USPS money orders are sold at any post office and work like a prepaid check — you pay the amount upfront, plus a small fee, and the recipient cashes it at their bank or post office

The United States Postal Service sells money orders at every post office location. You walk in, tell the clerk the amount you want (up to $1,000 per money order), hand over cash or a debit card, and receive a receipt and the money order itself. The fee varies by the amount ordered — typically between $1.45 and $2.00 for amounts under $500, and slightly more for larger amounts. You fill in the recipient's name, sign it, and mail it or hand it to them directly.

USPS money orders are useful when you need to send money through the mail but don't want to send cash, or when the person receiving it doesn't have a bank account. They're also useful when you need a paper trail — the money order receipt shows what you paid and when, which can matter for rent, security deposits, or court-ordered payments.

Key Takeaways

  • USPS money orders cost between $1.45 and $2.00 depending on the amount, with a maximum of $1,000 per money order.
  • You must fill in the recipient's name and sign the money order before it can be cashed, which prevents anyone else from using it if it's lost.
  • The money order receipt is your proof of purchase and shows the serial number — keep it until the recipient confirms they've cashed it.
  • USPS money orders can be cashed at any post office or most banks, making them widely accepted compared to other money order types.
  • If a money order is lost or stolen, you can file a claim with USPS using your receipt, though the process takes several weeks.

How to buy a USPS money order in person

Go to any post office during business hours with cash or a debit card. Tell the clerk you want a money order and the dollar amount. The clerk will print the money order and give you two things: the money order itself (which you fill out and send or give to the recipient) and a receipt (which you keep for your records). The receipt has a matching serial number to the money order, so you can track it if needed.

You don't need an account or ID to buy a USPS money order, though the clerk may ask for your address. If you're buying multiple money orders at once — for example, if you need to send $2,500 and the limit is $1,000 per order — you'll buy three separate money orders and pay three separate fees.

Filling out and sending a USPS money order

The money order has blank spaces for the recipient's name, your name, and a memo line. Write the recipient's full name in the "Pay to the Order of" field — this is the only person who can cash it. Write your name in the "From" field so they know who sent it. The memo line is optional but useful for noting what the payment is for (for example, "rent" or "security deposit").

Sign the money order in the designated box. Do not sign it before you're ready to send it — if someone else gets the unsigned money order, they can sign it themselves and cash it. Once it's signed and addressed, you can mail it in a regular envelope or hand it to the recipient directly. USPS does not track money orders the way it tracks registered mail, so mailing it is a normal risk — if it's lost in transit, you'll need to file a claim.

Where the recipient can cash a USPS money order

USPS money orders can be cashed at any post office in the United States. The recipient brings the money order to a post office window, the clerk verifies it's been signed and filled out correctly, and they receive cash. Most banks also cash USPS money orders, though some charge a small fee (usually $2 to $5) or require the recipient to have an account. Credit unions vary — some cash them for members only, others for anyone.

The recipient does not need to have a bank account to cash a USPS money order. They can go to any post office and cash it the same day, which is one reason USPS money orders are useful for people without traditional banking.

Keeping your receipt and tracking a money order

The receipt you receive when you buy the money order is your proof of purchase. Keep it until the recipient tells you they've cashed it. The receipt shows the serial number of the money order, the amount, the date, and the fee you paid. If the recipient says they never got it, or if it was lost in the mail, you'll need this receipt to file a claim with USPS.

USPS does not offer real-time tracking for money orders the way it does for packages. You cannot check online to see if a money order has been cashed. Your only way to know is to ask the recipient directly, or to wait and see if the money appears in their account. If weeks pass and they say they never received it, contact your local post office with your receipt and serial number to start a claim.

Filing a claim if a money order is lost or stolen

If a money order is lost in the mail or stolen before it's cashed, you can file a claim with USPS. Bring your receipt to the post office where you bought the money order, or mail it to the address on the receipt. USPS will investigate whether the money order has been cashed. If it hasn't been cashed, they will issue you a replacement or refund.

The investigation process takes several weeks, sometimes longer. USPS will check whether anyone tried to cash the money order and under what name. If the money order was cashed by someone other than the intended recipient, USPS may be able to recover the funds, though this is not may provide. This is why signing the money order with the recipient's name is important — it makes it harder for someone else to cash it if it's stolen.

USPS money orders versus other payment methods

USPS money orders are cheaper than cashier's checks (which banks charge $10 to $15 for) and safer than sending cash through the mail. They're also more widely accepted than money orders from other sources — any post office or most banks will cash them. However, they have a $1,000 limit per order, so large payments require multiple money orders and multiple fees.

If you need to send money to someone out of state or internationally, USPS money orders work only within the United States. For international payments, wire transfers, or large amounts, other methods like bank transfers or wire services may be better. For local, in-person payments or small amounts mailed within the U.S., USPS money orders are straightforward and inexpensive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy a USPS money order online?

No. USPS money orders are sold only in person at post offices. You cannot order them online or by phone. You must visit a post office location during business hours, pay the amount in cash or with a debit card, and receive the money order on the spot.

What happens if I lose the receipt?

If you lose the receipt, you can still file a claim with USPS, but it will be harder. The receipt has the serial number, which USPS uses to track the money order. Without it, you'll need to remember the exact amount, the date you bought it, and which post office you bought it from. Contact your local post office and they can search their records, though this takes longer.

Can someone else cash a money order if I haven't signed it?

Yes. If you leave a money order unsigned, anyone who has it can sign their own name in the recipient field and cash it. Always sign the money order only when you're ready to send it, and make sure the recipient's name is filled in first. This prevents someone from finding or stealing it and cashing it themselves.

Is there a limit to how many money orders I can buy at once?

There is no official limit on the number of money orders you can buy in a single transaction, but each money order has a $1,000 maximum. If you need to send $5,000, you'll buy five separate money orders and pay five separate fees. Some post offices may ask questions if you're buying a very large number at once, as this can be a sign of fraud or money laundering, but the transaction itself is legal.

Do USPS money orders expire?

USPS money orders do not expire. They can be cashed at any time, even years after you buy them. However, if a money order is not cashed within a certain period (typically two to three years), USPS may stop honoring it, so it's best to cash or send them within a reasonable timeframe.