Table of Contents
- Where Is the Tracking Number on a USPS Receipt?
- What Does the Tracking Number Look Like on the Receipt?
- Where Do You Look on Each Type of USPS Receipt?
- Which Numbers on a USPS Receipt Are Not the Tracking Number?
- How Do You Track a Package With the Number From Your Receipt?
- How Do You Retrieve a USPS Tracking Number Without the Receipt?
- Frequently Asked Questions
On a USPS Post Office receipt, the tracking number is printed in the line for your package, labeled “USPS Tracking #” or “Label #.” It’s the longest number on the slip: usually 22 digits for domestic mail, or 13 characters such as EC 123 456 789 US for international mail. Type or paste it into USPS Tracking at USPS.com or the USPS app to see the package’s status.
USPS itself says the sales receipt carries the label number, “also known as the USPS Tracking number.” This guide shows where to look on each kind of receipt, how to tell the tracking number from the other numbers on the slip, and what to do if the receipt is gone.
Where Is the Tracking Number on a USPS Receipt?
On a counter receipt, each item you mailed gets its own block of lines: the destination ZIP Code, the mail class (for example, Priority Mail or USPS Ground Advantage), the weight and the postage. The tracking number is printed inside that block, directly under or next to the service line, and is introduced by a label such as “USPS Tracking #,” “Label #” or “Tracking #.”
If you mailed several items in one visit, the receipt lists one tracking number per item, each inside its own block. Match the destination ZIP Code in each block to the right package. Extra services such as Certified Mail or Signature Confirmation may print their own label number in that item’s block.
- Look inside the item block, not at the top or bottom of the receipt.
- Find the label text: “USPS Tracking #,” “Label #” or “Tracking #.”
- Check the length: 22 digits (often shown in spaced groups) for domestic items, 13 characters for international ones.
- Photograph the receipt as soon as you get it. Thermal receipt paper fades, and a photo keeps the number readable.
What Does the Tracking Number Look Like on the Receipt?
A domestic USPS tracking number is usually 22 digits, most often starting with 92, 93, 94 or 95, and the receipt may print it in groups of four for readability. International items use a 13-character code: two letters, nine digits and the country code “US” at the end.
| What you shipped | Typical format on the receipt | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic package (Ground Advantage, Priority Mail) | 22 digits, often starting with 95 for labels printed at the counter | 22 digits |
| Priority Mail Express | 22 digits or EA 000 000 000 US | 22 digits or 13 characters |
| Certified or Registered Mail | 22-digit label number printed with the extra service | 22 digits |
| International package | EC, CP or similar, ending in US | 13 characters |
The first two digits describe how the label was created rather than the service, and numbers from a Post Office counter typically start with 95. Our guide to USPS tracking codes explains what each part of the number means, and the page on what a USPS tracking number starts with covers common prefixes.
Where Do You Look on Each Type of USPS Receipt?
Where the number sits depends on how you paid for postage. Use the row that matches what you’re holding.
| Receipt or record | Where the tracking number is |
|---|---|
| Post Office counter receipt | Inside the item’s block, labeled USPS Tracking # or Label # |
| Self-Service Kiosk receipt | In the item details printed with the postage, labeled as the tracking or label number |
| Certified Mail receipt (PS Form 3800) | The article number printed on the receipt portion you keep |
| Return receipt (green card, PS Form 3811) | The article number of the item it belongs to, printed or written on the card |
| Online label (Click-N-Ship or a shipping platform) | Under the barcode on the label, in the confirmation email and in your label history |
A return receipt is proof of delivery that comes back to the sender, and it carries the same article number as the mailpiece. Our guide to the USPS return receipt and proof of delivery explains the green card and the electronic version. If you print shipping labels at home, there’s no paper receipt at all, so the label record and email are where you’ll find the number.
Which Numbers on a USPS Receipt Are Not the Tracking Number?
A Post Office receipt is full of numbers, and most of them can’t track anything. If USPS Tracking says your number isn’t valid, you’ve probably copied one of these:
- Transaction or receipt number: a short number for the sale itself, often near the top or bottom.
- Destination ZIP Code: five digits in the item block.
- Register, clerk or store IDs: short codes identifying the counter and Post Office.
- Payment and approval codes: card authorization numbers at the bottom.
- Barcodes at the bottom of the slip: these usually encode the transaction for returns, not your package.
The tracking number is always the long one inside the item block. If you’re sure you copied the right number and it still fails, our guide to a USPS tracking number not working walks through the fixes.
How Do You Track a Package With the Number From Your Receipt?
Enter the number at USPS.com in the USPS Tracking box, in the USPS Mobile app, or by text. Paste it without spaces if you can, since a single wrong digit returns no result. Our complete guide to USPS tracking covers every lookup method, and our overview of package tracking services explains how carrier scans work.
A package dropped off at the counter is normally scanned in right away, so the first status should appear the same day. If it hasn’t moved since then, see why USPS tracking isn’t updating after drop off, and for a Ground Advantage package that stalls in transit, use the Ground Advantage tracking fixes. Our page on USPS tracking status meanings decodes each scan event.
For items mailed abroad, the receipt number keeps working after the package leaves the U.S., and the destination country’s post adds its own scans. Our guide to USPS tracking international packages covers the handoff, and the USPS international shipping guide lists the services that include tracking.
How Do You Retrieve a USPS Tracking Number Without the Receipt?
Start with whatever other record you have, because USPS says its Care Center agents and local Post Offices don’t have a way to recover lost tracking numbers. The receipt is the easiest source, but it’s not the only one.
- Check the electronic receipt. If you gave an email address at the counter or kiosk, search your inbox for the USPS receipt.
- Check your online label history. Labels bought on USPS.com or through a shipping platform keep the tracking number in the account.
- Look at the item itself. If you still have the package or a returned item, the number is printed under the barcode.
- Ask the other party. Recipients should ask the sender; senders can ask a recipient who uses Informed Delivery, which shows incoming packages on the dashboard.
For more ways to recover a number when the slip is gone, see our USPS tracking lost receipt guide. If you need to talk to someone, the USPS customer service number is 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777), and our page on USPS tracking number customer service explains what agents can and can’t look up. Have the mailing date, addresses and receipt photo ready, as with any customer support call.
How can you avoid losing the tracking number next time?
Ask for an emailed receipt at the counter, or create labels online so the tracking number lives in your account and inbox. ParcelPath is a free way to create USPS and UPS labels with tracking on every shipment, no subscription or per-label fees, and up to 89% off USPS. You can compare live USPS rates in the ParcelPath calculator, read more about discounted shipping for online sellers, or browse other shipping services and solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the label number on a USPS receipt?
The label number on a USPS receipt is the tracking number. USPS’s own help pages say the sales receipt shows the label number, also known as the USPS Tracking number. It’s printed inside the block for each item you mailed, usually as a 22-digit domestic number or a 13-character international code ending in US.
How many digits is the tracking number on a USPS receipt?
Domestic tracking numbers on USPS receipts are usually 22 digits, sometimes printed in spaced groups of four. International items use 13 characters: two letters, nine digits and “US.” Shorter numbers on the receipt, such as the transaction number, ZIP Code or clerk ID, are not tracking numbers and won’t return results in USPS Tracking.
Can the Post Office look up my tracking number if I lost my receipt?
Generally no. USPS says Care Center agents and local Post Offices don’t have a way to recover lost tracking numbers. Check your email for an electronic receipt, your online label history or the label on the item. A recipient should ask the sender, and Informed Delivery users may see incoming packages on their dashboard.
Does every USPS receipt include a tracking number?
No. A receipt shows a tracking number only for items that include tracking, such as Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, USPS Ground Advantage, or mail sent with Certified Mail or another extra service. Stamped First-Class Mail letters, flats and postcards have no tracking number unless you add one of those services.
How long can I track a package with the number from my receipt?
USPS keeps standard tracking history available for 120 days, so the number on your receipt will keep returning results for about four months. After that, the record drops off USPS.com. If you may need proof of delivery later, save a screenshot of the tracking page or keep the receipt with your records.
Sources
- USPS FAQ: How to find your tracking number
- USPS FAQ: USPS Tracking, The Basics
- USPS: Mail and Shipping Services (which services include tracking)
- USPS: Contact Us
Part of our USPS Tracking guide. Related: USPS Tracking Not Updating, USPS Tracking Not Updating After Drop Off.
