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Send promotional postcards to a bigger and broader market.
- A cost-effective marketing solution
- Choose from four substantial cardstock options
- Matte, gloss, or high-gloss coating on both sides
- Add perforation to give special coupons & discounts
- Avoid the hassle & use our direct mail services
"We use postcards in many different ways to promote our organization.
The postcards are inexpensive, can be custom sized,
and have a quick turnaround time."
Greg Yagoda, charity: water
A Timeless & Effective Promotional Solution: Standard Postcards
Standard postcard printing continues to be an integral part of direct mail advertising. Research shows that unlike digital marketing, high-quality postcards offer a tactile advantage that makes recipients more likely to respond to your offers and recall your brand. Your conversion rates are likelier to increase through this cost-effective marketing solution.
Make a Memorable Impression
The weight and feel of your custom postcards will determine a customer’s first impression of your brand. It’s crucial to have your big branch announcement or upcoming sale printed on thick and durable cardstock.
10 pt. Cardstock
- Our lightweight, flexible option
- Easy to hand out or insert in customer purchases
- Available in gloss, matte, or high gloss UV on one or both sides
14 pt. cardstock
- The sturdy, standard material also used for business cards
- Apply gloss coating on one or both sides to protect it during mailing
- Uncoated option available on both sides for writability
16 pt. cardstock
- Significantly more substantial than the 14 pt.
- Gives your postcard design a premium weight
- Available in gloss, high gloss UV, or matte on one or both sides
17 pt. cardstock
- The heaviest and thickest material available
- Perfect for luxury brands targeting high-end customers
- Uncoated texture on one or both sides allows for a writable surface
Find That Fine Finish
Our coatings offer form with every standout finish and function with their protective qualities. High quality postcards are guaranteed with every choice.
- Gloss allows each color to pop and protects a design from damage during mailing.
- Matte offers a quiet but impressive finish with its elegant, easy-to-read surface.
- High gloss UV gives the most stunning shine & brightest print on every color. It is abrasion resistant and the most durable against multiple handlings.
More Finishing Options
Perforating: Maximize your postcards’ response rates by including perforations for business cards, reply stubs, or coupons.Shrink Wrapping: We also offer shrink wrapping that protects postcards during shipping and storage.
Templates: Our postcard templates help you get started on your personalized postcards. If you have a ready file, feel free to upload the design online.
Print Experts: Should you have any questions, our print experts are available every step of the way.
Q&A
What is the standard size for mailing postcards?
- First-Class mail postcard: min. 5" wide x 3.5" tall, max 6" wide x 4.25" tall.
- Standard Letter Rate & First-Class letter rate: 4.25" tall min. 5" wide x 3.5" tall, max 11.5" wide x 6.125” tall
Is there a minimum order quantity for the direct mail to be available for my order?
Yes, you need to order at least 500 postcards for the “Mailing Services” option to show on our online calculator.
Which is the most durable postcard paper & coating for mailing?
- 16 pt. cardstock is the thickest in terms of paper weight and most protective in terms of its coating.
- 14 pt. cardstock high gloss is recommended for its ability to withstand multiple handling and resist damage on both sides.
- 14 pt. cardstock high gloss UV front, uncoated back is suitable for companies that sell travel postcards and require a writable back side.
What should I keep in mind while designing the flyer?
Color choice determines the effectiveness of your business flyer. A bright or bold color attracts a reader to pick up the flyer, while a dull one will go unnoticed. If you want to entice customers with a fun approach, stick to orange and yellow shades. Companies that require a more professional tone can opt for cool shades such as blue, gray, and green.
Do the printing turnaround times for postcards include shipping or mailing to the indicated address?
Our printing turnaround time for postcards refers to the number of days indicated to produce the order. Choose to have your postcard printed as fast as the same day or in 1 business day. It does not include shipping transit time or direct mail processing time. All turnaround times are based on business days and exclude national holidays.
What is the benefit of selecting a folding option for my flyer?
Folding options make it easy to store and transport large quantity orders. The fold you choose will depend on how you want to organize the flyers before handing them out.
A Guide to Standard Postcard Sizes for Mailing
When it comes to postcard printing, size does matter. Postcards are a popular direct mail tool. To best make use of USPS rates, they have to meet certain requirements, one of which is size. Here are the most common postcard size questions.
What are the standard postcard sizes available?
Standard flat postcards come in the following sizes: 4.25” x 5.5”, 4” x 6”, 4.25” x 6”, 5” x 7”, 6” x 8”, 5.5” x 8.5”, 4” x 9”, 6” x 9”, and 6” x 11”. Folded postcards are also available in half fold and trifold variants.
Half Fold Postcard
Tri Fold Postcard
Which postcard sizes are mailable?
All of the above stated postcard sizes are mailable. However, different sizes qualify for different USPS rates.
- Postcards sized 4 x 6 inches are eligible to mail at the USPS’s First Class Postcard Rate.
- Postcards sized 5 x 7 – 6 x 11 may qualify for the USPS’s Standard Letter Rate or First Class Letter Rate
What are the Every Door Direct Mail® (EDDM®) postcard sizes?
USPS-approved EDDM® sizes for postcards, include: 8.5” x 7”, 6.25” x 9”, 4.25” x 11”, 6.25” x 11”, 8.5” x 11”, 6” x 12”.
What if my postcards don’t meet USPS mailing requirements? Can they still be mailed?
In addition to size regulations, your design must follow other basic USPS requirements if you want them to be mailable without an envelope. If you wish to order a design that may not necessarily follow other USPS requirements, you could order custom envelopes for your postcards.
Are there templates to help create postcards to USPS requirements?
Yes. Our postcard templates will indicate where specific mailing information should be placed. Templates will also indicate safe zones, trim lines, bleeds, and borders. Feel free to download any of our templates below.
Here's what the templates look like with an explanation of each zones:
Back
Did you find this helpful? Please contact us to learn more and to tell us how we can make this better.
Layout Templates
Use our postcard layout templates to ensure your artwork is formatted correctly for printing. Free layout templates are provided through a desktop computer in EPS, JPG, PDF, and Publisher formats for front and back side printing. If your postcard
is for mailing, be sure to check the mailing requirements for mail panel design requirements.
View Postcards Layout Templates
Need help with our layout templates?
Please refer to our guided layout instructions.
Deliver Directly to Your Customers
Save time and money by having your postcard sent to specific customers with our direct mail services. Upon selecting Configure Mailing Services on our online calculator, you’ll be able to:
- Upload your own mailing list
- Indicate the number of pieces mailed
- Specify the postage type
In order to qualify for this type of mailing, your USPS postcard must fall under the following size requirements:
For First Class Postcard Rates- Min. 5" wide x 3.5" tall, max 6" wide x 4.25" tall
- 4.25” x 5.5”
- 4” x 6”
For Standard Letter Rate & First Class Letter Rate:
- Min. 5" wide x 3.5" tall, max 11.5" wide x 6.125” tall
- 5.5” x 8.5”
- 4” x 9”
- 6” x 9”,
- 6” x 11”
More Mail Services We Offer
- Processing 1 mailing list
- Duplication removal if requested
- CASS Certification
- Inkjet addressing
- Postal presorting for automation rates
Good to Know: If you hold a valid USPS nonprofit permit, we can mail under your nonprofit rate if paperwork is completed. Contact mailing services for details.
Postcard mailing services cost includes a minimal setup fee, plus postage.
If you are custom trimming your postcard, check the Postcard Mailing Requirements for size and shape specifications.
Marketing and Design Ideas
Standard postcard marketing works. Not only is this demonstrated by multiple studies, the rise of standard postcard printing shows that direct mail advertising continues to be effective in our real-time, digital world. Here are some of the best ways to utilize your postcard design in your next marketing campaign.
- Entice them with irresistible offers. Customers can rarely resist a good sale or coupon sent directly to their doorstep. Mail loyal and potential consumers alike a personalized postcard that includes a special coupon or discount.
- Personalize each delivery. Give loyal subscribers thank you postcards. Create designs that are tailored specifically to your target market based on their age, gender, income, etc. Target Marketing reports that a personalized postcard assures higher response rates than the generic ones.
- Keep it visual. Postcards provide enough space for one or several images. New businesses can introduce themselves through powerful images showing the lifestyle they are selling or colorful infographics that can lead them right to their store location.
Additional Resources: