What is proof of mailing?
By Justin Winter · Updated August 22, 2026
The short answer
Proof of mailing shows you sent something on a specific date; proof of delivery shows it arrived. USPS offers three levels: Certificate of Mailing, Certified Mail, and Certified Mail with a signed Return Receipt. Through paperplane, Certified is $12.99 and $14.99.
"Proof of mailing" is not one specific product — it is the general idea of having documentation that you sent something on a given date. How much proof you need, and what kind, depends entirely on what you are trying to show and to whom. Here is how it breaks down with USPS.
The three ways to get it
| Method | What it proves | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Mailing | You handed a specific piece to USPS on a specific date. | Whether it was ever delivered, or when. |
| Certified Mail | You mailed it, plus a tracking number that records delivery. | Who signed for it, unless you add Return Receipt. |
| Certified + electronic Return Receipt | You mailed it, it was delivered, and who signed for it — as a standalone document. | Nothing left uncovered for most legal and administrative purposes. |
Which one to pick
Start with what you actually need to prove. If a dispute would only ever turn on whether you sent something in time — a lot of notice deadlines work this way — a Certificate of Mailing is the leanest option that still gives you a USPS-dated record. If you want that same proof of sending plus the ability to track the piece and confirm it moved, Certified Mail is the standard choice for legal notices, IRS correspondence, and lease disputes. If the other side might claim they never received it, add electronic Return Receipt so you have their signature and delivery time as its own document.
Pricing
| Service | Price | Proves |
|---|---|---|
| First-Class | $0.99 | Basic send confirmation, no formal USPS record. |
| Certified Mail | $12.99 | Proof of mailing + USPS tracking. |
| Certified + electronic Return Receipt | $14.99 | Proof of mailing + a signed USPS delivery record. |
| Priority | $24.99 | Fast delivery (1–3 days); add Certified for formal proof. |
We print it, stamp it, and hand it to USPS. Every price is all-in: postage, printing and the envelope included. The price on the page is the price at checkout.
This is general information about USPS mailing options, not legal advice about what proof a specific deadline or dispute requires.
Related: Certificate of Mailing explained, what Certified Mail is, or the full Certified Mail cost breakdown.
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.
Does a First-Class stamp give me proof of mailing?
On its own, no — a dropped-in-the-mailbox letter leaves no record. Through paperplane, every letter (including $0.99 First-Class) gets a dated confirmation that it was printed and handed to USPS, but that confirmation is not a USPS-generated legal document the way a Certified Mail receipt is.
Is proof of mailing the same as proof of delivery?
No, and this is the most common mix-up. Proof of mailing shows when you sent something. Proof of delivery shows when — and to whom — it arrived. Certified Mail gives you the first automatically and the second only if you add electronic Return Receipt.
Which option do I need for a legal deadline?
If a statute or contract cares about the date you sent something (many notice deadlines do), Certified Mail at $12.99 is the standard choice for notices where the mailing date matters. If you also need to prove the other party received it, add electronic Return Receipt for $14.99. This is general information, not legal advice — check the specific deadline language or ask an attorney if the stakes are high.