Proof & return receipts
Can I use USPS Click-N-Ship to send a certified letter from home?
Updated · By the Certified Letter Online team
USPS Click-N-Ship is built for package labels: it sells USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express, with free package pickup. It isn't a way to print and mail an ordinary First-Class certified letter. To send a certified letter without going to the Post Office, use an online mailing service that prints your letter and mails it with a USPS Certified Mail label, or buy a certified form and stamps and hand the letter to USPS yourself.
| Option | Post Office trip? | Printer needed? | Return receipt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post Office counter | Yes | Yes (or handwritten) | Green card or electronic |
| Click-N-Ship label (package classes) | No, with pickup | Yes | Check options at checkout |
| Online certified letter service (us) | No | No | Electronic, emailed as PDF |
Why letters and package labels are different
Certified Mail is an extra service for First-Class Mail and Priority Mail (USPS DMM 503, Exhibit 1.4.1). Click-N-Ship's published classes are package services, so a one-page letter would go as a Priority Mail envelope, which is more expensive than a First-Class certified letter. Check the extra services offered at Click-N-Ship checkout before relying on it.
How sending with us works
- Type or upload your letter on the send page, or start from a template.
- Enter the recipient's US address; we check the format.
- Choose Certified Mail ($14.99) or Certified + return receipt ($17.99). Printing, envelope and postage are included for up to 3 pages.
- We print and hand it to USPS within one business day and email you the tracking number.
Quick answers
Can I send certified mail without going to the post office?
Yes, through a service that prints and mails it for you with a USPS Certified Mail label. You never handle paper or stamps.
Can I schedule a USPS pickup for a certified letter?
USPS free pickup is for packages bought with eligible labels; see USPS pickup. A mailing service removes the need.
How much does certified mail cost?
USPS charges postage plus a Certified Mail fee and, optionally, a Return Receipt fee; current fees are in Notice 123. Our all-in price is $14.99 or $17.99 with return receipt.
What to do next
Skip the label printer and the line: type your letter and we mail it Certified for $14.99 (or $17.99 with return receipt).
Send a certified letterSources
- USPS: Click-N-Ship online shipping
- USPS: Schedule a pickup
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 503: Extra Services (Certified Mail, Return Receipt, Certificate of Mailing)
- USPS Notice 123: current prices
Checked: . General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change: confirm current values at the official links above.