Articles

Postcard Mailing That Works: Sizes, Costs, and USPS Rules We Help You Navigate

If your mailbox overflowed during election season, you saw how powerful a postcard can be. What you did not see is the planning, postal rules, and cost strategy behind every piece. That is where we come in.

At Foote Printing, we help you turn a simple postcard into a well 11planned direct mail campaign that hits the right people, meets USPS requirements, and keeps postage in check. Printing is rarely the biggest expense. Postage is. Our job is to optimize your design and mailing plan so you pay the lowest practical rate and get reliable delivery.

Choose the Right Size to Unlock Lower Postage

Picking the correct size is the first cost decision.

Common sizes: 4x6, 5x7, 6x9, 6x11
Keep it at or under 6x11 to qualify for letter rates with USPS Marketing Mail
Go larger than 6x11 and you are in flat pricing, which is significantly more expensive

We will walk you through the tradeoffs so your piece gets noticed without triggering higher postage.

Design the “Mailing Side” Correctly

Automation is your friend. When your postcard meets USPS machine standards, you get lower rates and smoother delivery. Use this layout guidance before you design.

Reserve a 4 inch wide by 2 inch tall white box in the bottom right on the mailing side. We use this space for the address and barcode that lets USPS process your mail on their machines.
Leave space in the upper right for a stamp or an indicia. An indicia shows USPS which account to charge for postage.
Keep the rest of your design clean, readable, and high contrast for best machine readability and results.

Send us your concept early. A five 11minute check can save a reprint and hundreds in postage.

Pick the Best Mailing Method for Your Goal

Your audience and timeline drive the mailing class. We help you choose what fits.

USPS Marketing Mail, often called Standard Mail

Best for targeted lists when speed is flexible
Minimum 200 pieces per mailing
You provide a list, we run NCOA address hygiene, then address, barcode, and sort for automation
Lowest typical postage for list 11based outreach

First 11Class Presort

Best for time 11sensitive or higher priority mail
Minimum 500 pieces per mailing
Faster delivery and forwarding services, higher postage than Marketing Mail

Every Door Direct Mail, EDDM

Best for saturating neighborhoods without a list
We select carrier routes, bundle to USPS specs, and deliver to the local post office
No individual addresses on the card, which gives you more design space
Requires an indicia and “Postal Customer” marking
Very efficient for grand openings, local services, and events

Not sure whether a list or EDDM fits better? We will map routes, estimate reach, and compare costs for you.

Quick Checklist Before You Design

Who are you trying to reach, list or routes
Quantity you plan to mail
Final size, target any of 4x6, 5x7, 6x9, 6x11
Offer and call to action
Mailing class, Marketing Mail, First 11Class Presort, or EDDM
Timeline to in 11home date
Postage budget, remember it is the largest line item

Share this with us and we will build a production and mailing plan that fits.

Why Partner With Foote Printing

I am Michael Duhr, and our team manages postcard printing and mailing from file prep to drop at USPS. We verify addresses with NCOA, apply barcodes and indicia, meet automation specs, and bundle your pieces exactly the way the post office wants them. That is how we keep your postage low and your campaigns consistent.

Key Takeaways

Size smart. Stay at or under 6x11 to keep letter rates.
Design for machines. Reserve a 4x2 inch address and barcode zone, plus stamp or indicia space.
Choose the right class. Marketing Mail needs 200 pieces, First 11Class Presort needs 500, EDDM needs no list.
Plan early. A quick review prevents costly rework and avoids flat pricing.

Ready To Launch Your Postcard Campaign

Let us help you reach the right people at the right price. Contact us to schedule a quick consultation. Bring your idea, and we will turn it into a postcard mailing that performs.

Most Recent

Cleveland Political Printing: How Off-Year Elections Delivered Our Best Month Ever

Posted By Foote Printing
January 14, 2026 Category: General

If election night kept you up late, you were not alone. While you watched returns, our presses were humming. This off-year cycle turned into the best month ever at Foote Printing, and it revealed what local campaigns in Cleveland truly need to win: speed, precision, and partners who understand the stakes. The Realities Cleveland Campaigns Face This year, the City of Cleveland reduced wards due to new census data. That shook up council races and put every council seat back on the ballot. The result was a surge in political printing with tight deadlines and last-minute changes. We are not a massive national shop. We are a local union printer rooted in Cleveland. That’s exactly why off-year elections are our sweet spot. When campaigns need quick turn times, accurate targeting by ward, and materials that reflect local values, we deliver. What We Printed That Moved the Needle Campaigns are getting smarter about their marketing mix. While a lot happens online, print still does heavy lifting for persuasion and turnout. Here is what we produced most this season: Political postcards and mailers: The bulk of our campaign work. Designed for speed, clarity, and fast mailing. Yard signs: Still essential for name recognition and visibility in key neighborhoods. T-shirts: Street teams and volunteers need branded gear that pops in photos and on the doorstep. Union and solar bugs: We print the union bug and a solar printed bug so your materials reflect values many Cleveland vot

A Freshly Paved Parking Lot, Faster Service: How a Surprise Asphalt Upgrade Helps Us Help You

Posted By Foote Printing
January 14, 2026 Category: General

If you have ever battled weeds and bamboo pushing through old asphalt, you know the struggle. Our delivery area had turned into a patchwork of cracks and potholes. Then one morning, opportunity literally walked through our front door. A paving crew working down the street had extra asphalt and an open hour. We vetted the plan, said yes, and in about 60 minutes our back lot was transformed. Why We Chose to Repave Now Behind our building is a busy delivery and pickup area that keeps your print jobs moving. Over the years the lot had gotten rough. Weeds and bamboo were breaking through, and the surface was not what we expect from a facility that stands for quality. We had already cleared the area and planned a spring repair. Timing and reliability matter to us, and the chance to get it done sooner at a smart price was too good to pass up. The Story Behind the Upgrade Here is how it happened, straight from our team: We cleared the back lot and planned to bring in a pothole repair team in spring. A representative from ARC Roadway Construction stopped in. They were paving nearby, had extra asphalt, and could mobilize quickly. We asked the right questions. Scope, layers, timeline, and price. Two layers of asphalt were proposed, which was key for durability. We phoned a trusted advisor for a gut check. The answer was simple, take the deal, it will save money and time. The crew arrived, and about an hour later the lot looked phenomenal. Smooth, clean, and ready for work. We

The Number One Art File Mistake That Delays Printing, and How To Fix It

Posted By Foote Printing
January 14, 2026 Category: General

You can design a stunning postcard, but one tiny white sliver along the edge will make it look cheap in an instant. We see it all the time, and it is completely avoidable. At Foote Printing, the most common error that slows jobs down or triggers reprints is simple, no bleed. When files arrive without bleeds, trimming tolerances can reveal thin white edges or force us to under trim, which pushes type uncomfortably close to the cut. I am Michael Duhr, and my team and I want to help you avoid those headaches with a few practical, print-ready habits. Bleeds and Safe Zones, The Foundation of Print-Ready Files If your design prints to the edge, extend background colors, images, and elements past the trim. Add at least 0.125 inch bleed on all sides Keep critical content, logos, and type at least 0.25 inch inside the trim, the safe zone A proper bleed lets us trim cleanly even with slight mechanical variance. A proper safe zone keeps your message from crowding the edge if we must under trim to avoid a white sliver. You can give more bleed if you prefer, even 0.25 inch or more, especially useful for complex layouts. Send the Right File Format and Resolution For commercial printing, PDF is your best friend. Export a print-ready PDF with bleeds turned on Include crop marks if your workflow supports them Avoid sending JPG or PNG as your only file, those often come in at 72 dpi and oversized, which prints poorly If you have to use raster art, ensure it is 300 dpi at final s