Money orders
How much is a money order?
The fee per money order is only half the answer. Enter your amount to see how many slips it takes and the total at each seller.
Kroger: 3 money orders
$4.50 in fees
You hand over $2,404.50 for $2,400 of money orders.
| Seller | Needed | Fees | Cap each | Cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kroger | 3 | $4.50 max | $1,000 | yes |
| USPS (Post Office) | 3 | $10.15 | $1,000 | yes |
| Chaseaccount holders | 3 | $15 | $1,000 | yes |
| Wells Fargoaccount holders | 3 | $15 | $1,000 | yes |
| Regions | 3 | $6 | $1,000 | ask |
| Walmart | – | varies by location | – | yes |
| Publix | – | not published | – | yes |
| 7-Eleven | – | not published | – | yes |
| Western Union | – | varies by location | – | yes |
| MoneyGram | – | not published | – | ask |
| Citiaccount holders | – | not published | – | yes |
| U.S. Bankaccount holders | – | not published | – | yes |
| Truistaccount holders | – | not published | – | yes |
| TD Bankaccount holders | – | not published | – | yes |
Store fees for Western Union and MoneyGram money orders are set by each location; the figure shown is the one published by the store or the issuer, read on the date at the bottom of the page.
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A money order costs a fee on top of its face value, and the fee is charged per slip. At the Post Office it is $2.65 for a money order of up to $500 and $3.75 from $500.01 to $1,000, under the price list that took effect on October 4, 2026 (USPS Notice 123); postal military money orders cost $0.85. Walmart publishes a maximum of $1 per money order, and Western Union’s pages give $1.50 or less at Kroger and $1 at Publix. Banks charge account holders $2 at Regions and $5 at Chase, Wells Fargo, Citi, U.S. Bank, Truist and TD Bank, with waivers on many premium accounts. Because each slip is capped, usually at $1,000, a payment of $2,400 takes three money orders: $10.15 in fees at the Post Office, and three store fees elsewhere. The finder above computes the total for any amount with the fees read on October 27, 2026.
Fees, limits and rules read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method
The fee per slip, seller by seller
| Seller | Up to $500 | $500.01 to $1,000 | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS (Post Office) | $2.65 | $3.75 | published |
| Walmart | $1 | $1 | varies by location |
| Kroger | $1.50 | $1.50 | varies by location |
| Publix | $1 | $1 | published |
| Chase | $5 | $5 | account holders |
| Wells Fargo | $5 | $5 | account holders |
| Citi | $5 | $5 | account holders |
| U.S. Bank | $5 | $5 | account holders |
| Truist | $5 | $5 | account holders |
| Regions | $2 | $2 | published |
| TD Bank | $5 | $5 | account holders |
The Post Office is the only seller with two price bands. Every other seller whose terms could be read charges one flat fee per slip, whatever the amount. Western Union and MoneyGram publish no consumer price for their agents: a pharmacy, a check casher or a convenience store sets its own.
What a large payment really costs
Most sellers stop at $1,000 per money order. A $2,400 rent therefore takes two slips of $1,000 and one of $400, and the fee is charged three times. The calculator below lets you change the amount and the seller.
How many money orders for this amount?
Total fees
$10.15
| Money orders needed | 3 |
| Cap per money order | $1,000 |
| You hand over | $2,410.15 |
2 of $1,000 and 1 of $400.
| Amount | Slips | USPS fees | Store at $1 each | Bank at $5 each |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | 1 | $2.65 | $1 | $5 |
| $1,000 | 1 | $3.75 | $1 | $5 |
| $1,500 | 2 | $6.40 | $2 | $10 |
| $2,400 | 3 | $10.15 | $3 | $15 |
| $3,200 | 4 | $13.90 | $4 | $20 |
| $5,000 | 5 | $18.75 | $5 | $25 |
Beyond a few thousand dollars, a cashier’s check becomes cheaper: one instrument, no cap, $10 at most banks that publish the fee. The comparison page shows where the two cross.
Other costs to know before you buy
Paying with a credit card is refused by every seller whose terms could be read. Replacing a lost money order costs $23 at the Post Office and up to $15 at Western Union, and takes weeks. Store money orders also carry a charge if they sit uncashed: Western Union deducts $1.50 a month after one year (three in California), with state exceptions. Postal money orders never expire and carry no such charge. The lost money order page lists each issuer’s procedure.
Fees on the receiving side
The payee pays nothing to deposit a money order in their own bank account. Cashing it without an account is another matter: a postal money order is cashed free at any Post Office, but a store money order cashed at Walmart carries a check cashing fee of up to $4 for amounts up to $1,000, and a check casher charges its own percentage. If you are paying someone without a bank account, a postal money order saves them that cost.
Cheaper ways to pay, when the payee allows
A money order is a way to pay someone who refuses cards and personal checks. When the payee accepts a bank transfer or Zelle, those are free at most banks within their limits; the Zelle limits page shows them by bank. When the payee needs guaranteed funds for a large amount, a cashier’s check does it in one piece.