How much is a USPS money order? The fee is $2.65 for amounts up to $500 and $3.75 for $500.01 up to $1,000. You pay that fee on top of the face value printed on the order.
The price depends only on the amount. It does not change by branch or by who receives the order. USPS caps each domestic order at $1,000, so larger payments need extra orders.
How Much Is a USPS Money Order by Amount?
USPS uses two fee tiers for domestic orders. The tier is set by the face value of the order. A third, lower fee applies to military facilities.
| Face value | USPS fee |
|---|---|
| $0.01 to $500.00 | $2.65 |
| $500.01 to $1,000.00 (maximum) | $3.75 |
| Postal military money order (issued at military facilities) | $0.85 |
These fees match the official USPS money order page and Notice 123, the official price list. The July 12, 2026 edition shows the same figures.
What you actually pay at the counter
Add the fee to the face value to get your total. The fee never comes out of the order itself. The payee gets the full amount you chose.
| Face value | Fee | Total you pay |
|---|---|---|
| $40.00 | $2.65 | $42.65 |
| $500.00 | $2.65 | $502.65 |
| $500.01 | $3.75 | $503.76 |
| $900.00 | $3.75 | $903.75 |
| $1,000.00 | $3.75 | $1,003.75 |
Notice the jump at $500.01. One cent over $500 raises the fee by $1.10. If you are close to the line, check whether a round $500 order works for you.
How Much Does a USPS Money Order Cost for Larger Payments?
You can send up to $1,000 in a single order anywhere in the United States. If you owe $1,400, you buy two orders. A $1,000 order and a $400 order cost $3.75 plus $2.65 in fees.
Splitting an amount that fits under $1,000 usually costs more. A $900 payment as two $450 orders costs $5.30 in fees. One $900 order costs only $3.75.
Ask the person you are paying whether they accept several orders. Some landlords and agencies set their own limits or name a required payee.
How Much Does USPS Charge for Money Orders That Need Replacing?
Replacement costs depend on what went wrong. USPS replaces a damaged money order at no charge when you bring the receipt. A lost or stolen order carries a $23.00 processing fee.
| Situation | Cost | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Damaged money order | No charge | Replaced with your receipt |
| Lost or stolen money order | $23.00 processing fee | Investigation takes up to 60 days |
Keep the receipt from the day you buy. USPS uses it to track the order. Without it, a claim is much harder to start.
How to Pay for a USPS Money Order
USPS takes cash or a debit card. Credit cards are not accepted, and USPS says so on the money order page. If your only card is a credit card, withdraw cash first or use a debit card.
Buy the order at any Post Office. Bring the payee name, your own name and address, and the exact amount. Hours vary by location, so check what time USPS closes before you go.
Before you leave the counter
- Check that the amount printed on the order matches your receipt.
- Fill in the payee name right away. Do not leave it blank.
- Keep the receipt in a safe place, apart from the order.
How to Buy a USPS Money Order Step by Step
- Decide the face value, and add the $2.65 or $3.75 fee to get your total.
- Bring cash or a debit card to a Post Office. A credit card will not work.
- Tell the clerk the amount and who the payee is.
- Pay, then check the printed amount and the receipt before you leave.
- Keep the receipt until the payee has cashed the order.
The purchase itself is quick when the line is short. USPS does not publish counter wait times, so allow some extra time.
Who Uses Money Orders and Why the Fee Matters
People use money orders to pay rent, send a deposit, or pay a seller who will not take a personal check. They suit anyone without a checking account. Because the buyer pays the fee, it is part of the real cost of the payment.
How much is a usps money order for a $450 rent payment? It is $2.65, the same as a $100 order. So one order near the top of a tier gives you the most value per fee dollar.
For recurring payments, the fees add up. Twelve rent payments by $2.65 money orders cost $31.80 a year. Ask your landlord whether an online option is available instead.
Protecting Your Money Order
A money order is safe only if you handle it with care. Write the payee name in ink as soon as you buy it. An order made out to a name cannot be cashed by a stranger as easily as a blank one.
Never accept an overpayment scheme. Anyone who asks you to cash their money order and send back the difference may be passing a fake. Verify any order by its serial number, Post Office number and amount using the USPS tool before you act on it.
Do USPS Money Orders Expire?
No. USPS states that money orders never expire and do not earn interest. You can hold one for years and still cash it.
The longer you wait, the harder a lost order is to trace. Cash or deposit it soon after you receive it.
How to Cash or Check a Money Order
You can cash a USPS money order at any Post Office with a primary photo ID. Most banks and some retailers also cash them. Their rules and fees differ, so ask first.
To check an order, gather the serial number, the Post Office number, and the dollar amount. Enter them in the Money Orders application on the USPS site, or call 1-866-459-7822. For a replacement or formal inquiry, take your receipt to a local Post Office.
International Money Orders
There is no international fee to quote, because USPS no longer sells international money orders. Its send money overseas page states that plainly, and it also says USPS stopped cashing international money orders on October 1, 2025.
Older orders were capped at $700, or $500 for El Salvador and Guyana. If you still hold one, USPS says to file PS Form 6401 for an investigation, with payment issued 10 days after the form is processed. For sending money abroad today, you need a bank or a money transfer company instead.
Money Order vs Cash in the Mail
A money order is a safer way to send value than loose bills. It names a payee, and it can be traced and replaced if lost. Cash offers none of that, as explained in can you send cash in the mail.
Banks and some retailers sell money orders too, with their own fees. USPS publishes its fee in two tiers, which makes it easy to compare. Check the other seller’s fee before you decide.
You still need postage for the envelope. See current stamp prices for a letter.
For heavier mail, run the piece through the postage price calculator.
If you want proof of handling, read about Registered Mail steps and fees.
Bottom Line: How Much Is a USPS Money Order?
You pay $2.65 for orders up to $500 and $3.75 for orders from $500.01 to $1,000. The face value is extra. Pay with cash or a debit card, keep your receipt, and expect the $23.00 fee only if an order is lost or stolen.
When you plan the trip, check whether USPS is open today. In short, how much is a usps money order? Usually $2.65.
