What is the USPS tracking number and how to find it?

Track your mail or package with USPS tracking number

If you want to send mail or a package in the United States, one of the most popular choices is definitely the United States Postal Service, thanks to its delivery efficiency. Most importantly, it also provides a tracking feature for customers. This article will explain to you what the USPS tracking number is, as well as how to check your parcel status with it. Let’s get started!

When was the “United States Postal Service” founded?

United States Postal Service or USPS, also called Post Office U.S. Mail, is the largest postal service in the United States. The latter was officially founded in 1971 and is now an independent agent under the United States federal government. Thus, it is legally obligated to provide the same quality of service to every American citizen at a uniform price.

Moreover, these postal services are available in every area of the United States, including the Freely Associated States (like the Republic of Palau) and the insular area (such as Navassa Island, U.S. Virgin Islands, etc.).

What is the USPS tracking number?

In almost every package delivered by the USPS, there is a tracking number, also called label or article number, that allows customers to follow the delivery process in every step. With the latter, you are able to access all of your shipping information while it keeps you updated on where your package is at in real-time.

Normally, USPS’s tracking number is included without any charge if you ship with the following services:

  • USPS tracking
  • Registered mail
  • Priority mail and priority mail express
  • Certified mail
  • Collect on delivery hold for pickup
  • Global express guaranteed
  • Priority mail international or priority mail express international
  • Signature confirmation

What does the USPS tracking number look like?

The USPS tracking number generally comes with 22 digits. The numbers are always unique and vary from the postal service you take. Here are the sample numbers of each USPS service:

  • US Post Office:
    The number will start with 9400, such as 9400 1XXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX.
  • Registered mail:
    This one starts with 9208 8XXX and is followed by the rest of the numbers.
  • Priority mail:
    This tracking number begins with 9205 5XXX and is followed by the remaining 14 digits.
  • Priority mail express:
    Will look like this: 9270 1XXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX including EA 123 456 789 US.
  • Certified mail:
    This number starts as follows: 9407 3XXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX.
  • Collect on delivery hold for pickup:
    Starts with 9303 3XXX and is then followed by the rest of the numbers.
  • Global express guaranteed:
    For Global express guaranteed, there are 10 digits only instead of 22 and will look like 82 XXX XXX XX.
  • Priority mail international:
    The tracking number for international shipment is a bit different from others because they will begin with “CP”, followed by 9 digits, and end with the letters “US”. For instance, CP 123 456 789 US.
  • Priority mail express international:
    For the priority mail express international, the tracking number usually looks like this: EC 123 456 789 US.
  • Signature confirmation:
    And finally, this last one will look like this: 9202 1XXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX.

Where can you find the USPS tracking number?

You can easily find the USPS tracking number of your package in the following places:

On the package

If you use one of the USPS services as we mentioned above, you will automatically get the tracking number for your parcel at no extra cost. Normally, the carrier will apply the label including a series of numeric digits on the package before the shipment.

In case you ship with another service that’s not included in the list, you might have to pay an additional charge for the tracking number.

On receipts

Another place you can look for the tracking number is your shipping receipt given by a USPS officer. Search for long numbers indicated on that paper and then enter them on the USPS official website to view shipment information.

Moreover, you can also find the label number on the sales receipt as well if you bought the insurance at the USPS office.

Confirmation mail

When you order products online or ship your parcel via an online postage service, the USPS will automatically send the tracking number as well as other details about your shipment in your emails.

How do you track your USPS parcel?

Once you found the article number of your package, below are the step-by-step instructions to follow your shipment online:

  • Go to USPS.com
  • Then, you will see a blank search bar on the top of the welcome page.
  • Enter your tracking number in the search bar. If you have more than one parcel, you can separate the items with a comma.
  • Click on the search button and your shipment status will appear.

In addition, you can check the status of your package via SMS as well. Just text your tracking number to 28777. After that, you will receive an SMS indicating the current status of your shipment within 5 minutes.

The USPS has been considered one of the most popular delivery services because of its intelligent tracking system. With USPS, you can be sure that your packages will be forwarded to the final destination. Besides, now you know that you can easily track your items by using the tracking number! We hope this article will be useful.

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