UPS states it plainly. Anything else on a residential delivery is something you chose and paid for.
One Chicago-bound parcel, and the three tiers on top
The anchor is a 12 x 10 x 6 in box at 5 lb, quoted 2026-07-28 from Newark, NJ 07102 to Chicago, IL 60601. UPS Ground came back at $14.55 and UPS Ground Saver at $14.02, each the complete checkout amount. The signature tiers below are UPS's own published fees laid against the $14.55 ground row.
SMKlog rates for the anchor parcel, quoted 2026-07-28
| Carrier | Service | Price | Quoted transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | Ground Advantage | $14.02 | 8-9 business days |
| UPS | Ground Saver | $14.02 | no window supplied on this rate |
| UPS | Ground | $14.55 | 2-3 business days |
| UPS | 3 Day Select | $19.94 | 2-3 business days |
| UPS | 2nd Day Air | $21.96 | 2-3 business days |
The three UPS signature tiers
Fees from the UPS revised rates for value-added services and other charges, published on ups.com and effective 2025-12-22, fetched 2026-07-28. Service descriptions from the UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service, United States, sections 22, 34.1 and 34.2, same date.
| Tier | Fee | What UPS undertakes | UPS Ground at $14.55 plus the fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signature Required | $7.70 | Obtains the recipient signature, an electronic acknowledgement of receipt, or a My Choice authorization to release without one | $22.25 |
| Commercial Signature Required | $7.70 | The same service priced for commercial delivery addresses | $22.25 |
| Adult Signature Required | $9.35 | Obtains the signature of an adult 21 years of age or older and may ask for photo identification showing age | $23.90 |
The right-hand column is our quoted rate plus the published fee rather than a single quoted total. Add-ons are priced during checkout against the carrier and route you select, and UPS applies its accessorials when the label is created.
Why the default matters
Unless the Shipper selects a Signature Required service, UPS reserves the right, in its sole and unlimited discretion, to make a Delivery without obtaining a signature.UPS Tariff/Terms and Conditions of Service, United States, section 22, ups.com, fetched 2026-07-28
Sellers often assume a UPS delivery comes with a name attached. It does not, unless one of the three tiers above was bought. The practical consequence shows up months later in a chargeback, when the only record is a driver photograph and a ZIP-level scan.
The My Choice wrinkle
Even on a paid Signature Required service, UPS may accept an authorization to release the package without a signature where the recipient has set that up through UPS My Choice. That is written into section 34.1, and it means the recipient can quietly undo the thing you paid for. If the signature is load-bearing for a dispute, Adult Signature Required is the tier that closes the gap, because it puts a person and an age check at the door.
Worth knowing alongside this: the UPS claims page states that packages released under driver release or UPS My Choice are not eligible for lost-package claims, checked on ups.com 2026-07-27. Buying a signature and having it released at the far end is the worst of both outcomes, so tell the recipient what is coming.
Residential is where the risk lives
A commercial address usually has a reception that signs for everything. A doorstep does not, which is why the signature decision is really a decision about whether the delivery address is a home.
Two tiers, one price
Signature Required and Commercial Signature Required both list at $7.70. If the address is a business, the commercial version is the one to pick, and it costs nothing extra to get right.
Signature or declared value, not both by reflex
They solve different problems. A signature produces evidence; declared value raises the ceiling on what UPS could pay. On a cheap package neither is worth buying, and on an expensive one you generally want both.
UPS signature questions
How much does UPS signature required cost?
$7.70 per package for Signature Required and for Commercial Signature Required, and $9.35 for Adult Signature Required, from the UPS revised value-added services rates effective 2025-12-22 and fetched on 2026-07-28.
Does UPS get a signature by default?
No. The UPS tariff states that unless the shipper selects a Signature Required service, UPS reserves the right at its sole discretion to deliver without obtaining a signature.
Can a recipient waive a UPS signature you paid for?
Effectively yes. Section 34.1 allows UPS to accept an authorization to release without a signature under UPS My Choice, so a recipient who has set that up can undo the service you bought.
What does a signature add to a UPS Ground rate?
On our anchor parcel, a 12 x 10 x 6 in box at 5 lb quoted from Newark to Chicago on 2026-07-28, UPS Ground was $14.55. Adding the published $7.70 fee puts the pair at $22.25.