Notaries charge between $2 and $25 per signature, with the ceiling set by your state. Most states fall in the $5 to $10 range for a standard notarization. About ten states set no cap at all, letting notaries price their own services. What you actually pay can run well above the per-signature fee once travel, after-hours availability, or a full loan-signing package enters the picture.
State Caps on the Per-Signature Fee
Every state that regulates notary fees sets a maximum per notarial act, and the spread is wider than most people expect.
- Georgia and New York cap fees at $2 per signature.
- Rhode Island allows up to $25, the highest ceiling in the country.
- California, Colorado, and Nevada sit at $15.
- The largest cluster of states caps fees at $5 or $10.
Some states treat the first signature differently from additional signatures on the same document. Texas allows $10 for the first signature and $1 for each additional signature. Nevada charges $15 for the first and $7.50 for each after that. Pennsylvania charges $5 per notarial act plus $2 for each additional name on the same document.
About ten states have no statutory fee schedule at all: Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Vermont. In those states, notaries set their own rates. Ask about pricing before you show up, because there’s no legal ceiling on what they can charge.
Per Signature or Per Notarial Act
This distinction matters when a document has more than one signer. Some states cap the fee per individual signature, so a document with three signers can cost three times the per-signature maximum. Other states cap the fee per notarial act, which may cover all signatures on a single notarial certificate no matter how many people sign.
If your document involves multiple signers, ask the notary whether they charge per person or per certificate. On a document with four signatures in a state with a $5 cap, the difference can be $5 versus $20.
Mobile Notary Travel Charges
A mobile notary comes to your home, office, hospital, or wherever you need them. The per-signature fee still follows your state’s cap. The bigger cost is the travel charge, and most states do not regulate that at all. A few states allow notaries to bill actual travel expenses or a mileage rate tied to state employee reimbursement schedules, but the majority stay silent.
Expect to pay $25 to $75 or more on top of the notarial fee for a mobile visit, depending on distance and local demand. Evenings, weekends, and holidays often carry an additional premium. Before booking, ask for a quote that breaks out the notarial fee and the travel charge separately.
Online Notarization Fees
Remote online notarization lets you complete the process over a video call. As of 2025, 47 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws allowing it.1National Association of Secretaries of State. Remote Electronic Notarization
Online platforms typically charge $15 to $25 per notarial stamp, which runs higher than an in-person notarization in most states. Some bundle the technology fee with the notarial fee into a single charge. Others break them out, so a state with a $5 cap might show $5 for the notarial act plus a technology or session fee that brings the total closer to $25. You pay for speed: you can often finish the process in minutes without leaving your desk.
Real Estate Loan Signings Are Priced Differently
If you’re buying or refinancing a home, notary pricing works differently. Loan signing agents walk borrowers through mortgage packages that can run 100 pages or more, and they charge for the full appointment rather than per signature. A typical loan signing runs $75 to $200.
That fee covers printing and organizing the document package, confirming every signature and initial is placed correctly, and returning the completed package to the title company or lender on a tight deadline. The per-signature statutory cap still applies to the notarial acts inside the package, but the bulk of the fee pays for the administrative work around them. Lenders or title companies often arrange and pay the signing agent directly, so you may never see this charge as a separate line at closing.
Where to Get Notarized for Free or Cheap
Your bank is the first place to check. Many banks and credit unions offer notary services free of charge to account holders. Bank of America, for example, provides notarizations at no cost.2Bank of America. Notary Services from Bank of America Call ahead. Not every branch has a notary on staff every day, and walk-in availability varies.
Shipping and office supply stores are another common option, though they tend to charge the full state-allowed fee plus a convenience markup. AAA offices, public libraries, and some courthouses also provide notary services, sometimes at reduced fees. Law offices and real estate agencies often have notaries available, particularly for documents connected to their own work.
A quick phone call to confirm hours, availability, and fees saves you from showing up to find the notary is out for the day or that the location charges more than you expected.