You can track a USPS money order using the receipt number printed on your receipt

When you buy a money order at the post office, you receive a receipt with a serial number on it. That number is your tracking tool. Go to the USPS website, enter that serial number into their money order tracking system, and you will see whether the money order has been cashed and by whom. The tracking is free and takes about two minutes.

The catch is timing: USPS money order tracking only works after the recipient has cashed it. If you are trying to find out whether someone received it or whether it got lost in the mail, tracking will not help until they deposit it. For money orders still in transit, you have different options.

Key Takeaways

  • You need the serial number from your money order receipt to track it on the USPS website — the receipt is the only proof you have that you bought it.
  • Tracking only shows you whether the money order has been cashed, not whether it arrived at the recipient's address.
  • If a money order has not been cashed after two weeks, contact USPS to report it lost and request a replacement.
  • USPS money orders can be replaced if lost or stolen, but you must have your receipt with the serial number.
  • If you sent the money order by mail and it never arrived, you may need to file a claim with USPS for the full amount.

How to use the USPS money order tracking tool

Go to the USPS website and look for the money order tracking section. You will enter the serial number from your receipt — this is an 11-digit number printed on the stub you keep. The system will show you the status: whether it has been cashed, the date it was cashed, and the location where it was cashed.

The tracking updates within one to two business days after the money order is cashed. If you sent it by mail, add the delivery time to that. So if you mailed a money order on Monday and it arrived Wednesday, you might not see it marked as cashed until Friday or later.

Keep your receipt in a safe place until you confirm the money order has been cashed. The receipt is your only proof you bought it, and you will need it if anything goes wrong.

What to do if the money order shows as uncashed after two weeks

If two weeks have passed since you sent the money order and the tracking system shows it has not been cashed, contact USPS. Call 1-800-ASK-USPS or visit your local post office with your receipt. USPS can investigate whether the money order is lost in the mail or whether the recipient received it but has not cashed it yet.

If USPS confirms the money order is lost, you can request a replacement. They will issue a new money order for the same amount at no charge. This process usually takes five to seven business days. You will receive the replacement money order by mail or can pick it up at your local post office, depending on what you arrange with USPS.

How to replace a lost or stolen money order

To replace a money order, you must have your receipt with the serial number. Go to your local post office and tell the clerk you need to file a claim for a lost or stolen money order. Bring the receipt with you. The clerk will look up the money order in the system and confirm whether it has been cashed.

If it has not been cashed, USPS will issue a replacement immediately or within a few business days. If it has already been cashed, USPS cannot issue a replacement — the money has been delivered to whoever cashed it. This is why tracking early matters: if you notice a problem before the money order is cashed, you can stop it.

If the money order was cashed by someone other than the intended recipient, you have a fraud claim. USPS will investigate, but the process is slow and recovery is not may provide. This is another reason to track your money order as soon as the recipient should have received it.

If you mailed the money order and it never arrived

If you sent a money order by regular mail and the recipient says they never got it, you have two problems: the money order may be lost in the mail, or it may have arrived and been cashed without the recipient's knowledge. Check the tracking first to see if it has been cashed. If it has, the money order reached someone — whether that was the intended recipient is a separate question.

If the tracking shows it has not been cashed after three weeks, file a claim with USPS for the full amount of the money order. You will need your receipt. USPS will investigate the mail stream and may issue a replacement or refund. The investigation can take several weeks.

If the money order was cashed by someone other than the intended recipient and you have proof (the tracking shows a location far from where you sent it, for example), report it to USPS as fraud. Bring your receipt and any other documentation you have. USPS will file a report, but recovery depends on whether they can identify the person who cashed it.

Why USPS money order tracking is limited

USPS money order tracking only tells you whether the money order has been cashed — it does not tell you whether it arrived at the address you sent it to. A money order can be cashed anywhere in the country at any post office, bank, or check-cashing location that accepts them. So if you sent a money order to your sister in Boston and the tracking shows it was cashed in Miami, that is a red flag.

The tracking also does not show you the name of the person who cashed it, only the location. This is a security feature to protect the person who cashed it, but it means you cannot confirm the recipient's identity through tracking alone.

If you need proof that a specific person received the money order, send it by certified mail instead. Certified mail requires a signature and gives you a tracking number that shows delivery to a specific address. Money orders sent by certified mail cost more but give you stronger proof of delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel a money order I already sent?

No, not once it is in the mail. If the money order has not been cashed yet, you can contact USPS and request a replacement, which effectively stops the original. But you cannot cancel it outright. This is why tracking matters — if you realize you made a mistake, you want to know before the recipient cashes it.

What if the recipient says they cashed the money order but I do not see it in my bank account?

Check the tracking to confirm it was actually cashed. If the tracking shows it has been cashed but the money did not reach you, the recipient may have cashed it at a location other than your bank. Ask them which bank or post office they used and when. Then contact that location to confirm the transaction. If they cashed it at a different bank, that bank may hold the funds for a few business days before transferring them.

How long does USPS keep money order tracking records?

USPS keeps records for money orders for several years. Even if you lost your receipt, you may be able to look up a money order if you remember the approximate date you bought it and the amount. Contact USPS with those details and they can search their system, though it will take longer than using your serial number.

Can someone else track my money order if they have the serial number?

Yes. The serial number is printed on the money order itself and on your receipt. If someone has access to either, they can check whether it has been cashed. This is why you should keep your receipt in a safe place and not share the serial number with anyone except the intended recipient.

What if I bought a money order but never sent it and now I cannot find it?

Contact USPS with your receipt. If the money order has not been cashed, USPS can issue a replacement. If it has been cashed, you will need to file a fraud claim if you did not authorize the transaction. Keep your receipt safe — without it, USPS cannot help you.