What Does UPS Signature Required Mean? $7.70 Fee & Who Can Sign (2026)

2026 UPS rate: Signature Required is a delivery service that mandates the recipient sign for the package upon delivery. In 2026, it costs $7.70 per package, applied to any UPS shipment using this service.

2027 update: From December 21, 2026, UPS Signature Required rises from $7.70 to $8.40 per package, and Commercial Signature Required also rises from $7.70 to $8.40. Daily Rates also rise an average net 5.9%, and the figures below are 2026 rates until then; see our UPS 2027 rate increase guide. Source: UPS 2027 preview of value-added service charges.

Quick answer: UPS Signature Required is a service that requires the recipient to sign for the package upon delivery, proof of delivery (POD) is collected electronically by the driver, and the package cannot be left unattended. In 2026, Signature Required costs $7.70 per package on any UPS service tier. It's commonly used for high-value items, legally required documents, or shipments where proof of delivery is needed for protection.

Related reading: UPS Adult Signature Required, UPS vs FedEx signature options, and UPS invoice audit.

One of the most common add-on services on UPS shipments is Signature Required. It's often treated as a default for anything valuable or sensitive. But many shippers don't fully understand what they're paying for, when it's truly necessary, and when they can save money by leaving it off.

This post walks through what Signature Required actually is, what it costs in 2026, how it differs from other signature options, and when it makes sense to use it.

How It Appears on Your UPS Invoice

For shippers: on a UPS invoice the Signature Required option appears as “Delivery Confirmation Signature” on residential deliveries (code DCS) and “Delivery Confirmation Signature - Commercial” on business deliveries (code CSG).

What Signature Required Means

Signature Required is an add-on service that ensures the UPS driver collects a signature from someone at the delivery address before handing over the package. The signature is captured electronically on the UPS delivery device (DIAD), and a proof of delivery (POD) record is generated immediately. The key rule: the package cannot be left unattended. If no one is home or able to sign, the driver will not leave the package and will note the attempt in the tracking system.

UPS’s published rules don’t limit who can sign: the driver obtains a signature at delivery, and it doesn’t have to be the named recipient. This is an important distinction, because it differs from Adult Signature Required (where the signer must be 21 or older with photo ID). UPS does not offer a “Direct Signature Required” option; that is a FedEx service.

Does UPS Require a Signature?

Not by default. Most UPS packages are delivered without a signature and left at the door when the driver judges it safe. A signature is only needed when the sender adds a signature option to the shipment, or when the contents require one, such as alcohol, which needs an adult signature.

When a shipment does carry Signature Required, UPS will not leave it unattended unless the recipient has approved a release in advance.

What to Do If You Won't Be Home to Sign

UPS gives recipients several options, depending on the shipment:

• Wait for the next attempt. If nobody is there to sign, UPS may try again the next business day and usually leaves a delivery notice.
• Sign the delivery notice. UPS says you can sign the notice in the space provided and put it back where the driver left it, which authorizes the next delivery without you present.
• Sign digitally. Use the Sign Digitally link on the UPS tracking page, or UPS My Choice, to authorize release in advance and say where to leave the package. This is not available for Adult Signature Required shipments, and the driver can still decline to leave it if there's no safe spot.
• Redirect to a UPS Access Point. Have the package sent to a nearby UPS Access Point or The UPS Store and pick it up with a government-issued photo ID.
• Use UPS My Choice. The free account lets you reschedule, change the delivery location, or place a vacation hold. See how long UPS holds a package.

Some shipments can't be changed. The sender can require an in-person signature and restrict release, and adult-signature packages always need someone 21 or older with ID.

Why Does My Package Say Signature Required?

Either the sender chose a signature service when creating the label, or the contents carry a requirement that overrides your delivery preferences. It is the shipper's choice, so if you regularly receive signature-required packages you don't need, the fix is to ask the sender to drop the option.

For Shippers: When the $7.70 Is Worth It

At $7.70 a package, Signature Required adds up quickly. A shipper sending 1,000 signature packages a month spends $7,700 a month, about $92,400 a year, on this one fee.

• Worth it: high-value orders, items that attract fraud or "not received" chargebacks, legal and financial documents, and anything where proof of delivery protects you in a dispute.
• Usually not worth it: low-value orders where the fee is a meaningful share of the order, repeat customers with no claim history, and business-to-business deliveries to staffed receiving docks.
• Use a rule, not a default: most shipping software can add the signature only above an order value you set, instead of on every label.

Signature fees are also worth checking on the invoice. If signature options are applied by default in your shipping software, you may be paying for them on packages that never needed one.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is “Delivery Confirmation Signature” on my UPS invoice?

It is the charge for UPS Signature Required, the delivery confirmation option where UPS obtains a signature at delivery. Adult Signature Required is a separate, higher charge.

Does UPS require a signature for every package? No. A signature is only needed when the sender adds a signature option or the contents require one, such as alcohol. Most UPS packages are left without a signature.

How much does Signature Required cost in 2026? Signature Required costs $7.70 per package on any UPS service in 2026.

What's the difference between Signature Required and Adult Signature Required? Signature Required ($7.70 in 2026): UPS obtains a signature at delivery. Adult Signature Required ($9.35 in 2026): the signer must be 21 or older with government-issued photo ID, but does not have to be the named recipient. UPS has no Direct Signature Required option; that is a FedEx service. See UPS vs FedEx signature options.

Can I use Signature Required on international shipments? Most international services have signature as an optional add-on, but terms and costs vary by destination country and UPS service tier. Check the specific service details for international rates.

What if no one is home to sign? UPS won't leave the package unattended. It may try again the next business day and leave a delivery notice. You can sign that notice, authorize release with Sign Digitally, or redirect the package to a UPS Access Point for pickup with ID.

Is Signature Required needed for high-value items? Signature Required adds accountability and proof of delivery, which is useful for high-value items, legally required documents, or shipments with insurance. However, it does not replace insurance; you must declare value separately.

Can the recipient refuse a signature-required shipment? Yes. If the recipient refuses the package, UPS returns it to the shipper at the shipper’s expense, billed at UPS return rates plus applicable surcharges. See UPS Return to Sender.

Does Signature Required work with other add-ons like COD? Yes. You can combine Signature Required with other services like COD, Adult Signature Required, or delivery exceptions, though each service has its own fee and terms.

Related Reading

• UPS 2026 Rate Increase: Complete Guide to Every Service and Surcharge Change
• Parcel Audit Services: How They Work & What They Recover in 2026
• UPS Late Delivery Refund 2026: Money-Back Guarantee Rules & How to Claim
• Cheapest Overnight Shipping 2026: USPS vs UPS vs FedEx Rates Compared
• USPS Signature Confirmation and Adult Signature Fees 2026

Related 2026 UPS fee guides

• Does UPS Have Direct Signature Required?
• UPS Adult Signature Required 2026
• UPS Return to Sender 2026

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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.