No, you can’t buy a money order at FedEx. FedEx and FedEx Office locations don’t sell or cash money orders, so you need to buy one at a Post Office, a bank or credit union, or a store that acts as a money order agent. FedEx does accept money orders as payment for shipping at staffed locations, and it will ship a money order you bought elsewhere, with a declared-value cap of $1,000.
So “money order FedEx” really covers three questions: can you buy one there, can you pay with one, and can you send one. The answers are no, yes and yes, with conditions. This guide covers each one, plus where to buy a money order instead and how to send it so it arrives safely. Our FedEx frequently asked questions guide answers the other common questions about FedEx rules and services.
Does FedEx Sell Money Orders?
No. FedEx is a shipping company, and FedEx Office stores offer shipping, packing, printing and copying, not financial products. You can’t buy, cash or redeem a money order at a FedEx counter, a FedEx Ship Center or a FedEx drop-off point.
Some FedEx counters sit inside other stores, such as grocery or drug stores. That store may sell money orders at its own customer service desk, but the money order comes from the store’s provider, not from FedEx. If you need one, ask the host store’s counter rather than the FedEx associate.
Can You Pay for FedEx Shipping With a Money Order?
Yes. FedEx’s U.S. terms say that for shipments paid at the time you drop them off, you can pay by cash (not accepted at all FedEx locations), check, money order or credit card. Shipments paid this way must be tendered at a staffed FedEx location and are charged FedEx retail rates.
Money orders can also settle a “Bill Recipient” shipment. If the receiver doesn’t have a FedEx account, they can pay with cash, check or money order when the package is delivered. If the recipient refuses to pay, FedEx treats the package as undeliverable and bills the sender.
Can You Ship a Money Order Through FedEx?
Yes, a money order you bought elsewhere can travel by FedEx, but two rules in the FedEx Service Guide limit how much protection you get:
- Money orders have a $1,000 declared-value cap. FedEx lists money orders with traveler’s checks, gift cards and other cash equivalents among items whose shipments have a maximum declared value limit of $1,000.
- Envelopes and Paks have a lower limit. FedEx sets a declared value limit of $500 for the contents of a FedEx Envelope or FedEx Pak, so a higher-value money order belongs in a box with value declared.
- Cash is prohibited outright. FedEx bans money, currency and cash equivalents such as negotiable instruments and endorsed stocks and bonds. Never sign the back of a money order before sending it, and never mail cash with it.
Without a declared value, FedEx’s liability for a U.S. package is limited to $100. For domestic shipments with a declared value of $500 or more, FedEx applies Direct Signature Required automatically, so someone at the address has to sign.
To compare FedEx services for a time-sensitive payment, here’s how the main options line up:
| FedEx service | Delivery commitment (to most businesses) | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|
| FedEx First Overnight | Next business day by 8 or 8:30 a.m. | Payments due first thing in the morning |
| FedEx Priority Overnight | Next business day by 10:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. | Rent, deposits or settlements due the next day |
| FedEx Standard Overnight | Next business day by 5 p.m. | Next-day payments with no morning deadline |
| FedEx 2Day | Second business day by 5 p.m. | Payments due in a few days |
| FedEx Express Saver | Third business day by 5 p.m. | Non-urgent payments that still need tracking |
Residential deliveries can arrive later in the day than the business commitment. Our comparison of FedEx Express Saver benefits and its 3-day delivery window shows when the slower tiers are enough, and the full lineup is in our guide to FedEx service tiers and transit times.
Where Can You Buy a Money Order Instead?
The most common places to buy a money order are:
- The Post Office. USPS sells domestic money orders at every Post Office, up to $1,000 per money order. You pay with cash or a debit card, and USPS doesn’t accept credit cards for money orders.
- Banks and credit unions. Many sell money orders or cashier’s checks to account holders. Policies and limits vary by institution.
- Money order agents. Many grocery chains, convenience stores, check-cashing stores and big-box retailers sell money orders as agents for providers such as MoneyGram or Western Union.
Before you buy, check whether the person you’re paying requires a specific type. Some landlords, courts and government offices accept only USPS money orders or cashier’s checks. UPS doesn’t sell money orders either, as our guide to UPS money order alternatives explains.
How Do You Send a Money Order Safely?
Treat a money order like a check you can’t stop. Fill in the payee’s name right away, keep your receipt and send it with tracking and a delivery signature:
- Fill it out completely. Write the payee’s name, your name and address, and any account or invoice number in the memo line. A blank payee line makes the money order easier to misuse.
- Keep the receipt. The stub has the serial number you need for any inquiry. For a USPS money order, a Post Office can start a Money Order Inquiry with that receipt. USPS can’t stop payment but can replace a money order confirmed lost or stolen, which can take up to 30 days to confirm and up to 60 days to investigate.
- Use a trackable service with a signature. With FedEx, add a signature option and declare a value up to the $1,000 cap. Our guides explain who else can sign for a FedEx package and whether a note works when a FedEx signature is required.
- Hide the contents. Use an opaque envelope inside the FedEx Envelope, and don’t write “money order” on the outside. Shippers who want to keep their own details off the label can read how a FedEx blind shipment works.
USPS is the other common choice for mailing a payment. Certified Mail gives you a mailing receipt and a delivery record, and Priority Mail Express adds a fast, guaranteed delivery date. If you’re open to UPS or USPS instead of FedEx, ParcelPath offers up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS shipping, free with no subscription. You can compare live rates for your envelope in the ParcelPath rate calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy a money order at FedEx Office?
No. FedEx Office locations offer shipping, packing and printing services but don’t sell or cash money orders. Buy one at a Post Office, where USPS sells domestic money orders with a limit of $1,000 per money order, paid by cash or debit card, at a bank or credit union, or at a store that sells money orders as a MoneyGram or Western Union agent.
Does FedEx accept money orders as payment?
Yes. FedEx’s U.S. terms let you pay for shipping at the time of drop-off with cash (not at every location), check, money order or credit card. These shipments must be tendered at a staffed FedEx location and are billed at FedEx retail rates. Recipients of Bill Recipient shipments can also pay by money order at delivery.
Is it safe to send a money order by FedEx?
It can be, if you fill in the payee, keep the receipt and use tracking with a signature. FedEx sets a declared value limit of $1,000 for shipments containing money orders, and a declared value limit of $500 for Envelope or Pak contents. FedEx prohibits cash and endorsed negotiable instruments, so never sign the back of the money order before sending.
Is a money order cheaper to send by FedEx or USPS?
The cost depends on the service and speed you choose, so compare quotes before you ship. USPS Certified Mail is a common low-cost way to get proof of delivery for a payment, while FedEx overnight services suit hard deadlines. Get FedEx’s price from its own quote tool. For USPS and UPS options, the ParcelPath calculator shows live discounted rates.
Sources
- FedEx Service Guide 2026 (U.S.): payment methods, declared value limits and prohibited items
- FedEx: Declared value
- USPS: Money orders
Payment tools are one part of choosing a carrier. Our roundup of the 7 best shipping services and solutions compares the bigger picture, and our list of essential FedEx abbreviations decodes the terms on FedEx labels and receipts.
Part of our FedEx Frequently Asked Questions guide. Related: FedEx Shipping hub, FedEx Abbreviations, FedEx Blind Shipment.
