How to Forward Your Mail to Another Address When Moving—And Why You Should Do It ASAP

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published Jun 26, 2019

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Moving can feel like an endless to-do list: Find an apartment! Buy boxes! Declutter! It’s easy to get so overwhelmed you don’t know where to start, but I’ll make it simple for you. There’s one thing that you can do right now that will make you feel super productive. There’s also a chance you haven’t thought of it yet. Have any guesses?

It’s changing your address!!!

How to forward your mail to another address:

Using the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) super easy and intuitive website, you can change your address and set up mail forwarding in about 10 minutes!

How soon to change address when moving:

You can set your mail-forwarding start date up to three months in advance of your move. We recommend doing it as soon as you close on your home or sign your lease.

Moving temporarily? You should still change your address (and can set mail forwarding dates). If you’re moving within the same city for just a short while, you can request that the post office hold your mail rather than send it to your old address, too (this can also come in handy for extended vacations!).

How much it costs to change your address:

Beware: Some third-party services offer mail forwarding, but they’re completely unnecessary, expensive, and often scams. If you register online through USPS, mail forwarding costs a one-time fee of $1.05 (which is just to verify your identity). It’s free if you go in person or call your local post-office.

How long USPS will forwards your mail after change of address:

Mail (like bills and personal letters) and packages will be forwarded to you for up to 12 months. Periodicals like magazines and newsletters will be forwarded for 60 days. You can ask for an extension if you would like.

Benefits to changing your address with USPS:

It might shorten your list of places to notify that you’ve moved

Some companies like banks, medical centers, and publishers pay USPS for “ancillary address service,” meaning that they will receive your new address after you’ve registered. That means you might not have to reach out to these companies to file your change of address!

You’ll get moving coupons from USPS

Another great benefit to changing your address? You’ll get a “housewarming package,” which includes a bunch of coupons from home retailers like Wayfair and Lowe’s.

You can cut down on catalogues and mailings

Even if you’re not getting that much mail, you should still request mail forwarding. While you might think you know all of the places you have to change your address (your bank, credit card company, etc.), you may miss a few. And since your mail will have a white or yellow forwarding sticker on it after registering with USPS, you’ll be able to clearly see which institutions still have your old address. You can then decide if you want to change it or request they take you off their mailing list.

Is it too late to set up mail forwarding?

Moved recently (or even not-so-recently) and realized you didn’t set up forwarding? It’s not too late! Forwarding your email can give you a good sense of what mail is still being sent to your old address. Besides missing holiday cards and alumni magazines, there might be a credit card statement you would have otherwise missed.