Search "EDDM cost" and the first number you'll see is the USPS postage rate. It's a real number, and it's low. But postage is only one part of what an Every Door Direct Mail® campaign costs. Before you budget, it helps to know every piece that goes into the total.
Here's how EDDM pricing breaks down, what USPS charges right now, and how to work out the all-in cost per piece for your own mailing.
The three parts of every EDDM budget
Every EDDM mailing has the same three costs, whether you do it yourself or hire someone:
- Postage: what USPS charges to deliver each piece.
- Printing: what it costs to produce the postcards or flyers.
- Preparation: the time and work to bundle, label and drop off the mail correctly.
Design is a fourth cost if you pay someone to create the artwork. Many guides quote only the first item, which is why EDDM can look cheaper on paper than it turns out to be.
EDDM postage: what USPS charges
EDDM postcards, flyers and other flats are sent as USPS Marketing Mail®. As of October 2026, USPS lists these prices for flats weighing up to 3.3 ounces (USPS):
| EDDM option | USPS postage per piece | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| EDDM Retail® | $0.26 | 200 to 5,000 pieces per day per ZIP Code, dropped off at the Post Office, no permit needed |
| EDDM BMEU | As low as $0.259 | No volume limit, multiple ZIP Codes, entered at a Business Mail Entry Unit with a bulk mailing permit |
The USPS business prices page lists the same $0.26 EDDM Retail rate (USPS prices). USPS adjusts prices from time to time, so check the current rate before you budget.
A quick way to see why postage alone isn't the whole story: if you mail 5,000 postcards through EDDM Retail, postage is 5,000 × $0.26 = $1,300. That's before a single card has been printed.
Printing: the cost that varies most
USPS doesn't print your mail. You pay a printer separately, and the price depends on choices you make:
- Size. EDDM pieces must meet USPS physical standards for flats (USPS DMM 101). A piece no more than 11-1/2 inches long, 6-1/8 inches high and 1/4 inch thick is letter-size, not a flat, so a small postcard that works for regular mail may not qualify. Size affects both the printing price and whether the piece is eligible at all.
- Paper and finish. Heavier stock and coatings change the price.
- Color. Full color on both sides costs more than one side.
- Quantity. Printing is usually quoted by quantity, so ask for prices at the counts you're considering.
Because these choices vary so much, there's no honest single "EDDM printing cost." Get a written quote for the exact size, paper and quantity you plan to mail.
Preparation: the hidden cost of doing it yourself
If you run EDDM Retail yourself, USPS requires some hands-on work (USPS):
- Print the EDDM Retail indicia in the correct spot on every piece.
- Bundle the mail in stacks of 50 to 100 pieces, no taller than 6 inches.
- Attach a completed EDDM facing slip to the top of every bundle, with the piece count written on it.
- Drop the mailing off at the right Post Office, and stay within 5,000 pieces per day per ZIP Code.
None of that has a USPS fee, but it takes time. A few thousand postcards means dozens of bundles, each counted and labeled. Put a value on that time when you compare doing it yourself against an all-in service.
How to work out your all-in cost per piece
Use this simple method for any EDDM quote:
- Count the addresses. EDDM delivers to every address on each carrier route you choose, so your quantity is the total number of addresses on your routes, not a number you pick.
- Add postage. Multiply the address count by the current USPS rate.
- Add printing. Use the printer's quote for that exact quantity, plus a small number of extras.
- Add design and preparation. Include any design fee and the value of your time.
- Divide by the number of pieces. That's your real cost per piece.
When you compare offers, compare that all-in number. A low postage figure next to a separate printing bill isn't the same as a price that already includes both.
What EDDM costs with PostcardDrop
PostcardDrop quotes EDDM as one number: from 50¢ per postcard, with printing and postage included. The exact price varies by ZIP code and is confirmed in your quote. The minimum is 2,500 postcards, and turnaround is 3 weeks to 1 month.
To estimate a mailing, try the EDDM cost calculator. For more on how EDDM compares with mailing to your own list, see EDDM vs. targeted mail.
Ways to keep EDDM costs under control
- Choose routes, not whole ZIP codes. Since every address on a route gets a piece, cutting routes that don't fit your customers is the biggest lever on total cost. The EDDM neighborhood builder and ZIP Code Explorer show Census data such as household income, age and homeownership to help you pick.
- Watch the weight. The USPS EDDM rates above apply to flats up to 3.3 ounces.
- Plan ahead. Build the turnaround time into your schedule so you aren't forced into last-minute changes.
- Mail the same area more than once. Budget for a series to a smaller set of routes rather than one large drop you can't afford to repeat.
Sources: USPS, Using Every Door Direct Mail (prices and mailing requirements, checked October 2026); USPS, Mailing & Shipping Prices (checked October 2026); USPS Domestic Mail Manual 101, Physical Standards. USPS rules and prices can change; confirm current details with USPS.
Want postcards in mailboxes without the hassle? PostcardDrop handles printing, postage and drop-off: EDDM starts at 50¢ a piece, depending on ZIP code (2,500 minimum), and targeted mail is $1.10 a piece. Estimate your cost or see how EDDM works.