How Much Does a Notary Cost?
Notary fees are capped by state law, charged per signature or per act. Across all 50 states, caps run from $2 (New York, Georgia) to $25 (Rhode Island), and about ten states set no cap at all — most fall between $5 and $15. Online notarization is commonly capped near $25. See the full state-by-state table below.
Last updated: July 16, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
How much a notary costs, at a glance
| Where | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Bank / credit union (customer) | Often free |
| In-person notary (per act) | $2–$15 (state statutory cap) |
| The UPS Store (per signature) | Up to the state cap (≈$5–$15) |
| Online notary (RON) | $25 flat at USA Notary |
| Mobile notary (travels to you) | State fee + ~$25–$75 travel |
The notarization fee itself is small and fixed by law. What changes the total is where you go: a bank is free but customer-only, a mobile notary is convenient but adds travel, and online is a flat, predictable rate anywhere.
Why notary fees vary: state caps
Every state sets a maximum a notary may charge per notarial act, written into statute. A notary can charge less, but never more. That's why a walk-in notarization is inexpensive and remarkably consistent — the price is legislated, not set by the market. The differences you see between states are the caps themselves, and the differences between places come from convenience fees layered on top (travel, appointment, or an online platform's flat rate).
Many states also set a separate, higher cap for online notarization, because it includes identity-proofing technology and a recorded video session — for example, Texas caps online notarization at $25 and Ohio at $30.
Notary fees by state
Here is the maximum a notary can legally charge in every state — the answer no retail notary page will give you. The in-person column is the per-act cap; the online column is the separate cap many states set for remote notarization ("—" means the state hasn't authorized RON; "No cap" means the notary sets the fee).
| State | Max in-person (per act) | Max online (RON) |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $10 | $10 (paper only) |
| Alaska | No cap | No cap |
| Arizona | $10 | $10 |
| Arkansas | No cap | No cap |
| California | $15 | — |
| Colorado | $15 | $25 |
| Connecticut | $10 | $10 (paper only) |
| Delaware | $5 | $25 |
| District of Columbia | $5 | — |
| Florida | $10 | $25 |
| Georgia | $2 (max $4) | — |
| Hawaii | $5 | $25 |
| Idaho | $5 | $5 |
| Illinois | $5 | $25 |
| Indiana | $10 | $25 |
| Iowa | No cap | No cap |
| Kansas | No cap | No cap |
| Kentucky | No cap | No cap |
| Louisiana | No cap | No cap |
| Maine | No cap | No cap |
| Maryland | $8 | $30 |
| Massachusetts | No cap | — |
| Michigan | $10 | $10 |
| Minnesota | $5 | $5 |
| Mississippi | $5 | — |
| Missouri | $5 | $5 + fee |
| Montana | $10 | $10 + tech |
| Nebraska | $5 (jurat $2) | $25 + fee |
| Nevada | $15 +$7.50 add’l | $25 |
| New Hampshire | $10 | $25 |
| New Jersey | $2.50 (RE $15) | $2.50–$25 |
| New Mexico | $5 | $5 + $25 tech |
| New York | $2 | $25 |
| North Carolina | $10 | $25 |
| North Dakota | $5 | $5 + tech |
| Ohio | $5 | $30 + tech |
| Oklahoma | $5 | $25 |
| Oregon | $10 | $25 |
| Pennsylvania | $5 (+$2 name) | $20 + fee |
| Rhode Island | $25 | $25 |
| South Carolina | $5 | — |
| South Dakota | No cap | No cap |
| Tennessee | No cap | $25 |
| Texas | $10 +$1 add’l | $25 + fee |
| Utah | $10 | $25 |
| Vermont | No cap | No cap |
| Virginia | $10 | $25 |
| Washington | $15 | $25 |
| West Virginia | $10 | $10 |
| Wisconsin | $5 | $5 + tech |
| Wyoming | $10 (jurat $0) | $10 + tech |
Verified July 2026 against the National Notary Association "Notary Fees by State" table and primary state statutes/Secretary of State rules. Several states (WA, VA, NC) raised caps in 2023–2024. Fees are per notarial act/signature; a notary may charge less, never more. Confirm your state before relying on a figure.
Cap vs. what you actually pay
Here's the confusion no notary page explains: if your state caps the fee at $2, why did The UPS Store or a mobile notary charge you more — and is that legal? Yes, it's legal. The statutory cap applies only to the notarial act itself. Other, separately permitted charges can stack on top of it:
| Charge | Capped by the state fee law? |
|---|---|
| The notarial act (the stamp) | Yes — capped per act/signature by your state |
| Mobile travel fee | No — separate; regulated differently by state |
| Online/RON technology fee | Often a separate cap (e.g., Ohio $30 + up to $10 tech) |
| Printing, copies, shipping | No — retail services, not a notarial fee |
So a Georgia notary can only charge $2 to notarize — but a mobile notary who drives to you may add a travel fee, and a shipping store may add a service markup. That's why the same notarization can cost $2 at your bank and $25 online: you're paying for convenience, not a higher stamp. USA Notary folds it all into one flat $25, so there's nothing to stack.
Mobile notary travel fees
A mobile notary charges the state's statutory act fee plus a separate travel fee, commonly around $25–$75 depending on distance and time of day. The travel fee is regulated differently from state to state — the National Notary Association notes some states set a maximum (for example, Nevada caps daytime travel at $15 per hour), while others require only that the fee be disclosed and agreed to in advance.
Mobile service is worth it when the signer can't travel. For everyone else, online notarization offers the same "comes to you" convenience at a flat rate, with no travel fee.
What UPS, banks & the post office charge
- The UPS Store charges per signature, up to the state cap (a third party estimates ≈$5–$15) — and can copy and ship the document too.
- Banks are usually free for account holders — Bank of America states it does not charge a fee for notary services.
- The post office (USPS) charges nothing — because it does not notarize at all.
- FedEx Office offers online notary from $25, with add-ons that vary at checkout.
Online notary cost
Several states set a separate online-notarization cap: Texas allows up to $25, Ohio up to $30, and Illinois up to $25 per electronic act, while Pennsylvania lets electronic or remote notaries add up to $20 on top of the standard fee. USA Notary's online notarization is a flat $25 per document — ID verification, the electronic seal, a tamper-evident certificate, and instant delivery included, in all 50 states.
Because it's one predictable price with no travel and no per-seal surprises, online is often the best value once you account for the time and mileage of an in-person visit.
How to pay less
- 1
Use your bank. If you're an account holder, notarization is usually free — book an appointment.
- 2
Count your signatures. Per-signature pricing adds up — know how many acts your document needs before you go.
- 3
Skip the travel fee. Choose online notarization over a mobile notary unless the signer truly can't travel.
- 4
Value your time. A flat $25 online often beats a "cheap" in-person fee once mileage and waiting are counted.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a notary cost in the US?
The base fee is set by each state's statute as a maximum per signature or per notarial act. Across all 50 states it ranges from $2 (New York, Georgia) to $25 (Rhode Island), while about ten states set no statutory cap. Most states fall between $5 and $15, and a notary may charge less than the cap, never more.
Which state has the lowest notary fee?
New York and Georgia have the lowest statutory cap at $2 per notarial act (Georgia allows up to $4 total with a proof certification). New Jersey is $2.50. At the other end, Rhode Island caps at $25, and about ten states — including Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, and Massachusetts — set no statutory maximum, leaving the fee to the notary.
Is the notary fee per signature or per document?
It depends on the state's wording. California charges $15 per signature and Texas $10 for the first signature plus $1 for each additional, while Florida and Ohio cap the fee per notarial act. A document that needs several notarized signatures can therefore cost several times the single-act cap.
How much does a mobile notary charge to travel to me?
A mobile notary charges the state's statutory act fee plus a separate travel fee, commonly around $25 to $75 depending on distance and time. Some states specifically regulate travel fees, so the travel charge must be disclosed and agreed to before the appointment.
How much does online (remote) notarization cost?
Several states set a separate cap for online notarization — Texas allows up to $25, Ohio up to $30, and Illinois up to $25 per electronic act, while Pennsylvania lets electronic or remote notaries add up to $20. USA Notary charges a flat $25 per document, all-inclusive, in all 50 states.
Can I get a document notarized for free?
Often, yes. Bank of America states it provides notary services free of charge in its financial centers, and most banks offer free notary to account holders. Some public libraries and AAA branches also notarize at no cost. A fee usually applies only to non-customers or independent and mobile notaries.
About the author
Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC
CEO & Founder, USA Notary Services LLC
Andrew Ray Yon is the founder and CEO of USA Notary Services LLC and the architect of the SharpNote remote online notarization platform. A Certified Notary Signing Agent since 2005, he has handled mortgage and title loan signings for two decades and holds an MBA and the ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) designation. Based in Virginia’s Greater Richmond region, he leads the company’s strategy, compliance, and platform development.
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