Design Tips

MailPiece Design - Download Printable PDF

Are you designing a postcard? A letter? A flat? Which ever you choose, make sure the design fits within postal regulations for size, weight and thickness.

Designing for the USPS

What are the colors on the piece? Try to utilize white space to increase the impact of your message. Are the colors you have chosen readable by USPS equipment? Postal machines cannot read barcodes printed on dark or bright colored papers. What is the dimension and thickness of the piece? It must be at least 9 point or 9 thousandths of an inch thick to qualify for automation discounts.

Measurements:

Aspect Ratio:
Postcards and letters must be rectangular in shape and must be larger in length than in height. Divide the length of the piece by the height. This number (the aspect ratio) must be between 1.3 and 2.5.

Addressing Space:
Your mailing piece should have a clear zone void of printing, varnish, laminate or aqueous coating for the printing of the address and barcode. Address printing zone should be at least 3.75" length x 1.5" height.

Post Cards:

Postcard rate
Minimum 3.5" x 5" x .007" thick | Maximum 4.25" x 6" x .016" thick. A double postcard (two attached postcards) also qualifies for the postcard rate, as long as one of the cards is a mailback reply device for your recipient.

Letters:

Oversized postcards and self-mailers
Minimum 3.5" x 5" x .009" thick | Maximum 6.125" x 11.5" x .25" thick. A "letter" can be an envelope pack- age, a self-mailer folded brochure or even a card as long as it's within the minimum and maximum sizes shown below.

Flats:

Mailpiece with dimension that exceeds one letter maximum
Minimum usually 6" x 6" x .009" thick | Maximum usually 12" x 15" x .75" thick. A "flat" can be a self-mailer folded brochure, a large envelope package or even a big postcard, as long as it's within the minimum and maximum sizes shown below, and its thickness is from 1/4" to 3/4".