Certified mail
What is the difference between certified mail and registered mail?
Updated · By the SendMyLettersOnline team
Certified Mail gives you proof of mailing and a delivery record with a signature, and is the usual choice for legal notices. Registered Mail is the most secure USPS service: the item is logged and kept under controlled custody at every step, can be insured for its declared value, costs more and is slower.
| Certified Mail | Registered Mail | |
|---|---|---|
| Proof of mailing | Yes | Yes |
| Signature at delivery | Yes | Yes |
| Chain of custody | No | Yes, signed at each handoff |
| Insurance | Not available | Available, up to the USPS limit |
| Speed | Same as First-Class Mail | Slower |
| Typical use | Legal notices, disputes, cancellations | Valuables, irreplaceable documents |
| Price | Lower | Higher; check USPS prices |
Which one to choose
If you are sending a letter and need to prove it was sent and received, Certified Mail with a return receipt is what most leases, contracts and agencies expect. Choose Registered Mail when the item itself is valuable or irreplaceable. If a law or contract names one of the two, use that one.
Both can add a return receipt
Neither service sends you the signature by default. Add a Return Receipt (green card or electronic) to either to get the signed proof. See return receipt online.
Quick answers
Is registered mail more legally valid than certified mail?
Not in general; both are proof-of-delivery services. It depends on what the statute or contract requires.
Do you send registered mail?
No. We send First-Class Mail and USPS Certified Mail, with or without an electronic return receipt.
Can I insure certified mail?
Certified Mail has no insurance. Use Registered Mail or an insured service at the post office for valuables.
What to do next
For a notice, demand or cancellation, Certified Mail with a return receipt is usually the right proof. Send it online.
Send certified mailSources
- USPS: Insurance & Extra Services
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 503: Extra Services
- USPS Notice 123: current prices
Checked: . General information, not legal advice. Fees and rules change: confirm current values at the official links above.