You can get a notary seal from an online notary supply company, an office supply retailer, or a local print or stationery shop. In every case, you need an active notary commission before you order, because reputable vendors verify your commission number, the name on your certificate, and your expiration date before they manufacture anything. Each state sets its own rules for what the seal must say, what shape and size it must be, and whether it is an ink stamp, an embosser, or both.
Get Your Commission First
No vendor should produce a seal for someone who is not commissioned, and you cannot legally use one if they do. Commissioning rules vary by state, but you generally must be at least 18, a legal resident of the state, able to read and write English, and free of disqualifying criminal convictions. Most states also require an exam or training course, a surety bond (typically $5,000 to $15,000), an oath of office, and an application fee. Once your commissioning authority approves you and issues your certificate, you can order the seal.
Have the certificate in front of you when you order. Vendors will ask for your commission number, your name exactly as it appears on the certificate, and your expiration date. Ordering before those details are final leads to reorders you have to pay for.
Ink Stamp or Embosser
Notary seals come in two physical forms. An ink stamp, self-inking or pre-inked, leaves a flat impression in black or blue ink. An embosser is a metal clamp that presses a raised impression into the paper. Most states allow either, and many notaries prefer ink stamps because the impression shows up clearly on photocopies and scans.
Embossers have one practical drawback. The raised impression can be hard to read on a photocopy, and many states now require that every seal impression be capable of being copied along with the document it is affixed to. If your state allows embossers but imposes that reproducibility rule, you can ink the raised impression with a seal impression inker after embossing, or use an ink stamp as your primary seal and keep the embosser as an added security measure. A handful of states still require embossers for certain notarizations, so check your state’s rules before buying.
What the Seal Must Say
State law dictates what appears on the seal, and a wrong detail can invalidate your notarizations. The Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts, which many states have adopted or modeled their laws after, requires three core elements: your name as it appears on your commission, the title “Notary Public,” and the name of your commissioning state.1Uniform Law Commission. Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (2021)
Beyond those three, many states also require your commission number, your expiration date, or both. Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, and Oregon all require both the commission number and the expiration date on the seal itself. A smaller group of states requires only the expiration date, and others leave it optional. Your secretary of state’s website will list the exact elements for your jurisdiction.
Shape, Size, and Ink Color
Most states specify whether the seal must be circular, rectangular, or either. Circular seals are common and typically range from about 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter. Rectangular seals usually top out at roughly 1 inch tall by 2.5 inches wide, though a few states permit different dimensions. Colorado and Wyoming require rectangular stamps; Hawaii and Tennessee mandate circular designs.
If your state gives you a choice, rectangular stamps tend to fit more neatly into the certificate area of a document without overlapping signatures or text, while circular seals are the traditional choice and the standard for embossers. Confirm the allowable dimensions before ordering, because an oversized or undersized seal can create problems with document acceptance. Most states require black ink; some allow blue. Check that detail too before you click order.
Where to Buy
Three sources sell notary seals.
Online notary supply companies. These are the most popular option. The National Notary Association’s supply store, Notary Public Stamps, and similar retailers let you select your state, enter your commission details, and order a seal that meets your jurisdiction’s requirements. Most ship within a few business days.
Office supply retailers. Large chains carry notary stamps and embossers, often with in-store or online customization. Selection may be more limited than at specialty vendors.
Local print and stationery shops. Some can produce custom notary seals on-site. This works well if you want to inspect the seal before paying, but make sure the shop knows your state’s specific requirements.
Whichever route you take, verify that the vendor produces seals compliant with your state’s laws. A vendor that asks for your commission certificate before manufacturing is a good sign. One that lets you type in any name and ships without verification is a red flag.
What It Costs
Notary seals are not expensive. Self-inking stamps generally run $15 to $30, depending on the vendor and customization. Embossers run roughly $30 to $45 for standard handheld or desk models, with premium designs higher. Some states or vendors sell bundled notary supply kits with a stamp, an embosser, a journal, and other supplies for $50 to $100. Kits can save money if you need multiple items, but confirm every component meets your state’s requirements before buying.
How to Place the Order
With your commission certificate in hand, the steps are straightforward.
- Look up your state’s exact seal specifications on the secretary of state’s website: required information, shape, size, and ink color.
- Decide between an ink stamp and an embosser based on what your state allows and how you work.
- Pick a vendor that explicitly states compliance with your state’s notary seal laws.
- Enter your full legal name exactly as it appears on your commission, your commission number, your expiration date, and your state. Many vendors ask you to upload a copy of your commission certificate for verification.
- Review the digital proof before manufacturing. Check every character. A misspelled name or wrong commission number means the seal is unusable.
Most orders arrive within three to seven business days. Rush production and expedited shipping are usually available for an extra fee.
If You Do Remote Online Notarizations
A physical seal is not what you use for remote online notarization. If you perform RONs, you need an electronic seal in addition to or instead of a physical one. Currently, 47 states and the District of Columbia have laws authorizing remote online notarization.2National Association of Secretaries of State. Remote Electronic Notarization The electronic seal is not a scanned image of your stamp. It is a digital file tied to a cryptographic digital certificate that verifies your identity and reveals any tampering with the document after you signed it.
The digital certificate must be X.509-compliant, the standard for public key infrastructure, and you obtain it from an approved digital certificate provider rather than from the vendor that sells physical stamps. The electronic seal image, which displays your name, state, commission number, and other required information, is typically purchased separately from an online notary supply vendor and then configured within your notarization platform or PDF signing software. The electronic signature and seal must be capable of independent verification and must be logically associated with the electronic document in a way that reveals any tampering.2National Association of Secretaries of State. Remote Electronic Notarization If your state authorizes RON, the secretary of state’s office will typically list approved technology vendors and digital certificate providers.