Send Certified Mail online
By Justin Winter · Updated July 27, 2026
The short answer
You can send USPS Certified Mail entirely online in about two minutes: upload your document or paste your text, enter the addresses, and pay $12.99 all-in ($14.99 with an electronic Return Receipt) — we print it, mail it with USPS Certified service the next business day, and email you the tracking and proof.
The math
The math on one certified letter.
| Option | Cost | Your time |
|---|---|---|
| paperplane, Certified + Return Receipt | $14.99, all in | About two minutes |
| At the counter | USPS fees, plus printing, an envelope and the trip | About ten minutes at the counter, plus the drive and the line |
USPS charges the same fees whoever hands the letter over. The difference is the trip, the form and the slip you keep for a year.
What it costs.
One all-in price, printing, envelope, postage and the Certified fee included:
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Certified Mail, one page | $12.99 |
| Certified Mail with electronic Return Receipt, one page | $14.99 |
| Each extra page | $0.25 |
| Color printing, per page | $0.50 |
At the post office you pay USPS's counter fees plus your own printing, an envelope and the trip. Some online services charge less, and the certified mail services comparison shows which. The price here is the price at checkout.
When you should use Certified Mail
- Security deposit demands — provable notice matters if the landlord later says it never arrived.
- Notice to your landlord or tenant — lease terminations, repair demands, notices to vacate.
- IRS and state tax correspondence — proof you responded by the deadline.
- Insurance claims and appeals — start the clock provably.
- Demand letters before small claims court — many small claims courts ask whether you sent one.
- Contract cancellations — gyms, timeshares, services with certified-mail cancellation clauses.
How it works here
- Paste your letter text (we typeset it) or upload a PDF.
- Enter recipient and return addresses — we verify deliverability against USPS data before you pay.
- Pay with card or Apple Pay. We print and mail next business day.
- You get the tracking number, every scan event by email, and the electronic Return Receipt when it delivers.
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.
What does Certified Mail actually prove?
Proof that you mailed something on a specific date, plus USPS tracking to delivery. Adding an electronic Return Receipt also gives you the a signed USPS delivery record.
Is online Certified Mail as legally valid as going to the post office?
Yes. The USPS Certified service is identical regardless of who hands the piece to USPS. Your proof of mailing and delivery record come from USPS, not from us.
How long does delivery take?
Certified Mail travels with First-Class service: typically 3–5 business days after we mail it, and we hand it to USPS the next business day after you order.
Do I need the green card (physical return receipt)?
Almost never. The electronic Return Receipt gives you a signed USPS delivery record, arrives faster and cannot be lost in the mail. Check whether your deadline or court accepts electronic receipts.