USPS Delivery Confirmation

What is USPS Delivery Confirmation?

USPS Delivery Confirmation is a way for you to make sure that your most important packages make it to their final destinations. The US Postal Service can tell you the date, time and zip code where your item was delivered, giving you peace of mind. If the postal carrier tries to attempt a delivery, you’ll get the date and time of that attempt, too.

Types of Delivery Confirmation

USPS offers two types of delivery confirmation – retail and electronic.

Retail Delivery Confirmation:

USPS sells retail Delivery Confirmation at its post offices. Just fill out PS Form 152, which is a bright green label that is available at the customer desk. You can check the status of your item by entering a code online at USPS’s Track and Confirm page or by calling a number on the form. Stamps.com customers can use retail Delivery Confirmation by combining PS Form 152 with either NetStamps labels or when printing postage directly onto envelopes.

Send mail with Delivery Confirmation from home!

Electronic Delivery Confirmation:

If you print postage from an online service, such as Stamps.com, the program will include electronic Delivery Confirmation on your package for free for all mail classes except Media Mail. The cost to add electronic Delivery Confirmation for Media Mail is $0.20 through Stamps.com.

Example of USPS Delivery Confirmation Form 152

Selecting Delivery Confirmation in the
Stamps.com software. Click to enlarge

How Does Delivery Confirmation Work?

Delivery Confirmation service is represented by a bar code that is either printed on your shipping label or attached to your letter or package with a sticker. In addition to information about the item’s final destination, the bar code allows the USPS to track how your item moves from city to city. The sticker, also called PS Form 152, is available for free at the post office and must be filled out by hand. Delivery status may be checked by entering the Delivery Confirmation number online at USPS’ site or at Stamps.com if you’re a customer.

Delivery Confirmation costs $0.90 per item when purchased at the Post Office for First Class Package Service or Media Mail. The service is included for free when mailing with Standard Post, Priority Mail or Express Mail at the Post Office.

Delivery Confirmation can be combined with other services, including Return Receipt, Return Receipt for Merchandise, Collect on Delivery (COD), Domestic Insurance, Registered Mail, Restricted Delivery and Special Handling.

Some items cannot be sent with Delivery Confirmation of any kind. These items include periodicals, letters and flat pieces sent by First-Class Mail, Standard Mail letters, Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail pieces and mail paid with pre-canceled stamps.

Stamps.com Offers Free Delivery Confirmation

Unlike most USPS customers, Stamps.com customers get a big discount on electronic Delivery Confirmation. Electronic Delivery Confirmation is free for customers sending First Class Package Service, Parcel Select, Priority Mail or Express Mail when your shipping labels are printed inside the Stamps.com program. For all other mail classes, electronic Delivery Confirmation is only $0.20 – a 77% discount of the retail price from the Post Office!