Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Mail
Certificate of Mailing
Proof of Mailing
When you need proof from the United States Postal Service (USPS) that you mailed a letter to someone you might think that Certified Mail is the best way to go. However there is a less costly solution depending on exactly what your needs are. A Certificate of Mailing provides proof that you MAILED a letter to a SPECIFIC ADDRESS. It does not contain tracking, it does not tell you if someone ever received the piece; it simply is proof from the USPS that they accepted a letter from a specific sender that was addressed to a specific address.
If you need mail piece tracking or notice of delivery, you may be more interested in Certified Mail.
What is a Certificate of Mailing (USPS Form 3877)
A Certificate of Mailing (COM) is an official document issued by the United States Postal Service that confirms your mail was presented to the USPS on a specific date. Sometimes referred to as USPS Form 3877 or a firmbook mailing, a Certificate of Mailing can serve as confirmation that you sent a piece of mail.
Unlike services that include tracking or delivery confirmation, a Certificate of Mailing does not verify when or whether a recipient received the piece of mail. Instead, it confirms only that the mail was accepted by the USPS on a particular date. For many use cases, that confirmation of mailing is sufficient to meet documentation or deadline requirements without the added cost of certified or tracked mail. Be sure to check with your legal counsel for your own requirements.
Certificate of Mailing Eligibility
Not all mailings qualify for a Certificate of Mailing through LetterStream. To be eligible, your mailing must be sent as First-Class Mail and include more than five recipients. Mailings must be sent in standard-sized envelopes, with up to fifteen sheets of paper per recipient.
Certificates of Mailing cannot be added to jobs that have already been mailed. The feature must be enabled in advance and selected during job setup to be included.
For smaller mailings of five letters or fewer, Certified Mail may be a better option.
How to Request a Certificate of Mailing
Certificates of Mailing must be enabled on your LetterStream account before a mailing has been submitted. To request access, an account Administrator must email LetterStream Support and ask for the Certificate of Mailing feature to be added to the account.
Once access has been enabled, you can build your mailing job as usual. Before placing the job in your shopping cart, select the option labeled “Add Certificate of Mailing.” This selection will be available on the page just before the shopping cart for jobs that qualify, and it must be added prior to submission.
Pricing and Delivery
The cost for a Certificate of Mailing is $24.95 per job, plus $2.40 per recipient. After your job has been mailed, your Certificate of Mailing will be available within your LetterStream account within three business days.Is a Certificate of Mailing the Right Choice?
A Certificate of Mailing is a practical solution when you need confirmation that mail was sent on a specific date, particularly for larger mailings where delivery tracking is not required. It provides USPS documentation without the added cost of signature confirmation or delivery monitoring.
If your use case requires proof of delivery, recipient signatures, or mail tracking, Certified Mail may be a better fit. If you’re unsure which option best meets your needs, the LetterStream team can help guide you toward the appropriate service.
