USPS Mail Forwarding: Change of Address, Cost, Timeline, Packages, Temporary Moves, and How It Works

Quick Answer: What Is USPS Mail Forwarding?

USPS mail forwarding is a service that redirects eligible mail from your old address to your new address after you submit a Change of Address request with the United States Postal Service.

Most people use USPS mail forwarding when they move to a new home, stay somewhere temporarily, relocate for work, attend college, spend part of the year at another address, or need extra time to update their address with banks, employers, government agencies, subscriptions, and other senders.

For most residential moves, Standard Forward Mail with a Change of Address is the normal option.

USPS Mail Forwarding at a Glance

Important Warning: Use the Official USPS Change of Address Page

Many people searching for USPS mail forwarding are moving quickly, which makes them vulnerable to unofficial change-of-address websites. Some third-party websites may look official but charge extra fees for submitting information that you can submit directly through USPS.

To stay safe:

• Use the official USPS website for online Change of Address.
• Visit a local Post Office if you prefer to submit the request in person.
• Avoid websites that charge large “processing” or “assistance” fees.
• Do not enter payment information on suspicious pages.
• Save your USPS confirmation code.
• Read USPS confirmation letters carefully.

USPS Mail Forwarding vs Change of Address

People often use “USPS mail forwarding” and “USPS change of address” as if they mean the same thing, but there is a small difference.

A Change of Address is the request you file with USPS to tell them you moved.

Mail forwarding is the process that happens after your Change of Address request becomes active. USPS redirects eligible mail from your old address to your new address.

How USPS Mail Forwarding Works

USPS mail forwarding works by using your Change of Address request to reroute eligible mailpieces from your old address to your new address.

Here is the basic process:

1. You submit a Change of Address request.
2. You choose individual, family, or business forwarding.
3. You choose permanent or temporary forwarding.
4. You enter your old address.
5. You enter your new address.
6. You select the forwarding start date.
7. USPS verifies your identity.
8. USPS begins redirecting eligible mail after the start date.
9. Forwarded mail may arrive with a forwarding label.
10. You update important accounts directly with your new address.

USPS mail forwarding is a transition tool. It helps catch mail while you update your address, but it should not be treated as a permanent replacement for changing your address with important senders.

How to Forward Mail with USPS

You can forward mail through USPS in two main ways: online or in person at a Post Office.

How to Submit a Change of Address Online

The online method is usually the fastest option for most people.

General steps:

1. Go to the official USPS Change of Address page.
2. Choose whether the move is individual, family, or business.
3. Choose permanent or temporary move.
4. Enter your old address.
5. Enter your new address.
6. Choose your forwarding start date.
7. Verify your identity.
8. Pay the identity verification fee if required.
9. Review your information carefully.
10. Submit the request.
11. Save your confirmation code.

Before submitting, double-check the spelling of the street name, apartment number, ZIP Code, move type, and forwarding start date.

How to Submit a Change of Address at the Post Office

You can also submit a Change of Address request in person.

General steps:

1. Visit a local Post Office.
2. Ask for the Change of Address form.
3. Fill in your old address.
4. Fill in your new address.
5. Choose individual, family, or business.
6. Choose permanent or temporary.
7. Enter the forwarding start date.
8. Submit the form.
9. Keep any confirmation information.

This option can be helpful if online identity verification does not work or if you prefer not to submit the request online.

USPS Mail Forwarding Cost

Standard USPS mail forwarding through a Change of Address request does not usually have a monthly forwarding fee. If you submit the request online, USPS may charge a small identity verification fee. If you submit the request in person, standard forwarding is typically free.

Premium Forwarding Service and Extended Mail Forwarding are different. They are paid services.

Be careful with third-party sites. If a website charges a large fee just to change your address, it may not be the official USPS process.

How Long Does USPS Mail Forwarding Last?

For a permanent Change of Address, USPS generally forwards eligible First-Class Mail for 12 months. Periodicals are usually forwarded for 60 days. Other mail classes may have different rules.

The safest approach is to update your address directly with important senders as soon as possible.

Temporary vs Permanent USPS Mail Forwarding

When you file a Change of Address, you need to choose whether your move is temporary or permanent.

Choose permanent forwarding if you moved for good. Choose temporary forwarding if you will return to your old address.

Does USPS Mail Forwarding Include Packages?

USPS mail forwarding may include some packages, but not every package is handled the same way. Whether a package forwards depends on the shipping service, mail class, sender instructions, and current USPS rules.

USPS forwarding mainly applies to mail and packages handled by USPS. Packages shipped entirely by UPS, FedEx, DHL, Amazon, or another private carrier may not be affected by USPS forwarding unless USPS is involved in final delivery.

For packages, the safest step is to update your shipping address directly with online stores, subscriptions, marketplaces, and senders.

What Mail Does USPS Forward?

USPS forwarding works best for eligible First-Class Mail and some other mail types.

Mail that may forward includes:

• Personal letters
• Bills
• Bank statements
• Credit card statements
• Insurance notices
• Some government letters
• Some packages
• Some legal or official notices
• Periodicals for a limited time
• Important mail sent by eligible services

Even when mail is eligible, delivery may take longer because it has to be rerouted.

What Mail Does USPS Not Forward?

Not everything forwards.

Mail that may not forward includes:

• Most USPS Marketing Mail
• Some catalogs
• Some local advertising mail
• Some restricted mail
• Some package services mail
• Some sender-restricted mail
• Mail after the forwarding period ends
• Mail sent to a wrong name
• Mail addressed incorrectly
• Private carrier packages not handled by USPS
• Some subscriptions or membership mail

This is why USPS forwarding should be used as a backup, not your only address update method.

USPS Premium Forwarding Service

USPS Premium Forwarding Service is a paid option for customers who want more control over when and where they receive mail.

Instead of normal piece-by-piece forwarding, Premium Forwarding Service can send mail in scheduled shipments, often weekly, depending on the service type. USPS describes its Premium Forwarding Service options as services for residential and business customers who want flexibility and control over mail while relocating or managing business mail.

Premium Forwarding may be useful if:

• You are away temporarily.
• You want mail bundled and shipped.
• You are a seasonal resident.
• You want more predictable mail delivery.
• You do not want standard piece-by-piece forwarding.
• You need mail sent to a temporary address for a set period.

Most people moving permanently do not need Premium Forwarding. Standard forwarding is usually enough.

Standard Mail Forwarding vs Premium Forwarding

Extended Mail Forwarding

Extended Mail Forwarding is a paid option that can extend forwarding beyond the standard permanent forwarding period. USPS says Extended Mail Forwarding is available in 6-, 12-, or 18-month increments and is only available for permanent Change of Address orders.

Extended forwarding may help if:

• You still receive important mail at your old address.
• You forgot to update some accounts.
• You moved after many years at one address.
• You manage many subscriptions or accounts.
• You want extra protection against missed mail.

But Extended Mail Forwarding should still be used as a backup. You should update banks, government agencies, employers, subscriptions, and other important senders directly.

Individual, Family, and Business Mail Forwarding

When submitting a Change of Address, you usually need to choose individual, family, or business.

Individual Mail Forwarding

Choose individual if only one person is moving or if you live with roommates and only your mail should forward.

Family Mail Forwarding

Choose family if everyone with the same last name is moving from the old address to the same new address.

Business Mail Forwarding

Choose business if a business is changing addresses.

Choosing the wrong option can cause mail forwarding problems. For example, if only one roommate is moving, do not choose family forwarding.

USPS Mail Forwarding for Roommates and Families

Roommates and mixed-last-name households should be careful.

If you are unsure, individual forwarding is often safer because it reduces the chance of forwarding someone else’s mail.

USPS Mail Forwarding for Businesses

Businesses can use USPS mail forwarding when moving to a new location. This is important because missed business mail can affect invoices, customer communication, tax notices, legal documents, vendor accounts, and banking.

Businesses should also update:

• IRS records
• State business registration
• Bank accounts
• Vendor accounts
• Insurance policies
• Business licenses
• Google Business Profile
• Website contact pages
• Payment processors
• Customers and clients
• Local directories
• Shipping and billing addresses

USPS forwarding helps during the transition, but businesses should update important senders directly as soon as possible.

USPS Mail Forwarding for Military Moves

Military moves may involve special mailing situations, especially for APO, FPO, and DPO addresses. Families moving because of military orders should check USPS and military postal guidance before relying only on standard forwarding.

This is especially important for overseas moves, deployment-related changes, and temporary assignments.

When Should You Start USPS Mail Forwarding?

It is best to submit your USPS Change of Address before you move, with enough time for the request to process.

A practical moving timeline:

Do not wait until after important mail has already gone to the old address.

How Long Does It Take for USPS Mail Forwarding to Start?

USPS mail forwarding does not always start instantly. It can take several business days for the request to process and for forwarded mail to begin arriving.

Mail may also arrive later than normal because it has to go through a rerouting process.

If you are waiting for something urgent, update the sender directly with your new address instead of relying only on forwarding.

Why Forwarded Mail Takes Longer

Forwarded mail often takes longer than normal mail because it has extra steps.

It may need to be:

1. Sent toward the old address.
2. Identified as forwarded mail.
3. Rerouted through USPS systems.
4. Re-labeled with the new address.
5. Sent to the new address.
6. Delivered after processing.

This can add extra days. That delay is normal, especially during the early days of a move.

How to Confirm USPS Mail Forwarding Is Working

You can confirm forwarding by watching for mail that arrives with forwarding labels or address correction marks.

You can also:

• Check your confirmation notice.
• Monitor mail at your new address.
• Ask the current resident or property manager at the old address if mail is still arriving.
• Use Informed Delivery if available.
• Contact important senders directly.
• Compare expected mail dates with actual arrivals.
• Confirm that your old and new addresses were entered correctly.

If no forwarded mail arrives after the start date, review your Change of Address confirmation and contact USPS if needed.

How to Change or Cancel USPS Mail Forwarding

If your move details change, you may be able to modify or cancel your Change of Address request.

You may need:

• Confirmation code
• Old address
• New address
• ZIP Code
• Identity verification details

Common reasons to change or cancel forwarding include:

• Move date changed
• New address entered incorrectly
• Temporary move ended early
• You selected permanent instead of temporary
• You moved again
• You chose family instead of individual
• You submitted duplicate requests

Fix mistakes as soon as possible because forwarding errors can delay or misdirect mail.

Common USPS Mail Forwarding Mistakes

1. Using an Unofficial Website

Some websites look official but charge extra fees. Use USPS directly or visit a Post Office.

2. Choosing Family When Only One Person Moves

This can forward mail for other people with the same last name.

3. Assuming All Packages Will Forward

Not every package is covered. Update online stores and shipping accounts directly.

4. Waiting Too Long to Update Banks

Forwarding is temporary. Banks and financial accounts should have your actual new address.

5. Forgetting Subscriptions

Magazines, boxes, catalogs, and membership mail may not forward the same way as First-Class Mail.

6. Entering the Wrong Apartment Number

A small address error can delay mail or stop forwarding from working correctly.

7. Choosing the Wrong Start Date

If the start date is too late, mail may continue going to the old address. If it is too early, mail may forward before you move.

8. Ignoring Confirmation Notices

USPS may send confirmation notices. Read them carefully to catch mistakes.

USPS Mail Forwarding Reviews: What Users Like and Dislike

USPS mail forwarding is useful, but user experiences vary. Many complaints come from timing delays, package confusion, wrong move type, and misunderstanding what mail is eligible.

What Users Usually Like

Common Complaints

The key point is that USPS forwarding is a transition service. It helps, but it is not perfect and should not replace direct address updates.

USPS Mail Forwarding Checklist Before You Move

Use this checklist before moving:

• File USPS Change of Address.
• Choose individual, family, or business correctly.
• Choose permanent or temporary correctly.
• Select the right forwarding start date.
• Save your confirmation code.
• Update banks and credit cards.
• Update employer payroll address.
• Update IRS and state tax accounts.
• Update DMV or license records.
• Update insurance providers.
• Update medical providers.
• Update schools.
• Update utilities.
• Update phone and internet providers.
• Update subscriptions.
• Update online shopping addresses.
• Notify friends and family.
• Watch for forwarded mail after moving.

Important Accounts to Update Directly

Do not rely only on USPS mail forwarding for important mail.

If an important sender still uses your old address after a few months, update that sender immediately.

USPS Mail Forwarding vs Informed Delivery

USPS mail forwarding and Informed Delivery are different services.

Informed Delivery can help you monitor expected mail, but it does not forward mail by itself.

USPS Mail Forwarding vs Hold Mail

Mail forwarding and Hold Mail are not the same.

Use Hold Mail if you are away for a short trip and want mail held. Use forwarding if you want mail sent to another address.

Is USPS Mail Forwarding Worth It?

Yes, USPS mail forwarding is worth using when you move. It gives you a safety net while you update your address with important senders.

However, it has limits. Some mail does not forward, some packages may not forward, and forwarded mail may arrive late. That is why the best approach is to file a Change of Address and then update your address directly everywhere important.

Final Verdict: How to Use USPS Mail Forwarding the Right Way

FAQs About USPS Mail Forwarding