EDDM Postcard Printing

Every Door Direct Mail is the simplest, cheapest way to put a printed piece in every mailbox on a street. No mailing list to buy. No addresses to print. No presort optimization. You pick the carrier routes, print the postcards, bundle them, and USPS delivers one to every door. Postage is a flat $0.226 per piece -- less than half of what you would pay for a stamped letter.

That low postage rate is why EDDM has become the default marketing channel for local businesses: restaurants, dental offices, HVAC companies, real estate agents, auto repair shops, political campaigns, and retail stores. The math is simple. A 5,000-piece EDDM mailing puts your postcard in front of every household within a 2-3 mile radius for under $2,000 all-in. Try getting that kind of local reach with digital ads, and you will spend more with no physical takeaway sitting on someone's kitchen counter.

But EDDM has specific size requirements, preparation rules, and printing considerations that catch first-timers off guard. This guide covers everything you need to know to get an EDDM postcard campaign right on the first attempt.

What Is EDDM and Why It Costs $0.226/Piece

EDDM stands for Every Door Direct Mail. It is a USPS program introduced in 2011 that lets businesses send mail to every address on selected carrier routes without purchasing a mailing list or printing individual addresses.

The $0.226 postage rate exists because EDDM eliminates most of the work USPS normally does with addressed mail. There is no address reading, no sorting to individual delivery points, no forwarding, no return-to-sender. The mail carrier simply takes a stack of identical pieces and puts one in each mailbox on their route, in the order they walk it. Less handling for USPS means lower postage for you.

Here is what EDDM does not include:

• No individual targeting: You cannot choose specific households. Everyone on the route gets a piece.
• No personal addressing: Pieces are marked "Local Postal Customer" or "Residential Customer" instead of a name and address.
• No return mail: If someone has moved, the piece is still delivered to that address. There is no forwarding.
• No tracking: USPS does not provide delivery confirmation for EDDM. You know when you dropped it off, but delivery timing is estimated, not tracked.

For businesses that need to reach a geographic area rather than specific individuals, these trade-offs are well worth the savings. A dentist trying to fill chairs does not care which specific person on Elm Street books an appointment -- they just need the people on Elm Street to know the practice exists.

EDDM Size Requirements

This is where most DIY EDDM attempts fail. EDDM pieces must qualify as USPS "flats" -- mail that exceeds standard letter dimensions. If your postcard is too small, it will be rejected at the post office counter.

Minimum dimensions (must meet at least one):

• Longer than 11.5 inches OR taller than 6.125 inches
• At least 6.25 inches x 9 inches (both dimensions must be met)

Maximum dimensions:

• 12 inches x 15 inches
• 0.25 inches thick (maximum)
• 3.3 ounces (maximum weight)

Minimum thickness: 0.009 inches. Standard 14pt cardstock is approximately 0.014 inches, so it qualifies easily.

The most common mistake is ordering a 6x9 postcard thinking it qualifies for EDDM. It does not -- 6 inches is less than 6.125 inches and less than 6.25 inches. A 6x9 postcard is too small for EDDM. You need at least 6.25x9 or 6x11.5.

Popular EDDM Postcard Sizes Compared

Four sizes account for the vast majority of EDDM postcards we print. Here is how they compare:

Size	EDDM Eligible?	Print Cost Per Piece (5K qty)	Pros	Cons
6" x 11"	Yes (exceeds 11.5" rule at 11" -- must actually be 6.125" x 11" or 6" x 11.5")	$0.08 - $0.12	Most cost-effective EDDM size. Fits standard press sheets efficiently.	Slightly narrow vertical space.
6.5" x 9"	Yes (meets 6.25" x 9" minimum)	$0.09 - $0.13	Compact format, feels like a large postcard rather than a flyer.	Less total surface area than 6x11.
8.5" x 11"	Yes	$0.11 - $0.16	Maximum design space. Room for maps, menus, coupons.	Higher print cost. Can feel like "junk mail" if design is not compelling.
9" x 12"	Yes	$0.14 - $0.20	Maximum impact. Impossible to miss in a mailbox.	Highest print cost. Near the EDDM size maximum.

Our recommendation: The 6x11 (technically 6.25x11 to ensure EDDM compliance) is the sweet spot for most campaigns. It is large enough to deliver a strong visual impression, small enough to keep printing costs low, and the landscape orientation naturally accommodates a hero image on one side with offer details on the other.

If you need more space for a menu, coupon grid, or map, step up to 8.5x11. The per-piece printing cost increase is modest at volume, and the extra space pays for itself if it means your piece gets kept on the fridge instead of going straight to the recycling bin.

Paper Stock Recommendations

Paper stock choice for EDDM is driven by two factors: durability in the mail stream and perceived quality in the recipient's hands.

14pt C2S -- The Standard

14pt coated-two-sides stock is the baseline for EDDM postcards. It is approximately the thickness of a standard business card. It survives bundling, rubber banding, carrier handling, and mailbox delivery without bending or tearing. At $0.02-$0.04 per piece more than thinner stock, there is no reason to go lighter.

16pt C2S -- The Upgrade

16pt adds noticeable heft. When a recipient pulls your postcard out of the mailbox, it feels more like a quality piece of marketing than a grocery store flyer. The cost increase is about 10-15% over 14pt. Worth it for premium brands, real estate listings, and any campaign where perceived quality drives response.

Coating Matters

• Gloss: High-shine finish that makes colors vibrant and photos sharp. The default choice for most EDDM postcards.
• Matte: Soft, non-reflective finish. Reads better under overhead lighting (no glare). Popular for healthcare, professional services, and text-heavy designs.
• UV gloss: An extra layer of high-gloss varnish applied after printing. More durable than standard gloss and adds a premium tactile quality. Adds $0.01-$0.03 per piece.
• AQ (aqueous) coating: A water-based protective layer that is less glossy than UV but provides scuff resistance. Often included free or at minimal cost.

Printing Options: Digital vs. Offset

The printing method affects cost, quality, and turnaround. Here is the practical breakdown:

Digital Printing (Best for Under 5,000 Pieces)

Digital presses print directly from a digital file with no plates or setup. Advantages: fast turnaround (2-3 business days), no plate fees, cost-effective at low quantities, and easy to run variable versions (different offers for different routes). The quality of modern digital presses is excellent -- most recipients cannot distinguish digital from offset.

The cost per piece for digital is higher than offset, but the lower setup cost makes it cheaper overall at quantities under 5,000.

Offset Printing (Best for 5,000+ Pieces)

Offset presses use aluminum plates to transfer ink to paper. The plate setup takes time and money (typically $200-$400 for a 4-color job), but once plates are running, the per-piece cost drops significantly. At 10,000 pieces, offset is typically 30-40% cheaper per piece than digital.

Offset also offers slightly wider color gamut, more consistent color across a large run, and the ability to print Pantone spot colors (important for brand-precise color matching). Turnaround is 5-7 business days due to plate production and drying time.

Factor	Digital	Offset
Best quantity range	250 - 5,000	5,000+
Setup cost	Minimal ($0-$50)	$200 - $400
Per-piece cost (5,000 6x11)	$0.10 - $0.14	$0.06 - $0.09
Turnaround	2-3 business days	5-7 business days
Variable data capable	Yes	No (requires separate inkjet pass)
Color consistency	Very good	Excellent

The EDDM Process Step by Step

Here is exactly what happens from the moment you decide to run an EDDM campaign to the moment postcards land in mailboxes:

1. Select your carrier routes. Use the EDDM route selection tool to pick routes by geography, household count, median income, median age, and household size. Mark whether you want residential only, business only, or both.
2. Calculate your quantity. Add up the total active delivery addresses across all selected routes. That is your print quantity. Add 2-3% for spoilage and USPS overage.
3. Design your postcard. Create your artwork at the correct dimensions with 0.125-inch bleed on all sides. See our EDDM design tips for specific guidance.
4. Submit files and approve proof. Send the print-ready PDF. We preflight it for dimensions, resolution, bleed, and color mode. You approve a digital proof before printing begins.
5. Printing. Postcards are printed on digital or offset presses depending on quantity. Printed sheets are cut to final size and stacked for bundling.
6. Bundling and preparation. Postcards are separated into bundles for each carrier route. Each bundle gets a facing slip -- a small form that identifies the route number, delivery office, and quantity. Bundles are rubber-banded or shrink-wrapped per USPS specifications.
7. USPS documentation. We complete the PS Form 3587 (EDDM Retail) for each post office that will handle routes in your campaign. If you are mailing to routes served by multiple post offices, each one gets its own paperwork.
8. Drop-off. Bundled postcards with completed documentation are delivered to the destination post office(s). For EDDM Retail, this is the post office that serves each carrier route. For EDDM BMEU (Business Mail Entry Unit), large campaigns can be dropped at a central facility.
9. Delivery. Mail carriers include your postcards in their regular delivery within 3-7 business days after drop-off. Peak postal seasons (holidays, election season) may extend this window.

Route Selection Strategies

Route selection is where the strategy lives in EDDM. You cannot target individuals, but you can absolutely target neighborhoods -- and the demographic data available for each carrier route is surprisingly detailed.

Start with Geography

Define your service radius. For a restaurant, that is typically 3-5 miles. For a home services company, 10-15 miles. For a retail store, 5-10 miles depending on the market. Pull up all carrier routes within that radius as your starting pool.

Filter by Demographics

Each carrier route shows median household income, median age, and household size. Use these to narrow your selection:

• High-end services (cosmetic dentist, luxury landscaping, financial advisor): Focus on routes with median income above $75,000.
• Family-oriented businesses (pediatric dentist, family restaurant, tutoring): Target routes with average household size of 3+ people.
• Senior services (home health, Medicare supplements, estate planning): Look for routes with median age above 55.

Residential vs. Business

Most consumer businesses should select residential addresses only. Including businesses adds to your piece count (and cost) without adding qualified prospects. Exceptions: B2B services like commercial cleaning, office supply delivery, or IT support should include business addresses.

Avoid Saturating Too Quickly

A common mistake is trying to cover a huge area in one drop. Response rates for EDDM average 2-5%, meaning repetition matters more than reach. It is better to mail the same 3,000 households three times over six weeks than to mail 9,000 households once. Repetition builds recognition and trust.

EDDM Pricing Breakdown

Let's break down the real cost of an EDDM campaign using the most popular size: 6x11 postcards on 14pt C2S stock with gloss coating, full color both sides.

Quantity	Printing Per Piece	Postage Per Piece	Bundling/Prep	All-In Per Piece	Total Campaign Cost
1,000	$0.14 - $0.18	$0.226	Included	$0.37 - $0.41	$370 - $410
2,500	$0.10 - $0.14	$0.226	Included	$0.33 - $0.37	$825 - $925
5,000	$0.08 - $0.12	$0.226	Included	$0.31 - $0.35	$1,550 - $1,750
10,000	$0.06 - $0.09	$0.226	Included	$0.29 - $0.32	$2,900 - $3,200
25,000	$0.04 - $0.06	$0.226	Included	$0.27 - $0.29	$6,750 - $7,250

What is not included: Graphic design ($150-$400 if you need it created). Mailing list purchase (not applicable for EDDM). These are the actual printing, preparation, and postage costs.

Compare this to other EDDM cost scenarios including 8.5x11 and 9x12 sizes.

Design Tips for EDDM Postcards

EDDM postcards compete with every other piece of mail in the box. You have about 3 seconds to earn a second look. Here is what works:

Front Side (Address Side)

USPS requires specific elements on the address side of EDDM pieces:

• "Local Postal Customer" or "Residential Customer" in the address area
• Your return address
• Postage indicia (the "USPS Marketing Mail" permit mark)

This leaves approximately 50-60% of the address side available for your marketing content. Use it for your call-to-action, a map to your location, or a secondary offer.

Back Side (Non-Address Side)

This is your billboard. Design it to be read from arm's length. Effective elements:

• One dominant image that shows your product, service result, or location. Not a stock photo -- real photography converts better.
• One clear headline in large type (36pt+ for a 6x11 card). State the benefit, not the feature. "Get AC Repairs Same Day" beats "HVAC Service Available."
• One offer with a specific dollar amount or percentage. "$50 Off Your First Visit" outperforms "Special Discount for New Customers."
• One call to action with a phone number AND a website/QR code. Some people call; some people Google you first.

What Not to Do

• Do not list every service you offer. Pick the one or two that drive the most revenue.
• Do not use white backgrounds with small text. The postcard will look like every other piece of junk mail.
• Do not forget the expiration date on your offer. Urgency drives action.
• Do not use a QR code as the only call to action. Include a phone number for people who do not scan QR codes (which is most people over 55).

Frequently Asked Questions

What does EDDM stand for and how does it work?

EDDM stands for Every Door Direct Mail. It is a USPS program that lets you send mail to every residential and/or business address on selected carrier routes without a mailing list. You choose the routes, prepare the mail to USPS specifications, and pay $0.226 per piece. The mail carrier delivers one piece to every door. No names or addresses are printed -- pieces are marked "Local Postal Customer" instead.

What size postcards qualify for EDDM?

EDDM pieces must exceed letter dimensions. The minimum size is 6.125"x11.5" OR 6.25"x9". Maximum is 12"x15". The most popular sizes are 6x11 (technically 6.25x11), 6.5x9, 8.5x11, and 9x12. Thickness must be between 0.009" and 0.25" -- 14pt cardstock meets this requirement.

How much does EDDM postcard printing and mailing cost?

For 1,000 6x11 postcards on 14pt stock, expect $0.37-$0.41 per piece all-in ($370-$410 total). At 5,000 pieces, the all-in cost drops to $0.31-$0.35 per piece ($1,550-$1,750 total). At 10,000 pieces, expect $0.29-$0.32 per piece ($2,900-$3,200 total). These include printing, bundling, and postage.

What is the minimum number of pieces for EDDM?

Each carrier route requires a minimum of 200 pieces and a maximum of 5,000 per day for EDDM Retail. The practical minimum depends on the smallest route in your area, typically 200-500 pieces.

How do I choose which EDDM routes to mail?

Start with geography (routes within your service radius), then filter by demographics (income, age, household size). The EDDM route planner shows this data for every carrier route. Focus on routes that match your ideal customer profile.

What paper stock is best for EDDM postcards?

14pt C2S minimum. It provides enough rigidity to survive mail handling and looks professional. 16pt is a premium upgrade worth 10-15% more. Avoid anything lighter than 14pt -- it bends in transit and feels cheap.

How long does an EDDM campaign take from start to finish?

5-10 business days from proof approval to mailbox delivery. Printing: 2-3 days (digital) or 5-7 days (offset). Bundling: 1 day. USPS delivery: 3-7 days. Plan for 2 weeks total from proof approval to in-home delivery.

Can I target only residential addresses with EDDM?

Yes. When selecting routes, you can choose residential only, business only, or both. Most consumer businesses choose residential only to avoid paying for pieces delivered to commercial addresses.