No. UPS does not sell or cash money orders, and neither does The UPS Store: there is no such thing as a “UPS money order.” To buy one, go to a Post Office (USPS sells domestic money orders with a $1,000 limit per money order), a bank or credit union, or a retailer that acts as an agent for a money order issuer. What UPS can do is ship a money order you bought somewhere else, quickly and with tracking.
The confusion is understandable. “UPS” and “USPS” are one letter apart, and the Post Office is the best-known place in the country to buy a money order. This guide covers why UPS stays out of payments, where to buy a money order instead, and how to send one safely by UPS or USPS.
Table of Contents
- Does UPS Sell Money Orders?
- Why Doesn’t UPS Offer Money Order Services?
- Where Can You Buy a Money Order Instead of UPS?
- How Do USPS Money Orders Work?
- Is a Money Order the Right Payment Method?
- How Do You Fill Out, Track, and Replace a Money Order?
- How Do You Ship a Money Order With UPS or USPS?
- How Do You Avoid Money Order Scams in Shipping Deals?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Does UPS Sell Money Orders?
UPS does not sell, cash, or process money orders at any of its locations. That includes UPS Customer Centers, UPS Access Point locations, and The UPS Store, whose franchise counters handle shipping, packing, printing, mailboxes and, at many stores, notary services, but no financial instruments. The same goes for cashier’s checks and check cashing.
If a website or search result describes a “UPS money order” with denominations or tracking, it is almost always describing a USPS (Postal Service) money order. Only the Post Office issues postal money orders, and you buy them at the retail counter, not from a carrier like UPS.
Why Doesn’t UPS Offer Money Order Services?
UPS is a package delivery and logistics company, not a financial services provider. In the United States, selling money orders makes a business a money services business, which brings federal registration with FinCEN, state money transmitter licensing and anti-money-laundering programs. Retailers that do sell money orders usually act as agents for a licensed issuer, and UPS has simply never built that business.
The UPS Store locations are independently owned franchises, so the services offered vary from store to store. Money orders are not part of The UPS Store’s standard service menu, so don’t plan a trip there expecting to buy one.
What Does UPS Actually Provide?
UPS focuses on domestic and international parcel shipping, freight, pickups, tracking and delivery options, plus packaging. If you’re shipping documents or a payment, its retail and online channels sell supplies in the standard UPS box sizes, and our guide to UPS labels and supplies explains which items are free for account holders. The UPS Store adds printing, mailbox rental and notary services at many locations.
Where Can You Buy a Money Order Instead of UPS?
Since UPS isn’t an option, these are the most common places to buy a money order in the U.S. Fees differ by provider and amount, so ask at the counter before you pay.
| Where to buy | Issuer | Typical payment accepted | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post Office (USPS) | U.S. Postal Service | Cash, debit card, U.S. traveler’s checks | Up to $1,000 per money order; domestic only since October 1, 2024; never expires |
| Banks and credit unions | Your bank | Account funds | Often limited to account holders; a cashier’s check may suit larger sums |
| Grocery, big-box and discount stores | Agent of a money order company (often MoneyGram or Western Union) | Cash, debit card | Per-order limits are set by the issuer and the store |
| Convenience stores, pharmacies and check cashers | Agent of a money order company | Cash, debit card | Check the issuer’s terms for inactivity or service fees |
Most sellers will not accept a credit card for a money order, because card issuers treat the purchase like a cash advance. Bring cash or a debit card, and photo ID if you’re buying a large amount.
How Do USPS Money Orders Work?
USPS money orders are the most widely accepted option, and the Post Office is also where most people looking for a “UPS money order” actually end up. USPS sells domestic money orders with a $1,000 limit per money order, payable with cash, a debit card or U.S. traveler’s checks. They never expire and can be cashed for free at a Post Office with photo ID, and most banks will cash them too.
USPS stopped selling international money orders on October 1, 2024, and stopped cashing them after September 30, 2025, so a postal money order today is for U.S. payments only. For sending money abroad, USPS points customers to other money transfer services. Post Offices also stock envelopes and shipping supplies and packaging if you plan to mail the money order right away.
What Changed With the New USPS Money Order Design?
USPS now issues a redesigned red-and-blue money order. According to the Postal Bulletin, it has two light-dependent watermarks (a Pony Express rider and a “United States Postal Service” box), a security thread reading “USPS,” and a QR code that links to the money order status page. The older green money orders stay in circulation until stock runs out, and both are valid.
Is a Money Order the Right Payment Method?
A money order is prepaid, so it can’t bounce, and it doesn’t reveal your bank account details. That makes it useful for paying a landlord, a government office or a private seller who won’t take cards. It isn’t always the best tool, though.
- Money order: best when the recipient wants guaranteed funds and you don’t want to share account numbers, for amounts under the issuer’s limit.
- Personal check: fine for trusted, non-urgent payments, but it exposes your routing and account numbers and can bounce.
- Cashier’s check: better for large amounts above a money order’s cap, because the bank guarantees it.
- Payment app: fastest between people who know each other, but weak protection makes it risky with strangers in a marketplace deal.
How Do You Fill Out, Track, and Replace a Money Order?
Fill in the recipient’s name on the “Pay to” line as soon as you buy the money order, so a lost blank can’t be cashed by someone else. Add your address where indicated and keep the receipt stub, which carries the serial number, separate from the money order itself.
For a USPS money order, the Check Money Order Status tool at usps.com shows whether it has been cashed using the serial number, Post Office number and amount. If it’s lost or stolen, take the receipt to a Post Office and ask for a Money Order Inquiry (PS Form 6401). USPS can’t stop payment, but it replaces a money order once the loss is confirmed, which can take up to 60 days. A damaged money order can be replaced by bringing it and the receipt to the counter.
How Do You Ship a Money Order With UPS or USPS?
This is where UPS does come in. Once you’ve bought a money order, you can send it by UPS or USPS with tracking, so you know when it arrives. For a payment with a deadline, a trackable service beats a plain stamped envelope.
- UPS: UPS Next Day Air and the UPS Express Envelope suit urgent payments. Our UPS shipping label guide walks through creating the label, and you can add signature confirmation so it isn’t left unattended. If no one will be home to sign, see your options when a UPS signature is required.
- USPS: Priority Mail or First-Class Mail with Certified Mail gives you tracking and proof of mailing. Our guide on mailing money with USPS explains how to send cash, checks and money orders securely.
If you ship regularly, ParcelPath is a free way to buy those labels, with no subscription, per-label fee or minimum, and discounts of up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS. You can compare live UPS and USPS rates for an envelope or small package in the ParcelPath rate calculator before you choose a service.
How Do You Avoid Money Order Scams in Shipping Deals?
Money orders show up often in marketplace and shipping fraud, and the scripts are predictable. The most common is the overpayment scam: a “buyer” sends a money order for more than the agreed price and asks you to refund the difference, often “for shipping.” The money order later turns out to be fake, and your refund is gone.
- Verify before you ship: for a USPS money order, call the Money Order Verification System at 1-866-459-7822 or check its status online before releasing goods.
- Never send back “extra” money: any request to forward funds before a money order clears is a red flag.
- Report fraud: suspected counterfeit postal money orders can be reported to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455.
Buying a real UPS or USPS label never requires mailing a money order to a stranger. Anyone who insists you send one to “release” a shipment or cover postage is running a scam, not a shipping transaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The UPS Store sell money orders?
No. The UPS Store does not sell, cash or process money orders. Its independently owned locations offer shipping, packing, printing, mailbox rental and, at many stores, notary services, but not financial products. The nearest alternative is usually the Post Office, where USPS sells domestic money orders with a $1,000 limit per money order, or a bank, credit union or retail money order agent.
Is there such a thing as a UPS money order?
No. UPS has never issued money orders, so a “UPS money order” doesn’t exist. People searching for one usually mean a USPS postal money order, which the Postal Service sells at Post Office counters. UPS can still help with the delivery side: you can ship a money order bought elsewhere using a trackable UPS service such as Next Day Air.
Can you buy a money order with a credit card?
Usually not. USPS accepts only cash, debit cards and U.S. traveler’s checks for money orders, and most retail agents also refuse credit cards. Card issuers would treat the purchase as a cash advance, which carries extra charges and interest from the first day. Bring cash or a debit card, plus photo ID for larger amounts.
Do USPS money orders expire?
No. USPS domestic money orders never expire and don’t earn interest, so they can be cashed for their face value at any time. Money orders from private issuers can be different: some charge inactivity or service fees after a set period, which the terms printed on the back explain. Read those terms before you hold a non-USPS money order for long.
Can you track a money order?
You can check whether a USPS money order has been cashed with the Check Money Order Status tool on usps.com, using the serial number, Post Office number and amount from your receipt. The redesigned money order also carries a QR code linking to that status page. To track it in transit, ship it with a UPS or USPS service that includes tracking.
Sources
- USPS: Money Orders (limits, payment, cashing, inquiries)
- USPS Postal Bulletin: Verifying U.S. Postal Service Money Orders
- USPS Postal Bulletin: Elimination of International Postal Money Order Service
- USPS: Send Money Overseas
- UPS: Domestic Shipping Services
For more ways to send documents and payments, browse our roundup of the best shipping services and solutions.
Part of our UPS Services guide. Related: UPS Size and Weight Limits, UPS Shipping, UPS Next Day Air Shipping.
