USPS Signature Confirmation is an extra service that requires someone at the delivery address to sign before the carrier hands over a package, and USPS keeps a delivery record with that signature that the sender can request. You add it when you mail the package, at a Post Office counter or with an online label, and it works with Priority Mail, USPS Ground Advantage, Media Mail and several other domestic services.
Signature Confirmation is one of several USPS proof-of-delivery options. If you’re sending a letter or legal notice instead of a package, our Certified Mail guide explains the service USPS designed for that job.
What Does USPS Signature Confirmation Do?
With Signature Confirmation, the carrier won’t leave the package at the door or in a mailbox. Someone must sign for it, and USPS records the date and time of delivery or of the attempted delivery. The sender can see the delivery status in tracking and can request the signature record by email or view it electronically.
Signature Confirmation proves that the package was delivered to the address and who signed, which helps with disputes over whether an item arrived. It doesn’t limit delivery to one named person; for that, USPS offers Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery.
Which USPS Services Can Use Signature Confirmation?
The Domestic Mail Manual lists Signature Confirmation for these products:
- Priority Mail
- USPS Ground Advantage (retail and commercial; some commercial options are electronic only)
- Media Mail and Library Mail
- Bound Printed Matter
- Parcel Select and USPS Connect Local
Availability is limited for APO/FPO/DPO military addresses, and USPS doesn’t offer it to US territories or the Freely Associated States. Signature Confirmation is a domestic service, so international shipments rely on the tracking and delivery options of each USPS international shipping service instead.
Priority Mail Express works differently: it normally requires a signature at delivery unless the sender waives it. For books and educational materials going by USPS Media Mail, adding Signature Confirmation is one of the few ways to get proof of who received a slower, lower-cost shipment.
How Is Signature Confirmation Different From Other USPS Signature Services?
USPS offers several signature and proof-of-delivery services. They differ in who may sign and where you can buy them.
| Service | Who can sign | Where to buy | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signature Confirmation | Anyone at the delivery address | Post Office or online | Packages that shouldn’t be left unattended |
| Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery | The named addressee or an authorized agent | Post Office or online, with an eligible service | Items for one specific person |
| Adult Signature Required | Any adult 21 or older with ID | Online and commercial labels only | Age-restricted goods |
| Adult Signature Restricted Delivery | The named addressee or agent, 21 or older | Online and commercial labels only | Age-restricted goods for one person |
| Certified Mail | Recipient signs at delivery | Post Office or online | Letters and legal notices needing proof of mailing |
| Return Receipt | Adds the recipient’s signature record for the sender | Added to Certified Mail and other eligible services | A signature copy sent to you by mail or email |
USPS lets you combine Signature Confirmation with insurance coverage of up to $500. Packages with insurance coverage above that limit already require a signature at delivery. Our guide to the USPS return receipt explains how that add-on works, and our step-by-step guide on how to send USPS Certified Mail covers the letter-mail option.
How Do You Add Signature Confirmation to a USPS Package?
You must add Signature Confirmation at the time of mailing. It can’t be added after the package is in the mail.
- At a Post Office: Ask the retail associate to add Signature Confirmation when you pay postage. You get a mailing receipt with the tracking number.
- Online or with shipping software: Choose Signature Confirmation as an extra service when you create the label. With the electronic option, no mailing receipt is issued, and the record is linked to the label’s tracking number.
- Check the address: A signature service is only as good as the address. Confirm unit numbers and use USPS address correction tools for business mailing lists so the carrier doesn’t have to return the package.
Signature Confirmation carries an added fee on top of postage, so factor it in when you choose a service. To compare USPS and UPS postage for the package itself, use the ParcelPath rate calculator.
What Happens If No One Is Home to Sign?
If no one is available, the carrier leaves PS Form 3849, a redelivery notice, and takes the package back to the Post Office. According to USPS, the item is usually available for pickup the next business day, and redelivery isn’t automatic: the recipient needs to request it.
- Schedule redelivery at usps.com or by phone; our guide to USPS redelivery walks through the steps.
- Pick it up at the Post Office with the notice or tracking number and photo ID.
- Authorize someone else to pick it up by completing the back of the notice.
USPS sends a second notice if the package isn’t claimed, and unclaimed items are typically held for 15 days before being returned to the sender. If the recipient has a forwarding order on file, see our overview of USPS package forwarding options for how forwarded signature items are handled.
Recipients sometimes ask whether they can sign ahead of time to have a package left. USPS signature services exist to prevent unattended delivery, so the carrier needs a signature in person. Our explainer on what a signature release means compares how carriers handle that request.
How Do You Get Proof of the Signature?
Track the package with its USPS tracking number to see the delivery date, time and location. From the tracking results page, the sender can request proof of delivery by email, which includes the signature and the name of the person who signed.
USPS keeps Signature Confirmation records for one year. If you might need the record later for a dispute, a chargeback or an insurance claim, request and save the proof of delivery soon after the package arrives. Adult Signature records are kept for two years.
When Is Signature Confirmation Worth Adding?
Signature Confirmation makes sense when the cost of a disputed or stolen delivery is higher than the fee and the possible delay of a missed attempt.
- Higher-value orders. Online sellers use it for electronics, jewelry and other items where “not received” claims are expensive.
- Documents and originals. Contracts, certificates and passports benefit from a recorded signature.
- Dispute protection. Payment processors may ask for signature proof on high-value chargeback disputes.
- Theft-prone addresses. Buildings without secure package rooms are good candidates.
Skip it for low-value items, gifts the recipient may not be home to sign for, and time-sensitive deliveries where a missed attempt would be worse than a package left at the door. Our guide to shipping for small businesses covers when sellers typically add signature services.
Can You Get Signature Confirmation With UPS Instead?
Yes. UPS offers its own Delivery Confirmation options, including signature required and adult signature required. If you’re deciding between carriers for a package that needs a signature, our comparison of whether UPS or USPS is cheaper breaks down when each wins.
ParcelPath lets you print USPS and UPS labels in one place, with up to 89% off USPS and up to 85% off UPS, no subscription and no per-label fee. Shipsurance insurance is available for valuable packages, and free USPS pickups mean signature-required packages get scanned at your door. For other USPS add-ons, see our list of USPS services and shipping options, or browse shipping services and solutions beyond USPS. ParcelPath also shares shipping tips on LinkedIn.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does USPS keep Signature Confirmation records?
USPS keeps Signature Confirmation delivery records, including the signature, for one year. Adult Signature records are kept for two years. Senders can request proof of delivery by email from the tracking results page, so save a copy early if you may need it for a dispute or claim.
Can anyone sign for a USPS Signature Confirmation package?
Yes. Standard Signature Confirmation can be signed by anyone at the delivery address who accepts the package. If only one specific person should receive it, add Signature Confirmation Restricted Delivery, which limits delivery to the named addressee or an authorized agent. Adult Signature requires the signer to be 21 or older.
Can I add Signature Confirmation after mailing?
No. USPS Signature Confirmation must be purchased at the time of mailing, either at a Post Office counter or when you create an online or commercial label. Once the package is in the mail, you can’t add a signature requirement, though the recipient can still hold or redirect delivery through other USPS tools.
Does USPS Signature Confirmation work for international mail?
No. USPS Signature Confirmation is a domestic extra service, with limited availability to military APO/FPO/DPO addresses and none to US territories or Freely Associated States. International services such as Priority Mail International rely on their own tracking and the destination country’s delivery practices.
Sources
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 503: Extra Services (Signature Confirmation, Adult Signature)
- USPS: Insurance and Extra Services
- USPS FAQ: How Redelivery Service Handles Different Mail Types
- USPS FAQ: USPS Tracking, The Basics (record retention)
Part of our USPS Services guide. Related: Ground Advantage, USPS Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express.
