USPS Signature Confirmation is a domestic add-on service that requires someone at the delivery address to sign before a carrier will hand over your package, giving you a verified record of who accepted it and when. It costs $3.95 when you buy the label online and $4.95 at the post office counter.1United States Postal Service. USPS Notice 123 – January 2026 Price Change The service does not include insurance, so a lost or damaged package won’t be reimbursed unless you buy coverage separately.
Which Packages Qualify
Signature Confirmation is available on Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage (retail and commercial), Package Services parcels (Media Mail, Library Mail, and Bound Printed Matter), and Parcel Select.2United States Postal Service. 503 Quick Service Guide – Extra Services
It covers the 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is not available to APO, FPO, or DPO military addresses, and most other U.S. territories and freely associated states are excluded.2United States Postal Service. 503 Quick Service Guide – Extra Services International shipments use separate treaty-based services and cannot use Signature Confirmation.
Service Levels and What They Cost
USPS offers several tiers, each with different rules about who can sign and how their identity is checked. All prices below reflect the January 2026 rate schedule.1United States Postal Service. USPS Notice 123 – January 2026 Price Change
Standard Signature Confirmation
Any person at the delivery address can sign. It costs $4.95 at a post office counter or $3.95 through Click-N-Ship or a compatible shipping platform.
Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery
Only the person named on the label, or someone that person has formally authorized, may accept the package. The carrier may ask for identification. This add-on raises the price above the base tier.
Adult Signature Required and Adult Signature Restricted Delivery
Two services exist for shipments that must reach someone 21 or older. Adult Signature Required costs $9.70; any person at the address who is at least 21 may sign, but they must show a photo ID to confirm their age. Adult Signature Restricted Delivery costs $10.00 and narrows that further: only the specific addressee may sign, and they must present a government-issued photo ID to verify both identity and age.3United States Postal Service. Adult Signature Required and Adult Signature Restricted Delivery Services The distinction matters for businesses shipping age-restricted products. The first accepts any adult at the address; the second guarantees the named recipient personally receives it.
How to Add It to a Shipment
At a post office counter, you fill out PS Form 153, a hot-pink label with a detachable receipt at the bottom.4United States Postal Service. What is Signature Confirmation You need the recipient’s full name and complete street address. Keep the receipt. It carries the tracking number you’ll need to check the shipment or request proof of delivery later.
Online, Click-N-Ship and other USPS-integrated platforms let you add Signature Confirmation during checkout. The tracking barcode prints directly on the label, and the electronic price saves you a dollar per package. Once the label is on the box, hand it to a postal clerk for an acceptance scan or schedule a carrier pickup through USPS.com.
What Happens at the Door
The carrier has to collect a signature before releasing the package. If no one is home, they leave PS Form 3849, a notice explaining the attempted delivery and how to receive the item.5United States Postal Service. PS Form 3849 Redelivery Notice You can schedule redelivery online, by phone, or by leaving the completed notice for your carrier. You can also pick the package up at the post office listed on the form.
USPS holds the package for 15 days after the first delivery attempt. Unclaimed items go back to the sender.6United States Postal Service. What Are the Second and Final Notice and Return Dates for Redelivery The clock starts on the date the first notice is generated, not on any later attempt, so don’t sit on it.
Signing Electronically Before Delivery
Recipients who’d rather have the package left without answering the door can use USPS Electronic Signature Online (eSOL). This lets you pre-sign for eligible packages through your USPS.com account, authorizing the carrier to leave the item without collecting a physical signature.7United States Postal Service. USPS Electronic Signature Online
To use eSOL you must be enrolled in Informed Delivery and pass an identity check. You can verify by receiving a one-time code on your phone, going to a post office in person, or having an invitation code mailed to your address. Once set up, you draw your signature with a mouse, trackpad, or touchscreen, and it stays on file for one year before you need to re-verify.
The electronic signature isn’t automatic. You have to select the eSOL option for each individual shipment through your Informed Delivery dashboard, and it has to happen before the item gets an “Out for Delivery” scan. Once applied, the request is final and cannot be reversed.7United States Postal Service. USPS Electronic Signature Online Business Informed Delivery accounts are not eligible.
Senders who need a physical signature can block eSOL for their shipments. Commercial shippers can opt out through Shipping Services files or Click-N-Ship preferences, and retail customers can override an existing eSOL request at the point of sale using the “Retail Override” option.7United States Postal Service. USPS Electronic Signature Online
Getting Proof of Delivery
Enter your tracking number at usps.com or in the USPS mobile app to see exactly when and where the signature was captured. For a formal record, request a Proof of Delivery letter by email. It includes the delivery date, the recipient’s name, and an image of the signature.
USPS keeps signature records for one year from the date of delivery.8Federal Register. Privacy Act of 1974 System of Records After that the data is purged and cannot be retrieved. If the delivery record matters long-term, like a legal filing, a contract, or an expensive item, save the proof of delivery as soon as it’s available.
It Is Not Insurance
This catches people off guard. Paying for Signature Confirmation does not protect you financially if the package is lost or damaged. The service only proves delivery happened. To file a claim for a missing or destroyed item, you need insurance you purchased separately, Registered Mail with postal insurance, or Priority Mail Express, which includes limited built-in coverage.9Postal Explorer. Filing Indemnity Claims for Loss or Damage Signature Confirmation on its own gives you zero indemnity rights.10United States Postal Service. Shipping Insurance and Delivery Services
You can stack the two. For items insured at $500 or less, both services work together on the same package.11Postal Explorer. 503 Extra Services For items worth more, consider Registered Mail, which provides its own chain-of-custody tracking and accepts higher insurance amounts.
Refunds When the Signature Is Missing
If USPS fails to collect a signature, you’re entitled to a refund of the service fee, not the postage. Two situations qualify:12United States Postal Service. Is Signature Confirmation Service Eligible for a Refund
- The Postal Service response letter shows no signature, signature alternative, or legal mark from the recipient.
- The tracking system shows no delivery record within 30 days of the mailing date.
For labels bought online, submit through the USPS Online Refunds Application. For counter purchases, take your mailing receipt and the Signature Confirmation response letter to a post office and fill out PS Form 3533 in duplicate.