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USPS Regulations


When designing your mailer, you may want to adhere to the postal regulations to have the correct aspect ratio and consider cost associated with size and speed of delivery.

Mailing Rates

Bulk Rate: must have the following aspect ratio: Length divided by Height = 1.3 - 2.5 and have four square edges. An example would be 4x 6. Anything outside this ratio is considered "non-machinable" by the US Post Office and will not qualify for bulk rates. There are many sizes that qualify for Bulk Rate.

Postcard Rate: Cards between 3.5 x 5 and 4.25 x 6 are the cheaper Postcard Rate. Cards at this size are automatically given "First Class" service.

Letter Rate: Cards between 4.25 x 6 (on either dimension) and 6.125 x 11.5. Choose either First Class or the cheaper Standard Rate.

Flats: Cards between 6.125 x 11.5 (on either dimension) and 15 x 12. For these cards you may choose either First Class or the cheaper Standard Rate.

Postcard Printing and Mailing

USPS Regulation Guidelines
If you are using our mailing services, the United States Postal Service requires that certain areas of the address side of the postcard be left white for addressing, postage, and bar coding. This includes background color, text, and any photos/images. The dimensions and exclusions vary based on the postcard size, so please adhere to the exclusion areas defined in the layouts below.

If you are choosing Print + Address service, and plan to mail your cards yourself, the only exclusion you will need to follow is for the addressing area. To find out more about USPS requirements for your mailing, we recommend visiting your local post office or the official US Postal Service Web site.

mailing

Regular Sized Postcard 4.25 x 5.6

Dimension Settings
Set the dimensions of your design to: 5.85" x 4.5"
The final trim size will be: 5.6" x 4.25"
Inner Margin (design area): 0.25" within the trim line
• As trim lines may vary slightly, keep any text or graphics that you want to preserve within design area.

Bleed: 0.125" beyond trim edge
• If you want your background to print to the edge of your design, extend any background images or colors beyond the trim line.

USPS non-print areas (back side, Print + Address + Mail orders only)
• These areas must remain white and be free of all text, graphics and color:
• Postage/Indicia: 1.625" x 1.375" anchored from top right bleed corner
• Bar Coding: 4.875" x 0.75" from bottom right bleed corner
• Addressing: 2.875" x 1.625" from top right of Bar Code

mailing

Jumbo Sized Postcard 8.75" x 5.75"

Dimension Settings
Set the dimensions of your design to: 8.75" x 5.75"
The final trim size will be: 8.5" x 5.5"
Inner Margin (design area): 0.25" within the trim line
• As trim lines may vary slightly, keep any text or graphics that you want to preserve within design area.

Bleed: 0.125" beyond trim edge
• If you want your background to print to the edge of your design, extend any background images or colors beyond the trim line.

USPS non-print areas (back side, Print + Address + Mail orders only)
These areas must remain white and be free of all text, graphics and color:
• Postage/Indicia: 1.875 x 1.375" anchored from top right bleed corner
• Addressing/Bar Coding: 4.125" x 3.125" anchored from bottom right bleed corner

mailing

Panoramic Sized Postcard 11.5" x 6"

Dimension Settings
Set the dimensions of your design to: 11.5" x 6"
The final trim size will be: 11.25" x 5.75"
Inner Margin (design area): 0.25" within the trim line
• As trim lines may vary slightly, keep any text or graphics that you want to preserve within design area.

Bleed: 0.125" beyond trim edge
• If you want your background to print to the edge of your design, extend any background images or colors beyond the trim line.

USPS non-print areas (back side, Print + Address + Mail orders only)
• These areas must remain white and be free of all text, graphics and color:
• Address/Bar Coding: 4.375" x 2.125" anchored from bottom right bleed corner
• Postage/Indicia: 1.625" x .75" from top right of address/bar coding area

mailing

Giant Size / Property Flyer Sized Postcard 8.75" x 11.25"

Dimension Settings
Set the dimensions of your design to: 8.75" x 11.25"
The final trim size will be: 8.5" x 11"
Inner Margin (design area): 0.25" within the trim line
• As trim lines may vary slightly, keep any text or graphics that you want to preserve within design area.

Bleed: 0.125" beyond trim edge
• If you want your background to print to the edge of your design, extend any background images or colors beyond the trim line.

USPS non-print areas (back side, Print + Address + Mail orders only)
• These areas must remain white and be free of all text, graphics and color:
• Addressing/Bar Coding/Indicia: 3.875" x 3.375" anchored from top right bleed corner
• Return Address: 3.5" x 1.25" anchored from top inner margin corner


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