Money order fees range from under a dollar at large retailers to $10 at some banks. The U.S. Postal Service charges $2.55 or $3.60 depending on the amount, Walmart caps its fee at $1.00, and banks like Wells Fargo and Chase charge $5.00.1United States Postal Service. Sending Money Orders2Walmart. Money Orders3Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo Consumer and Business Account Fees4Chase. Understanding Checking and Savings Account Fees The sticker price is only part of the story. Replacements, refunds, credit card cash advances, and dormancy charges on uncashed money orders can push the real cost well above what you paid at the counter.
What USPS Charges
The Postal Service uses a two-tier structure based on the face value of the money order. Amounts from $0.01 to $500 cost $2.55. Amounts from $500.01 to $1,000 cost $3.60.1United States Postal Service. Sending Money Orders The maximum face value for a single domestic USPS money order is $1,000.5United States Postal Service. Postal Bulletin 22628 – Verifying US Postal Service Money Orders Sending more than that means buying multiple money orders and paying a separate fee on each.
Military Locations
Money orders issued at military post offices (APO/FPO locations) cost $0.84 regardless of the amount.6United States Postal Service. Notice 123 – January 2026 Price Change
International Orders
International postal money orders cap at $700 per order, and they’re only available for countries that participate in the program. Fees run higher than domestic rates, and currency exchange adds a further cost that varies by destination.
What Retailers Charge
Retail money orders are the cheapest option. Walmart charges a maximum of $1.00 per money order.2Walmart. Money Orders Large grocery chains, pharmacies like CVS, and convenience stores generally charge between $1.00 and $1.50 for money orders issued through Western Union or MoneyGram. Face value at these locations is usually capped at $500 or $1,000, depending on the issuer and the store.
Note which company actually issues your money order. A Western Union money order and a MoneyGram money order cash through different networks, and the recipient’s experience depends on the brand as much as the store where you bought it.
What Banks and Credit Unions Charge
Banks are the most expensive place to buy a money order. Wells Fargo charges $5.00 per money order for checking and savings customers, with each capped at $1,000.3Wells Fargo. Wells Fargo Consumer and Business Account Fees Chase charges the same $5.00.4Chase. Understanding Checking and Savings Account Fees Other major banks fall in a similar range, from $5.00 to $10.00 depending on the institution and account type. Some banks waive the fee for premium checking customers or those maintaining high balances.
Credit unions often offer free money orders as a membership perk, though the benefit varies by institution and account type. If you already belong to one, check whether money orders are included.
Most banks won’t sell money orders to non-customers. The ones that do usually charge at the top of the fee range, making banks a poor choice for a one-off purchase.
Costs Beyond the Purchase Fee
Buying Multiple Orders for Larger Amounts
Because a single money order caps at $1,000 (or $500 at some retail locations), sending a larger sum means buying more than one and paying the fee on each. A $2,500 transfer at USPS rates means at least three money orders and $10.80 in fees.
Paying With a Credit Card
Most retailers and the post office require cash or debit for money order purchases. Where credit cards are accepted, the transaction is treated as a cash advance. Cash advances typically carry a fee of 3% to 5% of the transaction plus a higher interest rate that starts accruing immediately with no grace period. A $1,000 money order paid by credit card could add $30 to $50 on top of the money order fee.
The $3,000 Reporting Threshold
Buying $3,000 or more in money orders in a single day with cash triggers a recordkeeping requirement, and the seller must record your identification.7eCFR. 31 CFR 1010.415 – Purchases of Bank Checks and Drafts, Cashiers Checks, Money Orders or Travelers Checks At USPS, the same threshold applies, and you’ll need to complete PS Form 8105-A and present valid ID.8United States Postal Service. Money Orders – The Basics Splitting purchases across locations to stay under the threshold is called structuring and is a federal crime.
Replacement and Refund Fees
USPS charges a $21.00 processing fee to replace a lost or stolen money order.1United States Postal Service. Sending Money Orders Your original receipt speeds the inquiry; without it, the process takes longer and may cost more because USPS has to search for the transaction manually.
Western Union charges refund fees on a tiered scale: no fee on money orders with a face value of $5 or less, $5.00 on face values between $5 and $100, and $15.00 on money orders worth $100 or more.9Western Union. Retail Money Order Terms and Conditions MoneyGram also charges refund fees that vary by face value, though the company doesn’t publish a fixed schedule publicly. Refund fees are deducted from the amount returned to you, so a $100 money order with a $15 refund fee returns $85.
Requesting a photocopy of a cashed money order to prove payment carries its own fee for pulling archived records and verifying the endorsement. Keep the receipt stub. It’s the single most important thing you can do to keep costs down if something goes wrong.
Dormancy Charges on Uncashed Money Orders
A money order left uncashed for too long starts losing value to monthly service charges deducted from its face value.
Western Union begins charging a non-refundable $1.50 per month after a money order goes one year without being cashed. In California, the waiting period extends to three years before charges begin. Total service charges are capped at $126 or the maximum allowed under applicable state law, whichever is lower.9Western Union. Retail Money Order Terms and Conditions MoneyGram similarly begins monthly service charges after one year of inactivity, with the exact amount printed on the back of each money order.10MoneyGram. Frequently Asked Questions About Purchasing a Money Order
State laws limit what issuers can charge during the dormancy period. Some states prohibit dormancy fees; others cap them at specific monthly amounts. After enough time passes, unclaimed property laws take over and any remaining balance is turned over to the state. If you’re holding an uncashed money order, cash it or request a refund before charges start.
When a Cashier’s Check Is Cheaper
The fee comparison flips once you need to send more than $1,000. A cashier’s check typically costs $5 to $10 at most banks and has no face value cap. For $5,000, one cashier’s check at $10 costs far less than five USPS money orders at $3.60 each. Cashier’s checks are also often preferred or required by real estate agents, car dealerships, and courts because they’re drawn directly on the bank’s funds. Money orders make sense for rent, utility bills, and smaller payments; once the dollar amount climbs, a cashier’s check almost always wins on cost.