USPS EDDM Size & Mailing Guidelines
Every Door Direct Mail has its own size, weight, and thickness rules under the USPS Domestic Mail Manual. Here’s what qualifies — we’ll confirm your exact piece against current USPS specs before anything prints.
Size, weight & thickness requirements
A piece has to fall inside these ranges to qualify for EDDM Retail postage.
-
Minimum size. A piece qualifies if it exceeds at least one of: 10-1/2″ long, 6-1/8″ high, or 1/4″ thick (per USPS DMM 143). It doesn’t need to clear all three — any one is enough. Pieces smaller than all three thresholds are processed as letter mail, not EDDM.
-
Maximum size. No side longer than 15″, and no side taller than 12″.
-
Weight. Up to 3.3 oz per piece.
-
Thickness. Between 0.007″ and 3/4″ (0.75″). A piece thicker than 1/4″ (0.25″) already qualifies as EDDM-eligible on thickness alone, even if it doesn’t meet the height or length minimums — that’s how dimensional or sample mailers qualify. Pieces thicker than 3/4″ are handled as parcels.
Popular EDDM postcard sizes
Postage is the same regardless of size within the qualifying range — a bigger card just means more visibility for the same mailing cost.
6.25″ × 9″
The standard EDDM postcard size — compact, economical to print, and the most common choice for straightforward offers.
6.25″ × 11″
A taller format that gives more room for photos or a longer offer without changing postage.
8.5″ × 11″
Full-letter-size — enough space for multiple offers, a menu, or a detailed service list on one piece.
12″ × 15″
The largest size EDDM allows. Maximum shelf presence in the mailbox, same postage as a standard postcard.
Can you fold an EDDM mailer?
Yes — folded formats like a bifold brochure or a folded 8.5″ × 11″ piece are allowed, as long as the folded piece still falls inside the weight, thickness, and size ranges above. Folding lets you fit more content into a compact mailbox-ready size without exceeding the postcard dimensions.
Frequently asked questions
- What happens if my design doesn’t meet these specs?
- We check every file against current USPS EDDM specs before it goes to press. If your design is outside the qualifying range, we’ll tell you exactly what to adjust, or resize it for you, before you’re charged for postage.
- Does a bigger postcard cost more to mail?
- No — EDDM postage is flat across the qualifying size range. A 12″ × 15″ piece costs the same to mail as a 6.25″ × 9″ piece; only the printing cost changes with size.
- Can I mail something heavier or thicker than these limits?
- Not under EDDM Retail pricing — heavier or thicker pieces need a different USPS Marketing Mail category, which we can also quote. Ask us and we’ll recommend the right class for your piece.
Have a size in mind?
Tell us your format and we’ll confirm it qualifies, then quote print, postage, and mailing together.
- Call 949-863-1100
- Email mahyarh@superdaves.biz