Guide
Postcard Sizes: USPS Dimensions & Mailing Specs
Every standard postcard size, which ones mail at the postcard rate, and the file specs to send us — plus live per-piece printing prices from our own run sizes.
Quick answer
The standard printed postcard is 4.25" x 6". That is also the largest card USPS will accept at the postcard rate — anything bigger mails as a letter, and anything larger than 6.125" x 11.5" mails as a flat. The other common postcard dimensions are 4" x 6", 5" x 7", 5.5" x 8.5", 6" x 9", 6.5" x 9" and 6" x 11".
Standard postcard sizes
| Size | Mails as | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 4" x 6" | Postcard rate | Classic travel postcards, appointment reminders, thank-you cards |
| 4.25" x 6" | Postcard rate (maximum) | The standard marketing postcard — cheapest way to reach a mailbox |
| 5" x 7" | Letter rate | Invitations, announcements, grand openings, real estate |
| 5.5" x 8.5" | Letter rate | Half-page menus, coupon sheets, service lists |
| 6" x 9" | Letter rate | High-impact mailers that stand out in a stack of #10 envelopes |
| 6.5" x 9" | Flat / EDDM | The most common EDDM size — meets the flat requirement at low cost |
| 6" x 11" | Flat / EDDM | Oversized offers, multi-coupon layouts, seasonal campaigns |
| 8.5" x 11" | Flat / EDDM | Full-page menus, calendars, catalog-style drops |
USPS size limits, in plain terms
- Postcard rate: rectangular, minimum 3.5" x 5", maximum 4.25" x 6", thickness 0.007" to 0.016".
- First-Class letter rate: anything over 4.25" x 6", up to 6.125" x 11.5" and 0.25" thick.
- Flat (and EDDM): larger than 6.125" x 11.5" or thicker than 0.25", up to 12" x 15".
Postage prices change; the size and thickness brackets above are what determine which price you pay. Confirm the current rate with USPS before you budget a campaign, or see our EDDM cost guide for the EDDM Retail per-piece number we use in quotes.
What a postcard costs to print
These are live prices from our own postcard products, lowest available price per run size.
Standard postcards
| Quantity | Printing (from) | Per piece |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | $13.75 | 55.0¢ |
| 50 | $21.25 | 42.5¢ |
| 100 | $31.25 | 31.3¢ |
| 250 | $63.75 | 25.5¢ |
| 500 | $105.00 | 21.0¢ |
| 1,000 | $177.50 | 17.8¢ |
Premium postcards
| Quantity | Printing (from) | Per piece |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | $27.50 | 55.0¢ |
| 100 | $32.50 | 32.5¢ |
| 250 | $40.00 | 16.0¢ |
| 500 | $51.25 | 10.3¢ |
| 750 | $80.00 | 10.7¢ |
| 1,000 | $88.75 | 8.9¢ |
| 1,500 | $128.75 | 8.6¢ |
| 2,000 | $171.25 | 8.6¢ |
| 2,500 | $185.00 | 7.4¢ |
| 3,000 | $213.75 | 7.1¢ |
| 4,000 | $256.25 | 6.4¢ |
Printing is only half of a mailing budget — add postage per piece on top. Free US shipping on orders over $75 if you're mailing them yourself.
Stock and thickness
- 80# or 100# gloss cover: the value option for high-volume drops.
- 110# / 14 pt: the sweet spot — rigid, still inside the postcard-rate thickness range.
- 16 pt and up: premium feel for invitations and high-ticket offers; mails at letter or flat pricing.
- Matte or uncoated: pick this when recipients need to write on the card.
File setup for a mailing postcard
- Build the document at trim size plus 0.125" bleed on all four sides.
- Keep all text and logos 0.125" inside the trim line.
- Leave the bottom-right of the address side clear — roughly 4" wide by 2.5" tall — for the address block, indicia and barcode.
- Supply 300 DPI CMYK artwork as a press-ready PDF with fonts embedded or outlined.
- For EDDM, include the EDDM Retail indicia in the upper-right of the address side.
Which size should you pick?
If postage is the biggest line in your budget, stay at 4.25" x 6" and mail at the postcard rate. If getting noticed matters more than per-piece cost, go 6" x 9" — it is physically larger than most mail in the stack. If you're blanketing neighborhoods rather than mailing a list, jump to 6.5" x 9" and use EDDM, which skips list rental entirely.
FAQ
What is the standard postcard size?
4.25" x 6" is the standard printed postcard size in the United States, and 4" x 6" is the classic travel postcard. Both qualify for the USPS postcard rate as long as the card is rectangular and between 0.007" and 0.016" thick.
What size postcard qualifies for the USPS postcard rate?
To mail at the postcard rate the piece must be rectangular, at least 3.5" x 5", no larger than 4.25" x 6", and between 0.007" and 0.016" thick. Anything bigger than 4.25" x 6" is priced as a letter, not a postcard.
What is the largest postcard you can mail?
A card larger than 4.25" x 6" mails at the First-Class letter price up to 6.125" x 11.5" and 0.25" thick. Above that it becomes a flat, which is what most EDDM pieces are.
What size postcard is used for EDDM?
EDDM pieces must qualify as flats — larger than 6.125" x 11.5" or taller than 0.25", and no larger than 12" x 15". 6.5" x 9" and 8.5" x 11" are the two sizes most customers order. See our EDDM cost guide for the postage math.
How thick should a postcard be?
For the postcard rate the card must be 0.007" to 0.016" thick, which covers everything from 80# cover up to about 14 pt. Heavier stocks like 16 pt or 18 pt still mail fine, just at letter or flat pricing depending on size.
How much bleed and address space does a mailing postcard need?
Build the file at trim size plus 0.125" bleed on all four sides, keep text 0.125" inside the trim, and leave the bottom right of the address side clear for the address block and barcode — roughly 4" wide by 2.5" tall on a standard card.
Can I print a non-standard postcard size?
Yes. We print custom sizes to order — just be aware that any size outside the USPS ranges above changes the postage class, so confirm the mailing rate before you commit to a run.
Ready to print?
Browse postcards → or request a quote for a custom size or run.
Mailing to whole neighborhoods? See our EDDM direct mail services.
Related reading: EDDM cost per piece, EDDM vs targeted direct mail, and rack card sizes, flyer sizes, and business card sizes.