To buy and fill out a money order, you need the recipient’s full name, your own name and address, the payment amount in cash or from a debit card, and a signature. Depending on the situation, you may also need an account number for the memo line and a government-issued ID at the point of purchase.
Information to Fill Out on the Money Order
A money order has several fields printed on the front, and you should fill them all out immediately after purchasing. Leaving any field blank creates a risk that someone else could alter the document. Here’s what you’ll need to write:
- Payee name: The full legal name of the person or business you’re paying, written in the “Pay to” or “Pay to the order of” field. Double-check the spelling, because a bank or check-cashing store may refuse a money order where the name doesn’t match the recipient’s ID.
- Your name: Fill in your own full name in the “From,” “Purchaser,” or “Sender” field.
- Your address: Enter your full mailing address in the purchaser information area.
- Memo or account number: If you’re using the money order to pay a bill, write your account number in the memo section. This field might be labeled “Payment for,” “Account number,” or “Memo.” It helps the recipient credit the right account.
- Your signature: Sign the front of the money order on the line labeled “Purchaser’s signature” (sometimes labeled “Signer” or “Drawer”). Do not sign the back. The back is reserved for the person cashing it.
Some money orders also include a field for the recipient’s address. Fill it out if it’s there, but not every form requires it.
What to Bring When You Buy One
You can purchase money orders at post offices, banks, credit unions, grocery stores, convenience stores, and retailers like Walmart. Regardless of where you go, plan to bring:
- Cash or a debit card: Most locations accept cash or debit. Credit cards are generally not accepted for money order purchases. USPS, for example, explicitly accepts only cash and debit cards.
- The exact amount plus the fee: You pay the face value of the money order plus a small service fee at the time of purchase. Fees vary by provider but typically run between $1 and $5 for domestic orders at most retailers and post offices. Banks and credit unions sometimes waive the fee for account holders.
- Government-issued ID: Many locations ask for a photo ID regardless of the amount. Federal anti-money-laundering rules require sellers to collect identification and record buyer information for any money order purchase of $3,000 or more. In practice, plenty of locations will ask for ID even on smaller amounts, so bring a driver’s license or state ID to avoid a wasted trip.
You’ll also want to know the recipient’s exact name before you get to the counter. Writing the payee name right away prevents anyone else from filling it in and redirecting the funds.
Maximum Amount Per Money Order
Most money order providers cap each individual order at $1,000. USPS money orders follow this limit. If you need to send more than that, you can purchase multiple money orders, though you’ll pay a separate fee on each one. Some banks and credit unions issue money orders with higher limits, so it’s worth asking your financial institution if you need to send a larger amount.
What the Recipient Needs to Cash It
The person receiving your money order doesn’t need much, but they do need to handle the endorsement correctly. To cash or deposit a money order, the recipient typically needs:
- The original money order: Copies won’t work. The recipient must present the physical document.
- A government-issued photo ID: A driver’s license, passport, or state ID card. The name on the ID must match the payee name on the money order.
- Their signature on the back: The recipient endorses the money order by signing the back, ideally in front of the teller or clerk. Signing it ahead of time is risky because a lost, pre-signed money order could be cashed by anyone who finds it.
Recipients can cash money orders at their bank, a check-cashing store, or sometimes at the same type of location where it was purchased. Banks usually process them faster and may charge lower fees, especially if the recipient has an account there.
Keeping Your Receipt
After you buy a money order, you’ll get a receipt or a detachable stub. Hold onto it. The receipt contains a tracking number that lets you confirm whether the money order has been cashed. If the money order is lost or stolen, you’ll need that tracking number to file a claim and request a replacement or refund. Without the receipt, tracing a money order becomes significantly harder and sometimes impossible.
Write down the money order’s serial number separately as a backup. If you’re mailing the money order, consider using certified mail or a tracking service so you have proof it was delivered.
Sending Money Internationally
If you need to send a money order to someone outside the United States, your options are more limited than they used to be. USPS discontinued its international postal money order service in October 2024. That means you can no longer buy an international money order at the post office.
For international payments, you’ll need to use a wire transfer service, an international money transfer company, or your bank’s international payment tools. Some providers like Western Union and MoneyGram still offer international money transfer services with their own fee structures and exchange rates. If you specifically need a paper money order accepted abroad, check with the recipient’s bank to confirm they’ll honor a U.S. domestic money order, as acceptance varies by country and institution.