Selecting the correct postcard size for your USPS Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) campaign plays a pivotal role in your dealership’s campaign’s reach and success. While the USPS Domestic Mail Manual offers plenty of insight in its 1,500+ pages, Epsilon Individual Automotive helps you bypass the small details to get right to the heart of what you need.
Since 1986, we’ve helped over 10,000 individual dealers with their automotive direct mail marketing—and we’d love to add yours to the list. We’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to provide all the must-know information to help your next campaign run smoothly.
Ready to kickstart your next postcard campaign? Contact us to chat with one of our direct mail marketing experts.
What is EDDM?
Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) is a retail solution offered to businesses by the USPS. This service allows you to choose the neighborhood you want to target, and the postal service will deliver your mail to your exact specifications.
Importantly, EDDM enables businesses to send up to 5,000 mailpieces per day through Standard Mail delivery. Therefore, you don’t need to purchase postage permits, and no names or addresses are required. This allows you to reach more people for a fraction of what non-EDDM postal costs would be.
EDDM Retail Size Specifications
The size and weight of your mailpiece play crucial roles in determining the mail class and associated postage rates. For postcards sent through EDDM, the USPS has specific size requirements:
- Minimum Size: One side must be longer than 6 1/8 inches high or 10.5 inches long.
- Maximum Size: No side should exceed 15 inches in length or 12 inches in height.
- Weight Limit: Each postcard should not weigh more than 3.3 ounces.
- Thickness: Postcards must be thicker than 0.007 inches but not exceed 0.75 inches.
The USPS is strict about these specifications. Any mail that doesn’t meet these specifications will not qualify for EDDM rates. When you work with Epsilon Individual Automotive, we’ll ensure every piece of mail sent out is compliant with EDDM’s specifications.
Popular EDDM Postcard Dimensions
Every year, over a hundred million postcards are distributed using Grow Mail’s EDDM Map Tool. By analyzing anonymized campaign data, we’ve determined the four most popular EDDM postcard sizes:
- Standard: 6.25” x 9”
- Large: 6.25” x 11”
- Jumbo: 8.5” x 11”
- Oversized: 12” x 15”
Did you know that postage can account for over 80% of a postcard marketing campaign’s expense?1 You might be surprised to hear that, through EDDM, an oversized postcard—the largest-sized mail piece you can mail through this service—charges the same rate ($180) as a standard-sized postcard.
Yes, You Can Fold EDDM Mail
Contrary to what some may believe, you can fold EDDM postcards to enhance readability and interaction with the recipient. Remember, they must be less than 3.3 ounces and adhere to the size requirements listed above.
EDDM Puts Your Postcards in More Mailboxes
Dealerships of all sizes can take advantage of the EDDM service offered by USPS. It is a particularly attractive option for dealerships with limited marketing budgets, as it helps make the process of converting leads more attainable.
If you’re interested in learning more about how Epsilon Individual Automotive can help get your postcards sent through EDDAM, schedule a time to talk with one of our experts.
