwarded. Hand it back with a photo ID: driver’s license, state ID card, passport, or military ID all work.1USPS. Change of Address – The Basics

That’s it. No fee, no card swipe. The clerk verifies you in person, which replaces the identity check the online system has to charge for.

The Three Ways to File, and What Each Costs

You have three routes. Only one costs money.

  • In person at any post office: Free. Bring PS Form 3575 and a photo ID.
  • By mail: Free beyond the stamp. Fill out PS Form 3575 and drop it in the mail. Because there’s no in-person ID check, USPS sends a verification letter to your old address to confirm the request is real. It takes longer than the other two options.
  • Online at usps.com/move: $1.25, charged to a debit or credit card. You’ll enter both addresses, the names of everyone moving, and your start date, then get a confirmation code by email. Save that code if you might need to change or cancel the request later.2USPS. Standard Forward Mail and Change of Address

If you’re filing on behalf of a business, the process is the same, but you’ll need to prove you’re authorized to act for the company. A notarized letter, power of attorney, or a letter on company letterhead signed by someone in a leadership role will do.2USPS. Standard Forward Mail and Change of Address

What the Free Service Actually Covers

“Free” applies to the filing and to standard mail forwarding, but not every type of mail is forwarded the same way. Once your change takes effect, forwarding can begin within three business days, though USPS recommends allowing up to two weeks for mail to catch up.2USPS. Standard Forward Mail and Change of Address

For a permanent move, here’s what free forwarding looks like by mail class:

  • First-Class Mail, Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, and USPS Ground Advantage are forwarded free for 12 months.
  • Periodicals such as magazines and newsletters are forwarded free for only 60 days. Update your subscriptions directly with the publishers.
  • Media Mail and Library Mail are forwarded, but you pay postage due at delivery, calculated at the single-piece rate from your old post office to your new address.3Postal Explorer. 507 Quick Service Guide
  • USPS Marketing Mail (ads, flyers, catalogs) isn’t forwarded at all. It’s discarded.

A temporary change of address covers stays from 15 days up to one year, after which your mail reverts to your original address. After a permanent forwarding period ends, USPS returns mail to the sender for another six months with a label showing your new address, so senders have a chance to update their records.2USPS. Standard Forward Mail and Change of Address

Watch Out for Fake Sites Charging $20 to $40

The reason so many people ask whether this service is really free is that a lot of look-alike websites imitate the USPS change of address page and charge anywhere from $20 to $40 for it. Some show a $1 fee at the top and bury the real charge deeper in the checkout.

The genuine USPS site is usps.com. It’s a .com, not a .gov, which throws people off because most federal agencies use .gov. USPS operates as an independent agency of the executive branch and has used usps.com for years. If the URL is anything else and it’s asking for your address details, close the tab.

USPS builds in a fraud check either way. After any change of address is submitted, it mails a Move Validation Letter to your old address. If someone else tried to redirect your mail, that letter tips you off. You can dispute a fraudulent request at managemymove.usps.com using the 13-digit key printed on the letter. Within five business days of your forwarding start date, a Welcome Kit also arrives at your new address confirming the change.1USPS. Change of Address – The Basics

So the short version: if you’re at the post office with the form and a photo ID, you pay nothing. If you’re online and the price is anything other than $1.25, you’re not on the real USPS site.