What EDDM costs per piece: postage totals for 2,500, 5,000, and 15,000 pieces

Every Door Direct Mail postage is a flat $0.245 per piece. So 2,500 pieces cost $612.50 in postage, 5,000 pieces cost $1,225.00, and 15,000 pieces cost $3,675.00. Print and design are separate and quoted per job; the numbers change with your choices, not ours. Here is the full breakdown so you can budget with confidence.

How much does EDDM postage cost per piece?

The USPS sets one flat EDDM postage rate for every piece in your mailing. Right now that rate is $0.245. No ZIP Code surcharge, no weight premium on a standard postcard, and no volume tier to track, just $0.245 multiplied by the number of mailboxes you reach. You can do the math in seconds: total postage = quantity × $0.245.

Because EDDM saturates entire carrier routes, you never pay for a mailing list. There are no address rental fees and no permit is required when you use a full-service provider like EDDM2GO. We bundle by route, complete the USPS paperwork, and drop everything at the Post Office for you. That straight-line postage with no list or permit cost is what makes EDDM a favorite for local businesses.

Postage totals at three popular campaign sizes

Local mailers constantly ask about these quantities. Here is what the postage portion looks like:

• 2,500 pieces: $612.50 in postage
• 5,000 pieces: $1,225.00 in postage
• 15,000 pieces: $3,675.00 in postage

A small business testing a few neighborhoods often starts with 2,500 pieces, a manageable investment that covers a handful of carrier routes. When you are ready to hit every door in a larger area, 5,000 or 15,000 simply scales the postage in a straight line. Ten thousand pieces? That is $2,450.

Does a bigger postcard cost more in postage?

No. USPS charges $0.245 per piece for any EDDM-eligible flat that falls within the size and weight limits. Whether you mail a 6.5" × 9" card, an 8.5" × 11" flyer, or a 9" × 12" catalog-style piece, the postage is identical. Size affects your print cost and can influence response, but it will not change the stamp price.

Choosing the right size still matters for your total budget. A larger card uses more paper and costs more to print, so you will see a higher print quote. Our EDDM postcard size guide walks through the eligible dimensions and which ones match different goals.

Print cost: why we quote instead of guess

Postage is public. Print is personal. Three things drive your per-piece print price:

• Quantity: the more you print, the lower the cost per card. This is the single biggest lever you control.
• Size: a 6.25" × 11" piece costs more to produce than a 6.5" × 9", and a 9" × 12" costs more than both.
• Paper stock and coating: 14-pt gloss, 16-pt matte, UV coating; each choice nudges the number.

That is why we do not publish a fixed print price. Quoting one number without knowing your quantity and specs would be guessing, and a guess that comes in low is worse than no number at all. When you request an EDDM quote, we ask for your size, quantity, and finish, then send a real per-piece print cost you can lock in. You will also see how the price drops at higher volumes, so you can judge whether bumping up the count is worth it.

What actually moves your total

Beyond postage, five variables decide what you pay:

• Postcard size. Larger pieces print for more but command more attention in the mailbox.
• Quantity. Per-piece print cost falls meaningfully as volume climbs, while postage stays flat.
• Turnaround. Rush production carries a premium. Ordering three to four weeks ahead of your target in-home date keeps you on standard pricing.
• Stock and finish. Premium gloss, UV, and soft-touch laminate all cost more than a standard matte or gloss that already looks professional.
• Service level. Full Service includes bundling, paperwork, and the Post Office drop. Print Only does not.

Full Service or Print Only?

These are two different products with two different price structures, and picking the wrong one is the most common budgeting mistake we see.

Full Service covers print, route bundling, USPS forms, and delivery to the Post Office. Your postage passes through at the USPS rate with no markup, and the service work is quoted as its own line. Print Only ships the finished cards to you, so you pay print plus shipping and then handle bundling, paperwork, and the drop yourself. It removes the mailing service fee, but it adds your own time and a trip to the Post Office for every ZIP Code you mail.

For most businesses the service fee costs less than the hours it replaces. If you want to see the two side by side before deciding, read our Full Service versus Print Only comparison.

Five ways to bring the cost down

• Use the smallest size that still works. If your message fits a 6" × 9" or 6.5" × 9" card, you are printing on less paper for the same $0.245 postage.
• Consolidate into one larger run. Two separate 2,500-piece orders cost more in print than a single 5,000-piece run mailed to twice the routes.
• Book standard turnaround. Rush pricing is avoidable with a few weeks of lead time.
• Keep the finish simple. Standard gloss or matte reads as professional; specialty coatings rarely change response enough to pay for themselves.
• Supply print-ready artwork. A correct PDF removes the design line from your quote entirely.

Design starts at $75

If you already have a print-ready PDF that meets USPS size and bleed rules, your design cost is zero. If you need help, our in-house team can turn your logo and a few sentences into a mail-ready layout starting at $75. We position the indicia and return address exactly where USPS wants them, so your piece does not come back for revisions. You are welcome to use your own designer too; we provide a template showing safe zones and bleed. Either way, the design line on your quote is never a surprise.

Testing a small quantity first

We set no minimum order, and USPS EDDM Retail starts at 200 pieces. You can mail a single carrier route of 500 mailboxes for $122.50 in postage plus print and design. Testing small is a sensible way to measure response before committing to a wider footprint. When you scale up, the postage rate holds steady and your print cost per piece improves.

Frequently asked questions

How much is EDDM postage per piece?

EDDM postage is $0.245 per piece, a flat rate regardless of postcard size or weight within USPS limits. It is meaningfully cheaper than First-Class postage or presorted Marketing Mail, and it requires no mailing list.

Is there a minimum quantity for EDDM?

USPS EDDM Retail starts at 200 pieces. In practice most campaigns begin at one full carrier route, which is typically 400 to 800 households depending on the neighborhood.

Does the price include design?

No. Design is a separate line and starts at $75. If you supply print-ready artwork there is no design charge at all.

Are there hidden fees?

No. A quote shows print, postage, and any mailing service or design fee as separate lines. Postage passes through at the USPS rate, and there are no setup or artwork fees when you send print-ready files.

Can I mail to only part of a route?

No, and that is the point of EDDM. You mail every address on a carrier route, which is what earns the $0.245 rate. If you need to reach selected households instead, that is a targeted mailing list product rather than EDDM.

How to see your real cost in under two minutes

The fastest path to an actual number is to pick your routes on the map, which shows you how many households each route covers so your quantity is grounded in real coverage instead of a guess. From there you can request a quote with your size and finish.

Prefer to talk it through? Send us the details: your preferred size, the number of pieces you are considering, and the ZIP Code or city you want to reach. We reply with a quote that breaks out postage, print, and design as separate lines so you can see exactly where the money goes. You can also call (346) 306-EDDM (3336).

Bottom line: postage is $0.245 a piece and never moves. Print is quoted from your choices. Design starts at $75 or costs nothing if your artwork is ready. Put those three together and you have the real cost of an EDDM campaign, with no guesswork and no fine print.