Can you send cash in the mail? Yes with USPS, but regular mail repays you at most $15.00 if it disappears. Registered Mail is the only service that insures cash for its full value, up to $50,000.
Cash is allowed but poorly protected. Most senders are better off with a money order, and the rest of this guide shows when each option makes sense and what it costs.
Can you send cash in the mail with USPS?
USPS does not ban currency from the mail. Its own insurance rules say how cash is handled, which tells you it expects people to send it. The shipping restrictions page does not list cash as prohibited, and it also does not give any advice on mailing it.
The catch is the claim limit. USPS states in its cash and check insurance FAQ that for every class except Registered Mail, “the maximum indemnity for negotiable items, currency, or bullion is $15.00.” That applies even if you bought insurance or used a service that normally includes $100 of coverage.
So $200 in a Priority Mail box is, in practice, uninsured. If it goes missing, the most you can expect back is $15.00.
What happens if cash is lost in regular mail?
If the envelope vanishes, you can file a claim, but cash is hard to prove. USPS pays only the insured value after you show proof of value, and only the real value if that is lower. A sealed envelope with no receipt gives you very little to show.
Plain letters have no tracking either. Nobody can tell you where the envelope was last scanned. If you need to know the next steps, see how to file a claim with USPS.
The broader steps for a missing parcel are in what to do when USPS loses a package.
How do you insure cash with Registered Mail?
Registered Mail is built for valuables. USPS says cash sent this way can be insured up to $50,000. For amounts above that, you still declare the full value, but the maximum payout stays at $50,000.
You must take it to a Post Office counter and declare the value. The fee is charged on top of postage and rises with the declared value, as the table below shows. Our guide to Registered Mail costs and insurance covers the extras.
For the counter steps, see how to send Registered Mail.
| Declared value | Registered Mail fee (plus postage) |
|---|---|
| $0.01 to $100 | $21.50 |
| $100.01 to $500 | $25.00 |
| $500.01 to $1,000 | $28.10 |
| $1,000.01 to $2,000 | $31.20 |
| $2,000.01 to $3,000 | $34.30 |
| $3,000.01 to $4,000 | $37.40 |
| $4,000.01 to $5,000 | $40.50 |
Prices come from the July 12, 2026 edition of USPS Notice 123. Above $5,000, the fee is $40.50 plus $3.10 per $1,000.
How must cash be packed for Registered Mail?
The sealing rules are strict. Registered Mail must be securely sealed with glue, mucilage or plain tape. For currency, paper strips alone are not enough, so the envelope needs adhesive sealing first.
The tape should damage the envelope if someone peels it off and should take postmark ink. Padded envelopes, Tyvek mailers, plastic envelopes and glossy coated envelopes cannot be registered. USPS employees cannot seal the item for you, so bring it ready.
Business senders also have a rule of their own. Commercial cash transactions over $500 must go as Registered Mail. That requirement is for commercial customers, not for a family member mailing a gift.
Is a money order safer than cash?
For most people, yes. A money order is not worth anything to a thief who cannot cash it in your recipient’s name, and you keep a receipt that lets you trace or replace it. The USPS fee is $2.65 for amounts up to $500 and $3.75 for $500.01 to $1,000, with a $1,000 maximum per order.
That is far cheaper than the Registered Mail fee for the same amount. You still pay normal postage to mail it. Details are in our guide to how much a USPS money order costs.
Checks are another option, but USPS says checks are not cash and cannot be insured except for document reconstruction expense.
Can you send cash in the mail in a birthday card?
You can, and many people do, but the risk is the same as any other cash in a regular envelope. A card with bills inside can feel like money, and a lost card pays out $15.00 at most.
For a small gift, sending a gift card or a money order is safer. If you still choose cash, keep the amount low, use an opaque envelope, and write the recipient and return address clearly. Do not write “cash” or “money” on the outside.
How can you lower the risk if you still send cash in the mail?
Some steps help even though they do not add coverage. When you send cash in the mail this way, count the bills and write down the total before sealing. Keep the amount small enough that you could absorb the loss if the envelope never arrives.
Use an opaque envelope and wrap the bills in a sheet of paper so they cannot be seen or felt as easily. Address the envelope clearly, add a return address, and tell the recipient when to expect it. If it has not arrived within a few days, say so early instead of waiting.
Registered Mail adds a layer these tips cannot match. It is handled with extra security from the counter to delivery, and the item is tracked with a receipt. Only the addressee or an authorized agent can sign for it when restricted delivery applies.
What should you do if mailed cash never arrives?
Act quickly and gather proof. Keep your Registered Mail receipt, the declared value, and anything that shows the amount, such as a withdrawal slip. USPS pays only after you prove the value, and it tells senders to ask their local Post Office which documents count.
If you used a regular envelope, the claim cap is $15.00, so a claim rarely makes sense for larger sums. Ask the recipient to check with neighbors and the local Post Office first, then file the claim if the envelope stays missing.
Options compared
| Option | Cash coverage | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular letter or package | $15.00 maximum | Postage only | Very small gifts you can afford to lose |
| Registered Mail | Up to $50,000 | From $21.50 plus postage | Large amounts that must be cash |
| USPS money order | Replaceable with your receipt | $2.65 up to $500 | Most personal payments |
| UPS | Not accepted | Not applicable | Do not use for cash |
| FedEx | Not accepted | Not applicable | Do not use for cash |
To compare postage for the envelope itself, use the postage price calculator.
Not sure which service fits? The mail class selector narrows it down.
Can you send cash with UPS or FedEx?
Can you send cash in the mail with other carriers too? UPS lists “bank bills, notes or currency” other than coins as absolutely prohibited. FedEx is the same: its 2025 commodity restrictions guide marks “Cash and Currency” as an item FedEx Office will not pack, ship or hold, and FedEx terms exclude money from its services.
Insurance from other carriers does not change this. If you need to move cash, USPS Registered Mail is the realistic route.
Does Priority Mail insurance cover cash?
No. Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express and Ground Advantage include $100 of insurance, but the currency limit of $15.00 overrides that for cash. Extra insurance up to $5,000 does not change the cash limit either.
The USPS insurance overview page does not mention a cash exclusion, which is why the claim rules above matter. Read what Priority Mail insurance covers before buying coverage you assume will help.
Bottom line on mailing cash
You can send cash in the mail, but you carry the risk unless you use Registered Mail. For anything beyond pocket money, a money order costs less and leaves a paper trail. If cash is truly required, register it and declare the full value at the counter.
