USPS Certified Mail tracking
By Justin Winter · Updated August 20, 2026
The short answer
Every USPS Certified Mail piece gets its own 20-digit tracking number, scanned at each step from acceptance to delivery — usually 3–5 business days — and you can add an electronic Return Receipt to get the recipient's signature and delivery time as a standalone proof-of-delivery document.
Certified Mail is USPS's tracked delivery service for letters — the tool people reach for when they need to prove something was mailed, and later, that it arrived. Here is what actually happens to the piece after it is accepted.
What each scan means
- AcceptedUSPS has the piece and assigned the tracking number.
- In TransitMoving between USPS facilities toward the delivery post office.
- ArrivedAt the facility that will deliver it — usually the last stop.
- Out for DeliveryOn the mail carrier's route for that day.
- DeliveredPlaced in the mailbox or handed over, with a timestamp.
Certified Mail vs. tracking alone
Plain First-Class mail can add tracking for $0.99, which tells you where the piece is — but it is not a legal service level, and it does not create the same kind of formal mailing record. Certified Mail is a distinct USPS service that produces a USPS mailing record, the standard choice when the mailing date matters.
What we email you automatically
- The tracking number and a shareable, no-login tracking page.
- Every scan event, as it happens.
- The electronic Return Receipt (delivery record with signature) when it arrives, if you added it.
Related: what certified mail costs, what certified mail actually is, or Certified vs. Priority Mail.
Questions before you send
Why not go to the post office myself?
You can, and if your time is free it costs less. USPS charges the same fees whoever hands the letter over; paperplane does not replace the post office, it replaces the trip. The mailing record comes from USPS, not from us. $12.99 covers the printing, the envelope, PS Form 3800, a USPS address check before you pay and a handoff the next business day. For a letter you already know how to send, the counter is a fine choice.
Are other online services cheaper for Certified Mail?
Some are. Label services cost less if you own a printer and will mail the envelope yourself. paperplane is for when you want it done: no account, no printer, the exact pages previewed free, your address checked with USPS before you pay, and one all-in price. The certified mail services comparison has the table.
If something goes wrong, do I pay?
If we cannot mail the letter, the hold on your card is released and you are not charged. If a letter fails after your card is charged, you are refunded automatically and in full.
How do I track a Certified Mail piece?
Enter the 20-digit tracking number (it starts with 9407 or 9370) at USPS.com/tracking, or if you sent it through paperplane, use the shareable tracking link we email you — no login required.
How long does Certified Mail take?
Certified Mail travels with First-Class service, so delivery is typically 3–5 business days after it is accepted by USPS. Certified adds tracking and a delivery record — it does not speed up transit.
Does Certified Mail require a signature?
The base Certified Mail service does not require a signature by default — it is scanned as delivered when placed in the mailbox in most cases. If you need a recorded signature, add the electronic Return Receipt.
What is the electronic Return Receipt, and do I need it?
It is a signed USPS delivery record, as its own document: who signed, and when. Most senders no longer need the old paper "green card": the electronic version is faster, cannot get lost in the mail, and costs less at the counter. Check whether your deadline or court accepts electronic receipts.