USPS Return to Sender sends a letter or package back to the address in its top-left corner when it can’t be delivered, or when the person it reached doesn’t want it. To return mail that isn’t yours, write “Return to Sender” plus a short reason, such as “Not at this address”, on the unopened envelope and put it back in your mailbox or a blue collection box. USPS returns First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express and USPS Ground Advantage at no charge.
This guide covers how to return mail for a former resident, how to refuse mail and packages, what to do with mail for someone who has died, which mail classes come back free, and what the Return to Sender endorsements mean when your own mail comes back.
Table of Contents
- What Does Return to Sender Mean at USPS?
- How Do You Return Mail to Sender?
- How Do You Refuse Mail or a Package?
- How Do You Return Mail for Someone Who Died?
- Can You Return Mail You Already Opened?
- Which Mail Classes Does USPS Return for Free?
- Why Was Your Mail Returned to Sender?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Does Return to Sender Mean at USPS?
Return to Sender means USPS is sending a mailpiece back to its sender instead of delivering it. USPS calls mail it can’t deliver “undeliverable as addressed”, and it adds an endorsement explaining why, such as “Attempted, Not Known” or “Moved, Left No Address”.
Mail is returned for two broad reasons. Either USPS couldn’t deliver it, because of a bad address, an expired forwarding order or a box nobody picked up, or the addressee refused it. In USPS Tracking, a returned package shows a status that it’s being returned to the sender, and it travels back through the postal network like a new shipment. Our guide to USPS tracking IDs and lookups explains how to follow it on the way back.
Don’t throw away mail that isn’t yours. Federal law, 18 U.S.C. § 1708, makes it a crime to steal, take or destroy someone else’s mail, with penalties of up to five years in prison, a fine, or both. Returning it is the legal option.
How Do You Return Mail to Sender?
Returning misdelivered mail takes a pen and about ten seconds:
- Don’t open it. Only unopened mail goes back for free.
- Write the reason on the front. “Return to Sender, Not at This Address” works for most cases. If the addressee moved and you don’t know where, write “Moved, Left No Address”.
- Put it back in the mail. Leave it in your mailbox with the flag up, hand it to your carrier, or drop it in a USPS collection box or at a Post Office.
Don’t write a forwarding address on the envelope unless the addressee asked you to. If the person who moved filed a change of address, USPS forwards First-Class Mail and packages for 12 months and periodicals for 60 days. After that, for months 13 through 18, mail is returned to the sender with the new address attached, so senders can update their records.
If the same mail keeps coming for a former resident, keep returning it. Each return tells the sender to fix their mailing list. For advertising mail, the former resident can reduce it through the industry opt-out service at dmachoice.org.
How Do You Refuse Mail or a Package?
You can refuse mail addressed to you in two ways under the USPS Domestic Mail Manual. The first is at the door: tell the carrier you refuse it, and it goes back without you ever taking it. The second is after delivery: mark the unopened piece “Refused” and return it within a reasonable time.
Some mail can’t be refused after you’ve accepted it. USPS won’t return Registered Mail, insured mail, Certified Mail, collect on delivery (COD) or Adult Signature items for free once you’ve signed for them, so refuse those at delivery instead. Refusing a package also doesn’t stop the sender from shipping again; contact them directly if you want deliveries to stop.
If a package is already in transit and you’re the sender, you can sometimes stop it before it arrives with USPS Package Intercept. That’s usually faster than waiting for a refusal and return.
What Happens to Certified Mail Nobody Picks Up?
When accountable mail like Certified Mail can’t be delivered, the carrier leaves a notice and the Post Office holds it. If nobody claims it, USPS returns it to the sender after 15 days, or after 5 days for Priority Mail Express, unless the sender asked for a shorter hold. The returned piece is marked “Unclaimed”. If you need proof that mail was delivered in the first place, see our guide to USPS Signature Confirmation.
How Do You Return Mail for Someone Who Died?
Write “Deceased, Return to Sender” on unopened mail for the person who died and put it back in the mail. Note that a USPS carrier may mark mail “Deceased” only when the addressee is known to have died and the mail can’t go to someone else at the address, so family members handling an estate often keep the mail instead.
For the executor or a family member, the more effective steps are to:
- Contact banks, card issuers, insurers and government agencies directly to report the death.
- File a change of address if someone is managing the estate’s mail from another address.
- Register the person on the Deceased Do Not Contact list at dmachoice.org to cut advertising mail.
Returning mail and contacting senders also lowers the risk of identity theft using the deceased person’s name.
Can You Return Mail You Already Opened?
Not for free. The Domestic Mail Manual allows postage-free returns only for mail that hasn’t been opened. If you opened someone else’s mail by mistake, put it in a new envelope, address it to the original sender, add new postage and mail it. A short note saying it reached you by mistake helps the recipient understand what happened.
Mail that came back to you as undeliverable works the same way. You can’t simply drop a returned envelope back in the mail; USPS requires a new envelope or wrapper, a corrected address and new postage. For valuable mail, such as a check, a gift card, cash sent with USPS or a CD or other small media item, choose a service with tracking when you resend so you can confirm it arrives.
Which Mail Classes Does USPS Return for Free?
Most mail people send is returned free. The exception is bulk advertising mail, which USPS throws away unless the sender paid for return service. This table summarizes the rules in the Domestic Mail Manual:
| Mail class | What happens if undeliverable | Who pays for the return |
|---|---|---|
| First-Class Mail | Forwarded if a change of address is on file, otherwise returned | No charge |
| Priority Mail | Forwarded or returned | No charge |
| Priority Mail Express | Returned with the reason for non-delivery | No charge |
| USPS Ground Advantage | Forwarded or returned | No charge |
| USPS Marketing Mail | Thrown away unless the sender used a return endorsement | Sender pays return postage when endorsed |
| Parcel Select | Returned | Sender is charged return postage |
Returns travel back through the same network as outbound mail, so they’re subject to the same delays, including no movement on postal holidays. The USPS holiday schedule lists the days mail doesn’t run, and our guide to how long Priority Mail takes gives typical delivery times. USPS’s general rules for delivery, forwarding and holds are summarized in our USPS delivery policy guide.
Why Was Your Mail Returned to Sender?
If mail you sent comes back, the yellow USPS label or handwritten endorsement tells you why. The most common endorsements are:
| Endorsement | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Attempted, Not Known | The carrier tried to deliver, but the addressee isn’t known at that address | Confirm the name and address with the recipient |
| Moved, Left No Address | The addressee moved without filing a change of address | Get a new address from the recipient |
| Insufficient Address | Key details are missing, such as an apartment number | Add the missing unit, suite or box number |
| No Such Number / No Such Street | The address doesn’t exist as written | Check the house number, street and ZIP Code |
| Refused | The addressee refused the mail or the postage due on it | Contact the recipient before resending |
| Unclaimed | A notice was left but nobody picked up the item | Arrange a pickup time with the recipient |
| Deceased | The addressee is known to have died | Update your records |
Most returns come down to addressing. Verify the address with the USPS ZIP Code lookup tool, include apartment and unit numbers, and use the recipient’s correct ZIP Code. If a package was returned because it never arrived where it should, our guide to a lost USPS package and recovery steps covers what to do next. Before resending, check that the contents are allowed; items that break the USPS shipping restrictions can also come back.
How Do You Resend a Returned Package?
Fix the address, then ship it again with a new label, because the old one can’t be reused. If you’re paying for a second label, it’s worth comparing services first. With ParcelPath, labels are up to 89% off USPS and up to 85% off UPS retail prices, and the service is free to use. Compare live USPS and UPS rates in the ParcelPath rate calculator, or read whether UPS or USPS is cheaper for your type of package. For a wider look at carrier options, see our shipping services and solutions guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does USPS Return to Sender cost anything?
Not for unopened First-Class Mail, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express or USPS Ground Advantage. USPS returns those classes at no charge to you or the sender. The exceptions are USPS Marketing Mail, which is discarded unless the sender paid for return service, and Parcel Select, where the sender is charged return postage.
How do I return to sender with USPS if the person moved?
Write “Moved, Left No Address” or “Not at This Address” on the unopened envelope and put it back in your mailbox or a collection box. If the person filed a change of address, USPS forwards First-Class Mail for 12 months, then returns it to the sender with the new address for months 13 through 18.
Is it illegal to throw away mail that isn’t mine?
Yes. Under 18 U.S.C. § 1708, stealing, taking or destroying mail addressed to someone else is a federal crime punishable by a fine, up to five years in prison, or both. Mark misdelivered mail “Return to Sender” or “Not at This Address” and put it back in the mail instead.
Can I return to sender a package I already opened?
Not for free. USPS allows free returns only for unopened mail. Once you’ve opened a package or letter, you must put it in a new envelope or box, address it to the sender and pay new postage. Registered, insured and Certified Mail can’t be returned free once you’ve signed for it.
What happens to Return to Sender mail with no return address?
USPS sends mail it can neither deliver nor return to a Mail Recovery Center, where staff look for clues to the sender or recipient. If they can’t identify either, the item is eventually disposed of. Always include a return address so undeliverable mail can come back to you.
Sources
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 507: Mailer Services (forwarding, returns and endorsements)
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 508: Recipient Services (refusal of mail)
- 18 U.S.C. § 1708: Theft or receipt of stolen mail matter
- USPS: PO Boxes and mail forwarding after closing a box
Part of our USPS Tracking guide. Related: USPS Tracking and Delivery, USPS Tracking Not Updating, USPS Tracking Not Updating After Drop Off.
