USPS Certified Mail tracking
By Justin Winter · Updated August 20, 2026
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: it is what courts, the IRS, and government agencies specifically recognize as proof of mailing.
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.
Common questions
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 separate, signed proof-of-delivery record — who signed, and when. Courts, the IRS, and most agencies accept it. Almost nobody needs the old paper "green card" anymore: the electronic version is faster, cannot get lost in the mail, and costs less ($2.91 vs $4.42 at USPS retail rates).