The Complete Guide
Every Door Direct Mail, explained from start to mailbox
EDDM lets you send a postcard to every home on a USPS mail route. No mailing list. No permit. You pick the neighborhoods, we print and mail, and your card lands in every mailbox. Here is the whole thing in plain English, from your first decision down to the USPS fine print.
Start Here
How to run an EDDM campaign in 5 steps
New to Every Door Direct Mail? This is the whole process, start to finish. Each step links to the tool or page that does the heavy lifting, so you can read straight through or jump to the part you need.
- 1
Decide who you want to reach
Think in neighborhoods, not names. EDDM goes to every address on the USPS carrier routes you pick, so you choose by city, ZIP code, or distance from your shop. Open the EDDM route map to see routes with household counts, or read how to select EDDM routes.
- 2
Pick your size
We print 15 EDDM sizes across postcards, flyers and sell sheets. Not sure? Start with 6.5 × 9 — the most popular size, with room for one clear offer without the cost of the biggest pieces. See every EDDM size drawn to scale with the USPS rules, or the best EDDM postcard sizes by industry.
- 3
Get the artwork ready
One offer, one photo, one phone number. Keep the mailing panel clear for the USPS indicia and the Postal Customer line. Send your own print-ready PDF using our file setup guidelines and free templates, or have us design it for you.
- 4
Choose Full Service or Print Only
Full Service is the hands-off option: we print, bundle by carrier route, prepare the USPS paperwork and deliver the mailing to USPS, so you just approve the proof. With Print Only we print and ship to you, and you handle the post office drop. Either way you choose the production time, and the mail or ship date is shown before you pay.
- 5
Mail it, then track what comes back
Postage is a flat $0.26 per piece, every address, every route. Add a promo code, a QR code, or a dedicated phone number so you can measure results instead of guessing. Here is how to track EDDM results.
What it costs
The USPS EDDM postage rate is a flat $0.26 per piece. Printing is quoted per piece and the price drops as your quantity goes up. See live prices by size and quantity for the full math on a real campaign.
01 · Program Overview
Two Types of EDDM
USPS offers two flavors of Every Door Direct Mail. Picking the right one depends on your volume and your permit status.
EDDM Retail
Drop-off at your local post office. No permit required. Best for small to mid-size local campaigns.
- Permit required
- No
- Daily limit
- 5,000 pieces per post office
- Drop-off location
- Local post office counter
- Postage payment
- At the counter with PS Form 3587
- Maximum piece size
- 15" × 12"
- Best for
- Small businesses, neighborhood campaigns
EDDM Standard (BMEU)
Entered at a Business Mail Entry Unit. Requires a USPS permit. Used for large multi-route campaigns.
- Permit required
- Yes (USPS permit)
- Daily limit
- No per-day piece cap
- Drop-off location
- Business Mail Entry Unit (BMEU)
- Postage payment
- Through the permit account
- Maximum piece size
- 15" × 12"
- Best for
- Large mailers, agencies, multi-ZIP campaigns
02 · Size & Weight
Size & Weight Requirements
The short version: an EDDM piece has to be a flat, so it must be longer than 10.5", taller than 6.125" or thicker than 0.25" (any one), and no bigger than 15" × 12", 0.75" thick and 3.3 oz. A 6 × 9 card misses by one-eighth of an inch; 6.25 × 9 and 6.5 × 9 qualify. We print 15 sizes, and every one of them meets these rules.
EDDM sizes and requirementsThe USPS rule table with DMM citations, every size we print drawn to scale, the rule each one clears and its price.
Have a size in mind already? Test it in the EDDM size checker, or compare prices across popular sizes.
03 · Postage
Postage Rates
EDDM uses a single flat per-piece postage rate that applies to every address and every route. That simplicity is one of EDDM's biggest advantages over other USPS mail classes.
Current USPS EDDM Retail Rate
$0.26
per piece · flat rate · all routes · residential + business
How EDDM Compares to Other USPS Mail Classes
| Mail Class | Postage per piece | Mailing List? | Permit? |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDDM Retail | $0.26 | No | No |
| Marketing Mail (presort) | Varies with presort level | Yes | Yes |
| First Class postcard | USPS First-Class rate | Yes | No |
- Postage is paid at the post office counter with PS Form 3587 for EDDM Retail (Print Only orders).
- For EDDM Full Service, postage is included in your quoted price, as its own line — no separate USPS payment at the counter.
- The postage rate applies equally to every address on the route — there is no discount or surcharge based on geography.
Ready to estimate a campaign?
Use the route map to browse carrier routes and get instant pricing — no signup required.
04 · Artwork
Artwork & Print Requirements
Files that don't meet these specs may be rejected at press, delaying your mail drop. Our team reviews every file before printing.
File preparation
- File format
- PDF (preferred), AI, EPS, PSD, TIFF, JPG, PNG
- Resolution
- 300 DPI minimum
- Color mode
- CMYK (not RGB)
- Bleed
- 0.125" on all four sides
- Safe zone
- 0.125" (1/8") inside trim edge
- Fonts
- Embedded or outlined
Address side requirements
- EDDM indicia
- Required, upper right corner
- Return address
- Required, upper left corner
- Postal Customer line
- Required, in the mailing panel
- Clear address zone
- Keep clean for USPS markings
- Templates
- Our free templates place all of these for you
ECRWSS
Check your own file against these rules with the free EDDM file checker.
05 · Routes
Carrier Route Selection & Demographics
USPS divides every ZIP code into carrier routes. Choosing routes is the heart of every EDDM campaign — you pick the routes, USPS handles the delivery.
Hundreds of addresses per route
Each USPS carrier route covers a few hundred addresses or more, depending on density. Urban routes are smaller; rural routes can be larger. The route map shows the exact count.
Filter by recipient type
Mail residential addresses only, or every address on the route. Most EDDM campaigns target residential — businesses can be added for higher reach.
Route demographics
USPS provides household, business, PO Box, and apartment counts per route. Useful for choosing high-density areas.
How to Browse Carrier Routes
- 1Use USPS's free EDDM tool at usps.com/eddm to view carrier routes by ZIP code, age, income, and household size.
- 2Or use EDDM2GO's interactive route map — the route map shows live route data plus instant pricing as you click.
- 3Important: EDDM is all-or-nothing per route. You cannot exclude individual addresses — every door on the route receives your mailer.
06 · Bundles
Facing Slips & Bundle Requirements
The most misunderstood part of EDDM. Get the bundling and facing slips wrong, and USPS will reject your mailing at the counter.
Bundle Rules
- 50–100 pieces per bundle, secured with a rubber band
- One bundle = one carrier route (do not mix routes in a bundle)
- Place bundles in a USPS tray or flat tub for submission
- Mail to every address of the type you chose on each route — no partial routes
Facing Slip Rules
- One facing slip per bundle, placed on top
- Lists the ZIP + carrier route number
- For a Retail (Print Only) mailing, PS Form 3587 accompanies the entire mailing
- For Full Service orders, EDDM2GO prepares all facing slips and the postage statement
Skip the paperwork — let us handle it
EDDM2GO Full Service prepares the bundles, facing slips and USPS paperwork for you. Delivery to USPS included.
07 · Restrictions
Prohibited Items & Restrictions
USPS prohibits certain items from EDDM. Submitting a piece with prohibited content can result in mailing rejection and lost time.
- Hazardous materialsFlammable, corrosive, or otherwise dangerous items
- Perishable food itemsAnything requiring refrigeration or short shelf life
- Controlled substancesIncluding cannabis products in non-permitted states
- Individually addressed piecesEDDM is route-level only — no name/address required
- Live animalsAll living organisms are prohibited
- Adult-only contentMust comply with USPS adult content regulations
08 · Timeline
Timeline & Delivery
EDDM is not overnight mail. Plan your campaign around the production time you choose and the USPS delivery window.
Step 1
Artwork approval
You upload artwork and approve the proof, and a person on our team checks the order. Production time starts once the artwork is approved and the order is paid — before 12:00 PM Central starts it that business day.
Step 2
Printing
Printed on 100 lb gloss cover or 16pt card, for the production time you chose: the standard option is the lowest-priced, faster options cost more. How production time works.
Step 3
Bundling & delivery to USPS
Pieces are sorted by carrier route, bundled with facing slips, and delivered to USPS for the mail date shown before you paid (Full Service). With Print Only they ship to you instead.
Step 4
USPS in-home delivery
USPS carriers deliver to every address on the route, typically within a few business days of receiving the mailing. USPS does not commit to specific delivery dates for EDDM.
09 · Frequently Asked Questions
EDDM Specifications FAQ
Quick answers to the most common questions about USPS Every Door Direct Mail rules.
What is EDDM?
EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail) is a USPS mailing service that lets businesses send marketing materials to every address along selected postal carrier routes. There is no need to purchase or maintain a mailing list, and no postage permit is required for the Retail version. EDDM is delivered to every residential address, and optionally every business address, on each chosen route — a low-cost way to reach a defined local area.
What is the minimum size for EDDM?
EDDM pieces are mailed as flats. A piece qualifies when it is longer than 10.5 inches, or taller than 6.125 inches, or thicker than 0.25 inch — and it can be no more than 15 inches long, 12 inches high and 0.75 inch thick. Pieces that clear none of the flat rules are treated as letters and do not qualify for the EDDM rate.
Do I need a permit for EDDM?
No permit is required for EDDM Retail, which allows up to 5,000 pieces per post office per day. For larger volumes mailers use EDDM BMEU, which requires a USPS permit. With EDDM2GO Full Service you do not need a permit of your own: we prepare the USPS paperwork and deliver the mailing to USPS for you.
What is PS Form 3587?
PS Form 3587 is the USPS form used to submit an EDDM Retail mailing. It lists each carrier route, the number of pieces per route, and the total postage due, and you hand it in at the Post Office with the bundled pieces and the postage payment. It applies to Print Only orders, where you mail the pieces yourself. Full Service customers don't fill it in — we prepare the USPS paperwork for the mailing.
What is an EDDM facing slip?
An EDDM facing slip is a USPS-required label that identifies the carrier route number and ZIP code for each bundle of EDDM pieces. One facing slip is required per bundle and must be placed on top of the bundle so the route information is clearly visible to USPS staff. Facing slips are the primary way USPS sorts EDDM at the local post office.
How many pieces per EDDM bundle?
EDDM pieces must be bundled in groups of 50 to 100 with a rubber band. Each bundle must be from a single carrier route, with a facing slip on top identifying the route. Bundles are then placed in a USPS tray or flat tub for submission. EDDM2GO handles all bundling, banding, and facing-slip preparation for Full Service customers.
Can I target specific addresses with EDDM?
No. EDDM is delivered route by route, not address by address. When you select a carrier route, your mailpiece goes to every household on that route — and optionally to every business as well. If you need to mail to a specific list of addresses, you would need a Marketing Mail or First Class campaign with a mailing list instead of EDDM.
What is EDDM Retail vs EDDM Standard?
EDDM Retail is for smaller mailings up to 5,000 pieces per post office per day. No permit is required and postage is paid at the Post Office counter with PS Form 3587. EDDM Standard (BMEU) is for larger mailings, requires a USPS permit, and is entered at a Business Mail Entry Unit. Both use the same flat size limits — up to 15 by 12 inches.
What file format do I need for EDDM?
Press-ready PDF is the preferred file format for EDDM. Files must be 300 DPI minimum, in CMYK color mode, with a 0.125-inch bleed on all four sides and all text and logos kept at least 1/8 inch (0.125 inch) inside the trim edge. The address side must carry the EDDM indicia in the upper right corner and a clear mailing panel with the Postal Customer line.
How long does EDDM delivery take?
It depends on the production time you choose. Production starts once your artwork is approved and your order is paid; the mailing then goes to USPS, and in-home delivery typically follows within a few business days of USPS receiving it. You see the mail date for your order before you pay. USPS does not commit to specific delivery dates for EDDM, so build in lead time for events.
Do I need a mailing list for EDDM?
No. EDDM reaches every address on the carrier routes you pick, so there is no list to buy or maintain. You choose neighborhoods by city, ZIP code, or distance, and USPS delivers to every door on those routes.
How much does an EDDM campaign cost?
The USPS EDDM postage rate is a flat $0.26 per piece; with Full Service it's included in your price as its own line. Printing is quoted per piece and the per-piece price drops as your quantity goes up, with size and paper stock factored in. Get a quote on your exact size and routes for a real number — the itemised total is shown before you pay.
Can EDDM2GO design my postcard?
Yes. Design help is available, or you can send your own print-ready PDF using our file setup guidelines and free templates. Either way we review the file before printing so it does not bounce back from USPS.
How fast can I get my EDDM order?
You choose the production time when you order: the standard option is the slowest and lowest-priced, and faster options are available on most sizes. The mail date (Full Service) or ship date (Print Only) is shown before you pay. Build in extra time for USPS in-home delivery when you are planning around a grand opening, event, or seasonal push.
Which postcard sizes qualify for EDDM?
We print 15 EDDM flat sizes across postcards, flyers and sell sheets, from compact cards up to 11 × 17 folded. If you are not sure which to pick, 6.5 × 9 is the most popular: room for one clear offer without the cost of the largest pieces.
Where to Go Next
Keep going with the right page
You have the full picture. Here is where to head depending on what you need to do next, from getting a real quote to picking the right play for your industry.
Ready to Launch Your EDDM Campaign?
Pick the path that fits your team. Need help choosing? Our EDDM specialists answer the phone — no robots, no queues.
Browse routes · Questions? (346) 306-EDDM (3336) ·cs@eddm2go.com