Postcard Mailing Design Guidelines
When creating your own postcards for printing and mailing, follow these design guidelines to ensure that the postal service will accept, process and deliver them.
- Postcards must be at least 3-1/2” x 5”. To qualify for First Class rates, it can be no larger than 4-1/4” x 6”; for Standard rates, no larger than 6-1/8″ x 11-1/2″.
- Never put any wording, logos or other important art closer than 1/16” from the edge. It may get trimmed off during the printing process.
- Leave a 1” x 1” space in the upper right-hand corner of the front side design for the postcard’s postage or indicia.
- The address can be placed anywhere within a specific space on the postcard. This area is 1/2” from the left and right edge of the card, 3/4” from the bottom and is 2-1/8” tall.
- If a return address is included, it should be located 1/4” from the top left side of the postcard.
- There should be very no colors or in the addressing and barcode areas, if you have to use color please make sure it is a very light “pastel color only”. This allows for easier scanning by machines and reading by postal workers.
- The Intelligent Mail barcode is approximately 3” x 5/8” and can be included in the address block if there is at least 3-1/2” of horizontal space available in the address area.
- If the barcode is not included in the address block, it will be placed across the bottom of the postcard, toward the right side corner. Leave a space 3/4″ x 4-7/8” in the lower right-hand corner to allow for it. Keep important design elements outside this space, as it may be covered by the barcode.
- If you will be adding stamps and messaging after printing, we would suggest a one-sided UV coating as this keeps the art or graphics side intact, while allowing for stamps and personalizing on the non-UV coated side.
- If you will be using a EDDM Mailer as your Marketing of choice, then we suggest a two-sided UV coating postcard.