USPS charges nothing for a basic address change online or by mail

The United States Postal Service does not charge a fee to file a change of address request through their official channels. You can submit one online at usps.com for free, mail in a form at no cost, or visit a post office and request one without paying anything. The postal service treats address changes as a standard service included in mail delivery.

However, the phrase "address change" covers several different requests, and some of them do carry fees. A temporary hold on mail costs money. Mail forwarding to a business address costs more than forwarding to a residential one. And third-party services that claim to process your address change faster or easier often charge fees that USPS itself does not.

The confusion usually comes from two places: people mixing up what USPS offers free with what private companies charge, or not realizing they are paying for a service beyond the basic address change itself.

Key Takeaways

  • A standard residential address change through USPS costs nothing whether you file online, by mail, or in person at a post office.
  • Forwarding mail to a business address costs $1.10, while residential forwarding is free.
  • A temporary mail hold (stopping delivery without forwarding) costs $2.85 for up to 30 days.
  • Third-party websites that advertise address changes often charge $5 to $20 even though USPS offers the same service free.

What costs nothing: residential address changes

A change of address for mail going to a home address is free. This covers the most common situation: you move and want your mail forwarded to your new house or apartment. USPS will forward mail for 12 months at no charge, and you can renew it for another 12 months at no charge.

You have three ways to file without paying. Online at usps.com takes about five minutes and you can do it from anywhere. By mail, you fill out form 3575 (available free at any post office or downloadable from usps.com) and mail it in. In person, you walk into a post office, ask for a change of address, and fill out the form there while you wait. None of these routes charge you anything.

The forwarding period starts a few days after you file, not when ready. USPS typically begins forwarding within three to five business days of receiving your request, whether you filed online or by mail.

What costs money: business addresses and mail holds

If you are forwarding mail to a business address rather than a home address, USPS charges $1.10 per address change. This applies whether the business is yours, your employer's, or any other commercial location. The fee covers the additional processing required for business mail.

A temporary mail hold is different from forwarding. Instead of sending your mail somewhere else, you tell USPS to stop delivering it for a set period — useful if you are away for a month or between moves. A hold costs $2.85 and lasts up to 30 days. After 30 days, USPS resumes normal delivery unless you file a new hold or a forwarding address.

International forwarding to a military address or overseas location also carries a fee. The cost varies depending on the destination country, but it is not free like domestic residential forwarding.

Why third-party websites charge when USPS does not

Many websites advertise address change services and charge $5 to $20 to process your request. These are private companies, not USPS. They do not reduce the fee if you file directly with the postal service for free. What they offer is convenience — they fill out the form for you, handle the submission, and sometimes bundle it with other services like notifying banks or subscriptions of your move.

Some of these sites are legitimate and straightforward charge for the labor of doing paperwork you could do yourself. Others are less transparent about what they are actually doing or what information they collect. Either way, you are paying for a middleman service that USPS does not require.

If you have time to spend 10 minutes online or 15 minutes at a post office, filing directly with USPS costs nothing. If you want someone else to handle it and do not mind paying for that convenience, third-party services exist. But the postal service itself does not charge for the basic service.

How to file your address change for free

Go to usps.com and click "Mail & Packages" at the top of the page. Select "Change of Address" from the menu. You will need your current address, your new address, and the date you want the forwarding to start. You can file for yourself, a family member, or a business. The online form takes about five minutes and you will receive a confirmation number when ready.

If you prefer not to file online, read form 3575 from usps.com or pick one up at any post office. Fill it out by hand, sign it, and mail it to the address listed on the form. Processing takes longer by mail — usually 10 to 14 days instead of three to five — but the cost is still zero.

At a post office, ask the clerk for a change of address form. They will hand you form 3575 and you can fill it out right there. Some post offices will process it on the spot; others will take it and process it within a few days. Again, no fee.

What happens if you file through a third party by mistake

If you have already paid a third-party website to file your address change, contact USPS directly to confirm whether your forwarding is actually in the system. Call 1-800-275-8777 or visit a post office with your confirmation number from the third party. USPS can tell you whether the request was filed and when it will start.

If the third party did file it correctly, your mail will forward normally and you have straightforward paid for a service you did not need. If they did not file it or filed it incorrectly, you can file directly with USPS at no cost to correct it. Keep any receipts or confirmation numbers from the third party in case you need to dispute the charge with your credit card company.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does USPS charge to change my address if I move multiple times in one year?

No. Each address change is free, whether it is your first move or your fifth. You can file a new forwarding address whenever you move, and USPS will not charge you. The only limit is that forwarding lasts 12 months, after which you must renew it if you want to continue.

Will I be charged if I cancel my address change before the 12 months are up?

No. You can cancel a forwarding address at any time without a fee. File a new change of address form with your original address, or contact USPS to stop the forwarding. There is no penalty for ending it early.

What if I file an address change and then move again before the first one starts?

File a new change of address with your second address. USPS will use the most recent request you filed. If the first forwarding has not started yet, the second one will replace it. If the first one has already started, USPS will forward mail to your second address instead. No additional fees explore.

Do I have to pay if I file an address change at the post office instead of online?

No. Filing in person at a post office costs nothing, just like filing online or by mail. The method does not affect the price — all three are free for residential addresses.

Can I get a refund if a third-party website charged me for an address change?

Contact the third-party company first and ask for a refund, explaining that USPS offers the same service free. If they refuse, dispute the charge with your credit card company or bank. Keep your receipt and any confirmation emails as proof of the transaction.