What Is Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM)? A Complete Explainer
Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) is a USPS program that lets businesses mail to every household on a postal route — no mailing list needed. Here's exactly how it works.
What Is Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM)?
Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) is a United States Postal Service program that allows businesses to mail printed marketing pieces — usually oversized postcards — to every address on selected postal carrier routes, without needing a mailing list. You choose the neighborhoods; USPS delivers to every door.
EDDM is used by restaurants, real estate agents, gyms, dental offices, home service companies, nonprofits, and thousands of other local businesses that want to reach their entire community affordably.
How Does EDDM Work? Step by Step
- Choose your carrier routes — Using the USPS EDDM mapping tool (or a full-service provider's route selection interface), you browse available postal carrier routes by ZIP code. Each route covers roughly 300–600 delivery points (households and businesses).
- Design your mailpiece — Create a postcard that meets USPS EDDM size requirements (must be a "flat" — at least 6.125 x 10.5 on the short dimension). The most popular EDDM size is 6.25 x 9.
- Get it printed — Print your pieces with an EDDM-capable printer. Quality matters: 100 lb. gloss cover stock with UV coating is the standard for professional results.
- Prepare for mailing (or let us handle it) — With EDDM Full Service, your print provider handles all bundling, paperwork, and delivery. With Print Only, you handle these steps yourself.
- USPS delivers — Carriers deliver your pieces alongside regular mail on their route. Delivery typically completes within 5–7 business days of the post office receiving your mailing.
EDDM vs. Traditional Direct Mail
| Feature | EDDM | Traditional Direct Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Mailing list required | No | Yes |
| Postage per piece | $0.245 | Higher (varies by class & list) |
| Targeting method | Geographic (routes) | Demographic/behavioral |
| Minimum quantity | 200 pieces | 200–500+ |
| Best for | Local geographic saturation | Targeted demographic outreach |
Who Uses EDDM?
EDDM is especially effective for businesses with a local service area:
- Restaurants and food service — Grand openings, weekly specials, and delivery zone announcements
- Real estate agents — Neighborhood farming, just-listed/just-sold cards, market update mailers
- Home service companies — Roofers, HVAC, plumbers, landscapers targeting nearby homeowners
- Healthcare providers — Dental offices, chiropractors, physical therapists attracting new patients
- Gyms and fitness studios — Membership promotions and grand opening campaigns
- Retail stores — Sale events, grand openings, coupon mailings
- Nonprofits and churches — Event announcements, donation drives, community outreach
EDDM Full Service vs. Print Only
Full Service — Your print provider handles everything: printing, bundling by route, applying EDDM facing slips, completing USPS paperwork, and delivering to the post office. You just place the order and upload your artwork. This is the most popular option.
Print Only — You receive printed postcards and handle all the post office preparation yourself. Lower cost, but requires time, knowledge of USPS EDDM procedures, and a trip (or multiple trips) to your local post office.
Start an EDDM campaign → | Get a free quote →
How to Get Started with EDDM
Starting an EDDM campaign is straightforward. Here's the process at a high level:
- Choose your target area. Use the USPS route map tool or our route selector to identify carrier routes within your desired neighborhood radius. Each route covers 300–600 delivery points.
- Design your postcard. Create a print-ready file (PDF or TIFF) at 300 DPI with correct bleed and EDDM-compliant dimensions. Minimum size is 6.125 x 10.5.
- Choose Full Service or Print Only. Full Service handles all printing, bundling, and delivery to USPS on your behalf — the most common choice for businesses that don't want to manage logistics.
- Submit your order and upload artwork. Once approved, your postcards are printed, bundled by route, and delivered to the appropriate USPS facility.
- Track results. Use a dedicated phone number, QR code, or promo code to attribute responses and measure campaign ROI.
Most campaigns go from order to in-home delivery in 7–14 business days with standard production. See our EDDM delivery timeline guide for planning details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "every door" mean in EDDM?
It means USPS delivers to every delivery point on a carrier route — every household, apartment, and business address — without skipping any addresses. Hence "Every Door."
Do I need a permit for EDDM?
For EDDM Retail (the most common option for small businesses), no permit is required. You pay postage at the time of mailing. Full-service providers handle this for you automatically.
How long does EDDM delivery take?
Once your mailing is dropped at the post office, USPS delivers within approximately 3–7 business days on the selected routes. Total time from order to delivery (including printing) is typically 7–14 business days.
Is EDDM only for postcards?
EDDM supports any flat mailpiece that meets USPS size requirements. Postcards are by far the most common format, but folded self-mailers, menus, and catalogs can also qualify if they meet the minimum dimensions.
Can individuals use EDDM, or is it only for businesses?
Any person, organization, or business can use EDDM — there's no commercial license required. Nonprofits, political campaigns, churches, and individuals all use EDDM for local outreach.
What zip codes or routes can I target?
You can target any active USPS carrier route in the United States. Routes are browsable by ZIP code. You can select individual routes or entire ZIP codes depending on your campaign size.