USPS Tracking Number

What Is USPS Tracking Number?

A USPS tracking number is a unique code assigned to each USPS shipment for tracking purposes. It serves as a means to monitor the location, status, and expected delivery details of the package as it moves from the sender to the recipient, ensuring transparency and security in the postal service process.

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What Does a USPS Tracking Number Look Like?

There are two typical formats of USPS tracking numbers.

• 22-digit USPS tracking number

The first four or five digits of the tracking number represent the service code, signifying the specific mail service used, with numerous possible combinations indicating various shipping options.

• 13 characters long, begin with two letters, and end with "US"

The first two letters specify the shipping service and the final two letters typically stand for the United States. 

How To Find USPS Tracking Number?

Here are a few methods you can use to locate your USPS tracking number.

1. Receipt from the Post Office - If you recently sent a package at the post office, the tracking number should be printed on the receipt you received.
2. Sales Receipt - If you opted for insurance when shipping your package at the post office, the tracking number will be displayed on your sales receipt.
3. Email Confirmation - If you used USPS.com to send your package, an email confirmation should have been sent to you. The tracking number will be included in that email.
4. Shipping Confirmation Email - If you purchased from a retailer that utilized USPS for shipping they would send you an email confirming shipment. The tracking number should be provided in that email.
5. USPS Tracking® Label - For packages with a USPS Tracking® label, peel off the portion of the label to reveal the tracking number.

Where Is the Tracking Number on a USPS Receipt?

The USPS tracking number on the receipt can usually be found in a few different locations depending on the type of receipt.

• Sales Receipt - The tracking number is typically located towards the bottom of the receipt, under the service type and price information. It is labeled as "USPS Tracking #."
• Mailing Receipt - On a green mailing receipt, the tracking number is located just above the barcode and is labeled as "USPS TRACKING #."
• Insurance Receipts - For insured mail, the tracking number is located on the customer receipt portion on the left side, under the barcode.

How To Track USPS Package With Tracking Number?

To track a USPS package, use the USPS tracking tool or a convenient package tracking aggregator for additional carrier tracking requirements.

USPS.com Tracking

1. Find the tracking number provided to you at the time of shipment. 
2. Go to the official United States Postal Service (USPS) website and navigate to the tracking section.
3. Type or paste your tracking number into the search field provided on the USPS tracking page. You can enter up to 35 tracking numbers at a time, each on a new line or separated by commas.
4. After entering the tracking number, click on the "Track" button to view the current status of your shipment. The tracking information will include detailed progress of your package, including dates and locations it has been processed through, current location, and expected delivery date and time.
5. For more convenience, you can also sign up for text and email updates on the USPS tracking page. This way, you will receive automatic notifications about any changes in the status of your shipment.

Alternate Tracking Methods

TrackingMore provides dedicated tracking solutions for parcels from 1336 global carriers, encompassing not just USPS, but also services like UPS, FedEx, and DHL, among others. 

For businesses who want to improve their customer post-purchase experience, TrackingMore is their top choice.

Here is why you should choose TrackingMore's shipment tracking solution.

1. TrackingMore provides an all-in-one shipment tracking service of 1336 carriers so that you can track and monitor your shipments in one place, regardless of the number of carriers you cooperate with.
2. It boasts a robust shipment tracking API which you can integrate into your system seamlessly for real-time tracking information.
3. It provides a as close as real-time tracking webhook for automatic updates on key shipment events like in transit, delivery, and exceptions.
4. It also offers a suite of services designed for eCommerce like branded tracking page and automated shipment notification to enhance your post-purchase service and boost repeat sales.

How To Track a USPS Package Without a Tracking Number?

In the daily hustle and bustle of life, it is not a rare occurrence to misplace or lose crucial things such as your package’s tracking number. 

Although the local post office and USPS customer care agents cannot recover a lost tracking number, there is an alternative method. In such a case, find your tracking number on the dashboard of the USPS Informed Delivery® service. The prerequisite is that you must have subscribed to the service. Otherwise, you can only ask the sender for your USPS tracking number.

• What is USPS Informed Delivery®?

USPS Informed Delivery® is a service that allows signed-up customers to get daily digest emails that preview their mail and packages scheduled to arrive soon.

USPS sends these notifications every morning in a daily digest email. This information is also accessible via the Informed Delivery online dashboard from a mobile phone, computer, or the USPS Mobile app.

The main benefit of Informed Delivery® is that it provides a convenient place for subscribers to track and manage packages. This includes checking the progress and current status of packages, viewing the history of previously received or sent packages, as well as rescheduling deliveries or holding them for pickup at the local post office.

• How To Track a USPS Package Using Informed Delivery®

Tracking USPS packages using Informed Delivery® requires you to have signed up for the service. To register, follow the process below.

• Sign in to your USPS.com account. 
• Select Informed Delivery® and start the sign-up process. 
• Fill in your details and verify your identity and address.
• Watch for updates via email, the online dashboard, or the USPS Mobile app.

USPS allows you to select all package tracking notifications or choose a specific one. Enter your mobile phone number and email address and you will automatically get text and email alerts. These alerts will contain links that lead back to your Informed Delivery dashboard from where you can rename packages, see package details and tracking history, and leave specific delivery instructions for your carrier, etc.

FAQs on USPS Tracking Number

• How many digits is a USPS tracking number?

The standard format for a USPS tracking number contains 22 digits. However, the number of digits may vary: for instance, Global Express Guaranteed® packages use an 8-digit format. There are also longer USPS tracking numbers, such as 26 digit USPS tracking number: 9262 6000 0000 0000 0000 0000 00; 34 digit USPS tracking number: 4209 2000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 00.

• What does a USPS tracking number start with?

Except for purely numerical USPS tracking numbers, those that include characters typically begin with two letters, which correspond to the specific type of mailing service utilized. See the following.

EA - Electronic USPS Tracking

EC - USPS Tracking

CP - Confirmation

LJ - Signature Confirmation

RA - Registered Mail

RR - Return Receipt

• How to get a tracking number from USPS?

You must note that not all USPS items come with a tracking number. So, if you haven't received a tracking number, it means your item may not have one. This applies to items like postcards, First-Class Mail letters and flats, periodicals, and some USPS Marketing Mail parcels. 

However, if the item does have a tracking number, here is what you can do to obtain the USPS tracking number.

Senders: Check your receipt, your email, Click-N-Ship, or another service you used to purchase online postage for a tracking number.

Recipients: Ask the sender for the tracking number. But if you're already subscribed to Informed Delivery, use that to get the tracking information.