send and receive mail
here are some useful mailing tips for senders and recipients.
sending mail
you can send mail by:
- drop it off in a blue collection box.
- drop it off in your mailbox at home.
- schedule a pickup.
- take it to a post office.
If your item weighs more than 13 ounces and is postmarked, you must take it to a clerk at a post office retail counter.
schedule a pickup
Whether it’s package pickup or on-demand pickup at a specific time, USPS pickup options make shipping your packages fast and convenient.
Package pickup is the easy and convenient way to ship qualifying packages. simply submit your request online at www.usps.com/pickup and have your items ready before your carrier arrives. It’s that simple!
On-demand pickup allows you to schedule time-specific pickups within a 2-hour time frame. a mail carrier will make a special trip to your home or business for a fee to pick up qualifying, postage-fixed packages. there is no additional charge for picking up multiple pieces of mail. visit www.usps.com/pickup or call 1-800-222-1811 for additional information, including qualifying packages or to schedule a pickup.
holding mail
If you plan to be out of town on business or vacation, you may want to temporarily stop your mail delivery. To have the postal service hold your mail for up to 30 days, visit www.usps.com, call 1·800·ask·usps, or fill out a “hold mail” form at the post office. when you return, you can pick up your mail at the post office or have it delivered to your home.
address change and mail forwarding
Before you move, get a copy of the mover’s guide from your post office and return the completed form to your carrier or post office. You can also save yourself a trip to the post office by visiting www.usps.com to change your address online for a small fee. quick and easy: it takes less than five minutes.
Notify your post office at least one month before you move to ensure uninterrupted mail service. priority mail express, priority mail and first-class mail will be forwarded free of charge for one year. magazines and newspapers will be forwarded for 60 days.
premium forwarding service®
Are you going away for a while? Have all your mail delivered to your temporary location.
premium forwarding service is a nationwide service that forwards all your mail from your permanent address to a temporary address.
Your mail will be forwarded to you weekly for a minimum of two weeks up to a year. you don’t lose important mail while you’re away – all your mail gets to you. a flat fee for each weekly priority mail shipment plus an application fee.
Whether you’re a snowbird, a college student, an executive, someone with an extended family caregiving situation, or on an extended vacation, they’re all potential candidates for premium forwarding.
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Never miss a mail delivery when you’re away from home again. it’s easy to sign up for the premium forwarding service. visit www.usps.com or your local post office to sign up.
postage print
no need to go to the post office. you can print postage online at cns.usps.com.
sign to receive mail
Some emails require the recipient’s signature upon delivery. this includes items shipped urgent priority mail (if requested), certified mail, collect on delivery, insured mail (over $500), certified mail, return receipt requested, signature confirmation, and adult signature.
recipient responsibilities
When you sign for a piece of mail, you confirm delivery. the responsibility of the postal service ends when you sign for the mail. You can ask the mail carrier for the sender’s name and address before accepting the mail. you can’t open the mail, but you can look at it as long as the mailman holds it before you choose to sign for it.
delivery if the recipient is not at home
If no one is home when the postman attempts to deliver, the postman will leave a notice and return the item to the post office. see notice for specific instructions or call 1·800·ask·usps to have your mail resent. If the sender has not requested restricted delivery or an adult (21 or older) signature, the carrier may deliver the mail to anyone receiving mail at that address.
delivery confirmation
Visit www.usps.com or call 1·800·222·1811 for delivery information on Express Priority Mail and Confirmation Mail services. you’ll need the item number from your shipping receipt or label.
restrict delivery
The restricted delivery service ensures that only a specific person (or the person’s authorized agent) will receive an email. restricted delivery is available only if you also purchase certified mail, insured mail (for more than $500 of coverage), registered mail, cod hold for pickup, signature confirmation, or adult signature.
file a claim
You can file a claim for compensation for loss or damage to insured mail, certified mail, and express priority mail. a claim can be filed online or the form can be downloaded from www.usps.com and mailed in along with evidence of value. visit www.usps.com or contact your local post office for additional information on how to file a claim.
perishable items
Some items require special packaging or special permission to be mailed. call 1 800 ask usps or visit your post office to find out how to ship these items:
- live animals
- fresh fruits and vegetables
- plants
Keep Mail Safe: Hazardous and Restricted Materials Some things can’t be mailed or can only be mailed in small amounts for security and legal reasons. Some items have restrictions on how they can be mailed, including:
- aerosol cans
- firearms
- flammable materials
- liquids and powders
- lithium batteries
- lottery tickets
- perfume
- poisons
- tobacco and tobacco products
However, some items are not allowed in the mail, including:
- alcoholic beverages
- ammunition
- drug paraphernalia
- fireworks and other explosives
Call 1 800 ask usps or visit your post office if you have questions about the item you want to mail.