What Is USPS Collect on Delivery (COD)?

With Collect on Delivery, the sender ships an item without requiring payment in advance, and USPS collects the specified payment amount from the recipient at the time of delivery, before releasing the package. USPS then forwards that payment back to the sender via check or money order.

This differs fundamentally from most other USPS services covered in this guide, since Registered Mail and Certified Mail focus on security and proof of delivery, while COD is specifically a payment mechanism tied to the delivery process itself.

COD has specific eligibility rules — it's generally limited to merchandise sent by the actual seller, and can't be used for certain categories of  mail, so it's worth confirming eligibility before planning to use this service for a given shipment.

Common uses for COD:

• Mail-order businesses selling directly to customers who prefer to pay upon receipt rather than in advance.
• Situations where the sender and recipient have an arrangement requiring payment specifically at the point of delivery.
• Niche retail or subscription models where upfront online payment isn't part of the standard process.

Why it's less common today:

• Online payment processing has largely replaced the need for COD in most typical e-commerce transactions.
• Modern buyers and sellers generally prefer the certainty of upfront payment or established payment platforms over collecting cash or checks at delivery.

Despite being less common, COD remains available for specific business models where it still makes practical sense.

The  shipping timeline for a COD package generally follows the underlying mail class chosen for the shipment — if sent via Priority Mail, it follows that 1-3 day window, while Ground Advantage would follow its own 2-5 day estimate.

The COD-specific part of the process happens at the moment of delivery: the carrier collects payment from the recipient before releasing the package, which can occasionally require an additional delivery attempt if the recipient isn't available or doesn't have the correct payment ready on the first try.

Once payment is collected, USPS typically processes and forwards the funds back to the sender within a standard processing window, separate from the physical delivery timeline itself.

COD itself is a well-established, low-risk service when used for its intended purpose, though it does add a layer of complexity compared to standard prepaid shipping, since payment collection is now tied directly to the delivery event.

The main consideration for recipients is being prepared to pay the specified amount at the time of delivery — if payment isn't ready, the delivery may need to be reattempted, similar to any other failed delivery attempt.

For senders, the main consideration is the added step of receiving payment back from USPS after collection, rather than getting paid directly at the time of sale, which introduces a small delay compared to typical online payment methods.

If you're the sender using COD:

• Confirm your shipment and business type qualify for COD service before selecting this option.
• Clearly communicate to the recipient how much they'll owe and the accepted payment method at delivery.

If you're the recipient of a COD package:

• Have the exact payment ready in the accepted form when you're expecting a COD delivery, to avoid a missed delivery attempt.
• Confirm the expected amount in advance with the sender if you're unsure what you'll owe.

If a COD delivery attempt is missed:

• Check any notice left by the carrier for instructions on redelivery or pickup with payment.

Contact USPS if you have questions about COD eligibility for a specific shipment, or if a COD delivery attempt wasn't completed successfully.

USPS: 1-800-275-8777