USPS Signature Confirmation and Adult Signature Fees 2026

2026 USPS rate: Signature Confirmation is $4.15 when bought online or electronically and $5.15 at a Post Office; Adult Signature Required is $9.70 and Adult Signature Restricted Delivery is $10.00 per package.

Quick answer: Commercial shippers pay the $4.15 electronic price for Signature Confirmation, about half of UPS's $7.70 Signature Required fee. Adult Signature Required costs $9.70 at USPS versus $9.35 at UPS. USPS Adult Signature requires a recipient 21 or older with ID and can only be bought with online or commercial labels, not at a Post Office counter.

Sources: USPS Notice 123 Price List, effective October 4, 2026 (extra services and fees); DMM 503.8 (USPS Signature Services) and USPS Insurance & Extra Services page, checked October 29, 2026. UPS fees from the UPS 2026 Rate and Service Guide (daily rates). Fees are per package, in addition to postage.

USPS Signature Fees for 2026

Notice 123 lists the same Signature Confirmation prices for Priority Mail, Package Services (Media Mail, Library Mail, Bound Printed Matter) and USPS Ground Advantage Retail. USPS Ground Advantage Commercial and Parcel Select are electronic only at $4.15.

A Federal Register notice set temporary price increases on Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage and Parcel Select from October 4, 2026 to January 17, 2027, and made no price changes to special services. In July 2026 the Postal Regulatory Commission noted that USPS was evaluating a January 2027 market dominant price adjustment. As of October 29, 2026, we did not find a Federal Register notice setting new signature fees for January 2027. Check Notice 123 again in January.

What Each Service Does

Signature Confirmation

Per DMM 503.8.1.1, Signature Confirmation gives the mailer the date and time of delivery or attempted delivery, and USPS keeps a delivery record that includes the signature. The record is available electronically or by email on request. USPS's extra services page adds that the recipient must show acceptable primary photo ID before delivery.

Eligible products under DMM Exhibit 503.1.4.1: Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage (Retail and Commercial), Parcel Select, Bound Printed Matter, Library Mail, Media Mail and USPS Connect Local. Priority Mail Express is not on the list; its price already includes a signature delivery record if requested at the time of purchase, per the Priority Mail Express page.

Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery

Same service, but delivery is limited to the named addressee or the addressee's authorized agent. The addressee must be an individual named on the label.

Adult Signature Required

Delivery only to a person 21 or older who shows acceptable primary ID and signs. USPS keeps the delivery record, including the signature, for two years (DMM 503.8.1.1). Eligible with Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage Commercial and Parcel Select. DMM 503.8.2 says you buy it by producing qualified labels with Intelligent Mail package barcodes through Click-N-Ship, PC Postage, permit imprint with electronic documentation, or IBI meters.

Adult Signature Restricted Delivery

Adds a restriction: only the specific addressee or their authorized agent, who must be 21 or older, can receive it. If that person is not 21 or older, the package is returned to the sender.

When to Use Each

• Signature Confirmation ($4.15): higher-value orders where you want proof of delivery for chargebacks or "item not received" claims, and B2B shipments where someone must sign.
• Restricted Delivery ($12.95 electronic): when a specific person must receive the item, such as documents or credentials. It costs $8.80 more than standard Signature Confirmation online.
• Adult Signature Required ($9.70): age-restricted products where the law or your policy requires a 21+ recipient.
• Adult Signature Restricted Delivery ($10.00): age-restricted items that must also go only to the named buyer.

Note that some statutes for legal documents require Certified Mail or Registered Mail rather than Signature Services (DMM 503.8.1.1). Certified Mail is $5.55 in Notice 123.

Don't Pay Twice: Insurance Over $500 Already Includes a Signature

Under DMM 503.4.3.1, an item insured for more than $500 gets a delivery scan and USPS provides a signature as the delivery record to the mailer electronically. The eligibility exhibit in DMM 503.1.4.1 allows Signature Confirmation with insurance only when the item is insured for $500 or less. If your shipping software adds Signature Confirmation to every package over a value threshold and you also insure those packages above $500, check that you are not paying $4.15 for a signature you already get.

Refunds When the Signature Isn't Obtained

DMM 604.9.2.3 allows a full refund of fees paid for USPS Signature Services when the article does not receive the service paid for. There are limits:

• No refund of Signature Confirmation fees on undeliverable items that received an attempted-delivery scan, such as refused or undeliverable as addressed (DMM 604.9.2.4).
• Extra service refunds must be requested 30 to 60 days after the mailing date.
• Signature Confirmation refunds can be requested online at USPS.com, and online extra service refunds are paid by check (USPS refund page).

USPS vs UPS Signature Fees

USPS is $3.55 cheaper per package for a standard signature and $0.35 more for an adult signature. One difference in service terms: the UPS rate guide says UPS may, at its discretion, obtain an electronic authorization to release the package without a signature. UPS Adult Signature Required also requires a recipient 21 or older with government-issued photo ID. For UPS details see our UPS Signature Required guide.

As an operator and fractional COO who has worked on parcel costs from the inside, the pattern I check first is signature options set as a default in shipping software or a 3PL profile. At $4.15 to $9.70 per package, a default applied to every order adds up fast.

How to Cut Signature Costs

• Buy online. Signature Confirmation is $1.00 cheaper online than at the counter.
• Set rules by order value and product, not a blanket default.
• Skip Signature Confirmation on items insured over $500, which already include a signature record.
• Use Adult Signature only where age verification is required. It costs $5.55 more than Signature Confirmation online.
• Request refunds for signature fees on packages delivered without the service, within the 30-to-60-day window.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is USPS Signature Confirmation in 2026?

$4.15 when bought online or electronically and $5.15 at a Post Office, per USPS Notice 123 effective October 4, 2026.

How much is USPS Adult Signature Required?

$9.70 per package. Adult Signature Restricted Delivery is $10.00. Both are available only with online or commercial labels, not at a Post Office counter.

How old do you have to be to sign for USPS Adult Signature?

21 or older, with acceptable primary identification.

Can I add Signature Confirmation to Priority Mail Express?

No. Signature Confirmation is not listed for Priority Mail Express, which already includes a signature delivery record if requested at purchase. Adult Signature Required is available with Priority Mail Express.

Is USPS Signature Confirmation cheaper than UPS Signature Required?

Yes. USPS charges $4.15 online versus $7.70 for UPS Signature Required in 2026. For adult signature, USPS is $9.70 and UPS is $9.35.

Can I get a refund if USPS didn't get a signature?

Yes, if the item didn't receive the service you paid for. Request it 30 to 60 days after mailing. No refund applies to undeliverable items that got an attempted-delivery scan.

Related Reading

• What Does UPS Signature Required Mean? $7.70 Fee & Who Can Sign (2026)
• What Does UPS Adult Signature Required Mean? Age, Cost & Who Can Sign (2026)
• FedEx Delivery Signature Options 2026: Indirect, Direct and Adult Signature Fees
• Does UPS Have Direct Signature Required? UPS vs FedEx Signature Options (2026)
• UPS vs USPS vs FedEx 2026: When to Use Each Carrier

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This article is for informational purposes only. Carrier rates, surcharges, and policies change frequently — always verify current terms directly with the carrier for your specific situation. Have questions? Reach out to us — we're happy to help.