In most cases, yes — someone else can sign for your package. Whether a roommate, neighbor, coworker, or building manager qualifies depends on which signature service the sender paid for. A standard signature delivery lets any adult at the address sign. An adult signature delivery requires the signer to be at least 21 and show a government-issued photo ID.1FedEx. Can Anyone 21 Years or Older Accept My Delivery if It Requires an Adult Signature The tightest tier of all restricts signing to the named addressee. So the real question is which tier your package is on, and you can usually see that on the tracking page.
The Three Signature Levels and Who Can Sign at Each
Every major carrier uses roughly the same three tiers, though the names vary. The tier controls who counts as an acceptable signer.
Indirect signature. The most flexible. The driver can get a signature from someone at your address, a neighbor, or a building manager. If nobody is around, you can authorize release yourself by signing the door tag from a previous attempt or using the carrier’s online tools. FedEx charges $7.60 per package for this service in 2026.2FedEx. Service Guide
Direct signature. Tighter. Someone must be physically present at the delivery address. A neighbor across the street does not count, and you cannot pre-authorize release through an app or a signed door tag. FedEx charges the same $7.60.2FedEx. Service Guide
Adult signature. The strictest common tier. The signer must be at least 21, present a driver’s license, passport, or other government-issued photo ID showing date of birth, and not appear visibly intoxicated. This tier is used for alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and certain regulated items. FedEx charges $10 per package, and the package cannot be left at the address without the ID check under any circumstances.1FedEx. Can Anyone 21 Years or Older Accept My Delivery if It Requires an Adult Signature2FedEx. Service Guide3Federal Register. Adult Signature Services
USPS goes one step further with Adult Signature Restricted Delivery. Only the specific named addressee, or their authorized agent, can sign, and they still need to be 21 with valid ID.3Federal Register. Adult Signature Services On this tier, a spouse or roommate cannot sign unless you have set them up as your agent.
How the Rules Differ by Carrier
FedEx
FedEx labels its tiers Indirect Signature Required, Direct Signature Required, and Adult Signature Required. On indirect shipments, a neighbor or building manager can sign, and you can also authorize release remotely through FedEx Delivery Manager or by signing the door tag left after a missed attempt. Direct and adult signature shipments cannot be released remotely and must be signed for in person at the address.2FedEx. Service Guide
UPS
UPS uses two main tiers: Signature Required and Adult Signature Required. On standard signature shipments, anyone present at the address can sign.4UPS – United States. UPS Shipping Services – Section: Delivery Options Adult signature deliveries follow the 21-and-older photo ID rule, same as FedEx. UPS My Choice members can authorize release for eligible packages and can even specify a neighbor or a particular spot at the home for the driver to leave the shipment.5UPS – United States. View and Track All Shipments With UPS My Choice Adult signature packages are not eligible for remote release.
USPS
The Postal Service offers Signature Confirmation and Adult Signature as extra services. Standard Signature Confirmation allows the addressee or another responsible person at the address to sign. Adult Signature follows the 21-and-older photo ID rule.6USPS: Policies, Procedures, and Forms Updates. DMM Revision Adult Signature Service Adult Signature Restricted Delivery narrows that to the named addressee or their authorized agent only.3Federal Register. Adult Signature Services
DHL
DHL generally requires a signature for deliveries, particularly on international shipments. Through DHL On-Demand Delivery, you can nominate a neighbor, concierge, or guard to accept the package, or authorize a contactless delivery to a safe place at the address. Both options require contacting DHL customer service to arrange in advance.
Authorizing Someone (or a Location) in Advance
If you know you will not be home, you have a few practical options depending on your carrier and the tier.
Online delivery management tools are the easiest route. FedEx Delivery Manager and UPS My Choice let you redirect packages to a pickup location, schedule a specific delivery window, or authorize release for eligible shipments. Both are free for basic features. Neither service can override a direct signature or adult signature requirement. Those still need a person, an ID, or both.
Signing the door tag works for FedEx indirect signature packages. After a failed delivery attempt, the driver leaves a tag on your door; you sign it and leave it out, and the driver releases the package on the next attempt without needing anyone present. This does not work for direct or adult signature deliveries.
Having someone at the address is the simplest solution. For standard and indirect signature deliveries, a roommate, family member, or anyone else who happens to be there can sign. In a business setting, any employee at the receiving address can accept deliveries on behalf of the company. Make sure they know a package is coming so they answer the door.
Using a Mailbox Store as a Standing Signer
If you travel frequently or can never be home during delivery hours, a commercial mail receiving agency (a mailbox store) can accept and sign for packages on your behalf. To set this up through USPS, you fill out PS Form 1583, which authorizes the agency to receive your mail. The form requires two forms of identification, one being a government-issued photo ID, and your signature must be provided in the presence of the agency operator or a notary public.7United States Postal Service. Application for Delivery of Mail Through Agent PS Form 1583 You can also list additional authorized individuals who can pick up your mail from the agency. The signature can be witnessed virtually through real-time audio and video if you cannot visit in person.8Federal Register. Commercial Mail Receiving Agencies Clarification
FedEx and UPS also deliver to most commercial mailbox stores, making them a single collection point for all your carriers. Monthly fees vary by provider and location, but expect to pay in the range of $15 to $40 per month for a basic mailbox with package receiving.
If a Signature Was Recorded but You Never Got the Package
When tracking shows delivered with a signature and the package is not in your hands, your options narrow. The signature is the carrier’s proof that someone accepted the shipment, and that shifts the burden to you.
Start by checking who signed. Most carrier tracking pages show the signer’s name. If it belongs to a neighbor, building manager, or front desk attendant, ask them first. Packages get set aside and forgotten more often than they get stolen.
If the signature does not match anyone you know, file a claim with the carrier. UPS gives you 60 days from the scheduled delivery date to start a lost-package claim, and you will need your tracking number and documentation of the package’s value. FedEx and USPS have similar processes. One catch with UPS: if you authorized the driver to release the package through your My Choice account or at your address without requiring a signature, the shipment is not eligible for a lost-package claim.9UPS – United States. File a UPS Claim That release authorization made you responsible for whatever happened next.
If the signature appears forged or was obtained fraudulently, contact the carrier’s fraud or investigations department. For USPS, that is the Postal Inspection Service. Claims typically resolve within 8 to 10 business days if no additional investigation is needed, though approved payments go to the shipper rather than the recipient, so you may need to coordinate with whoever sent the package to get your refund.9UPS – United States. File a UPS Claim