What Does "Return to Sender" Mean at USPS in 2024? A Deep Dive
The USPS return to sender process can be frustrating and costly if you don‘t understand why it happens and how to resolve it. This in-depth guide provides insights, statistics, and tips for navigating return mail.
Return to Sender By the Numbers
USPS returned 1.4 billion pieces of undeliverable mail to senders in 2021. That‘s nearly 4% of all mail volume. [1]
First-class mail sees a 2.5% return rate, while standard mail is returned at 3-4% on average. [2]
Return to sender costs USPS an estimated $1.5 billion per year in additional handling. [3]
Residential moves account for over 40% of undeliverable mail returns each year. [4]
What Exactly Happens When Mail is Returned
When a letter carrier or mail processing machine determines a piece of mail is undeliverable, this extensive process begins:
The mail is stamped or tagged with a return to sender endorsement indicating the reason (e.g. "Attempted – Not Known").
Returned mail is transported back to the original mailing post office.
That facility verifies the return address and endorsed reason for return.
The returned mail is held for the addressee to claim for 15 calendar days.
If unclaimed after 15 days, it is returned to the sender‘s address.
Returned mail lacks priority, so it can take 10-15 days for first-class and longer for packages.
If a return address is missing or illegible, additional efforts are made to determine where to return the mail.
Top Reasons Mail Gets Sent Back
Incorrect address – About 20-30% of returns are due to missing or incorrect recipient information like name, street, apartment number, city, state or ZIP code. [4]
Moved without filing change of address – Around 43% of returns annually are the result of recipients relocating without submitting a COA form. [4]
Refused packages – Recipients refusing deliveries of unwanted products like repeated marketing mailings accounts for 8% of returns. [4]
Attempted unclaimed – Signatures or payment required for delivery wasn‘t completed after multiple attempts – 7% of returns. [4]
How Long Return to Sender Takes
The return process introduces substantial lag time versus typical delivery standards. Add at least 50% to these estimates if re-sending a returned item:
| Mail Class | Same City/Town | Within Same State | Different State | Across USA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Class | 3-5 days | 5-7 days | 7-10 days | 10-14 days |
| Priority Mail | 5-7 days | 7-10 days | 10-14 days | 14-21 days |
Delays can be much longer for internationally returned mail.
Tips for Resending Returned Mail
If you receive mail back marked "return to sender", follow this advice to ensure successful delivery on the next attempt:
Double check the address for errors against postal records and make corrections.
Use USPS address lookup tools to validate recipient details.
Watch for missing apartment/suite/lot numbers which are essential.
If the recipient moved, get their official COA forwarding address.
Hide any previous return to sender stickers and markings before resending.
For packages, require a signature confirmation to prevent refused delivery.
Buy additional insurance in case the item is lost or damaged.
Alert recipients that you re-sent a returned item and verify when it arrives.
The Bottom Line
Return to sender situations can be frustrating, but understanding why they occur and following USPS best practices can minimize problems. Accurate addressing and proactive communications are key to successful mail delivery.
Now that you know why return to sender happens and how to get your mail back on track, those pesky stickers won‘t be as intimidating!
