Choose the routes
Map ZIP Codes and neighborhoods in the EDDM Online Tool, review route details, and select one or more routes for the mailing.
EDDM services, pricing, and requirements
Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) pricing and requirements.Compare before you send.
Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) is a USPS Marketing Mail service that delivers flat-size pieces addressed to “Postal Customer” to every address on the carrier routes you choose, with no mailing list. USPS.com lists EDDM Retail postage at $0.26 per piece. Sendvo publishes a flat $0.65 per EDDM postcard across Local, Operator, and Growth.
Last updated: September 23, 2026
EDDM decision briefStatic summary
AudienceCarrier routes→
ListNo named list required→
ChoiceEDDM or targeted mail→
$0.65per EDDM postcard across Local, Operator, and Growth
Definition
What is EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail)?
EDDM is a USPS service, not a list product. You choose the neighborhoods. USPS delivers to every address on them.
Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) is a USPS saturation mailing service for flat-size marketing mail. Instead of printing names and addresses, each piece carries the simplified address “Postal Customer,” and USPS delivers it to every address on the carrier routes you select. It suits neighborhood coverage, such as a sale, a new location, a menu, or a coupon.
For evaluation details, read the EDDM software guide, the EDDM vs targeted direct mail comparison, or the direct mail services buyer's guide. For the authoritative Sendvo rate, use EDDM pricing.
How it works
How does EDDM work?
These are the USPS steps for an EDDM Retail mailing. An EDDM BMEU mailing follows the same route logic with bulk-mail entry.
EDDM works by carrier route, not by recipient. You pick routes in the USPS EDDM Online Tool, print flat-size pieces addressed to “Postal Customer,” bundle them with facing slips, and enter them at the Post Office that serves those routes. The carrier then delivers a piece to every address on each selected route.
Check the piece
Confirm the piece meets the EDDM flat-size rules below. USPS offers a Mailpiece Size Checker in the EDDM Online Tool.
Address and mark it
Use the “Postal Customer” simplified address and the EDDM Retail indicia above and to the right of the address block.
Bundle the mailing
Bundle 50 to 100 pieces per stack, no higher than 6 inches, with a facing slip on top that states the piece count. List any do-not-deliver addresses on the slip.
Drop off or ship
Take the bundles and the EDDM Retail form to the Post Office for the selected ZIP Code, or ship them by Priority Mail to that Postmaster.
Route selection
How do you choose EDDM routes?
Route choice sets both the audience and the print quantity. Decide the service area before you design the piece.
You choose EDDM routes on a map, then narrow them with route data. The USPS EDDM Online Tool maps ZIP Codes and neighborhood carrier routes. Its route table filters by residential and total delivery counts, age, household size, income, and cost, using U.S. Census data. The delivery counts for the chosen routes tell you how many pieces to print.
When the campaign needs selected households or past customers instead of every door on a route, compare targeted audience options before you choose EDDM.
EDDM size requirements
What are the EDDM size and mailpiece requirements?
EDDM pieces must be flats. The rules below are the USPS EDDM Retail standards. Confirm the final piece with USPS before printing.
An EDDM Retail flat must weigh no more than 3.3 ounces and be longer than 10-1/2 inches, taller than 6-1/8 inches, or thicker than 1/4 inch. It cannot exceed 15 inches long, 12 inches high, or 3/4 inch thick, and it must be flexible, rectangular, and uniformly thick. Standard 4×6 and 6×9 postcards are too small.
| Requirement | USPS EDDM Retail rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | No more than 3.3 ounces per piece | DMM 143.2.5 |
| Minimum size | Longer than 10-1/2 inches, or taller than 6-1/8 inches, or thicker than 1/4 inch | DMM 143.2.5 |
| Maximum size | No more than 15 inches long, 12 inches high, or 3/4 inch thick | DMM 101.2.1 |
| Shape | Flexible, rectangular, and uniformly thick, with square corners or corners rounded no more than 1/8 inch | DMM 101.2.1 |
| Address | Simplified “Postal Customer” address; no named recipient | USPS EDDM page |
| Postage mark | EDDM Retail indicia above and to the right of the address block, larger than 0.5 by 0.5 inch, in all caps of at least 4-point type | USPS EDDM page |
| Content | No personal information, bills or statements of account, or handwritten or typewritten matter | DMM 143.3 |
| Quantity | At least 200 pieces or 50 pounds, and no more than 5,000 pieces per day per 5-digit ZIP Code | DMM 143.2.5 |
Which EDDM postcard sizes meet the dimension rule?
| Piece size (inches) | Meets the EDDM Retail dimension rule? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 4×6 | No | Not longer than 10-1/2, taller than 6-1/8, or thicker than 1/4 inch |
| 6×9 | No | 6 inches high is under the 6-1/8-inch height threshold, and 9 inches is under the length threshold |
| 6×11 | Yes | 11 inches long is over 10-1/2 inches |
| 6-1/4×9 | Yes | 6-1/4 inches high is over 6-1/8 inches |
| 6-1/4×11 | Yes | Over both the height and length thresholds |
| 8-1/2×11 | Yes | Over both the height and length thresholds |
| 12×15 | Yes, at the limit | The maximum flat size |
Dimension check only: each size still has to meet the 3.3-ounce weight, flexibility, and content rules. EDDM BMEU mailings follow the commercial USPS Marketing Mail standards, so confirm those pieces with USPS or the Mailpiece Size Checker. Sendvo publishes its EDDM rate per postcard; confirm the EDDM format shown in your account before you design. For addressed-mail formats, compare postcard sizes.
EDDM cost and pricing
How much does EDDM cost?
EDDM has a separate rate from Sendvo's targeted-mail schedule. Compare every quote on the same cost lines before submission.
EDDM cost has two parts to compare: USPS postage and everything else. USPS.com lists EDDM Retail postage at $0.26 per piece and EDDM BMEU postage as low as $0.259 per piece for Marketing Mail flats up to 3.3 ounces. If you run EDDM yourself, printing, preparation, and drop-off are separate from USPS postage. With Sendvo, EDDM is a flat $0.65 per postcard on Local, Operator, and Growth, and that price includes USPS EDDM postage, printing, and drop-off.
The published rate is the same across Local, Operator, and Growth. It includes USPS EDDM postage, printing, and drop-off.
EDDM does not use the separate Operator or Growth non-EDDM rates. Review EDDM pricing.
| EDDM cost line | Who sets it | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| USPS postage | USPS: $0.26 per piece for EDDM Retail and as low as $0.259 per piece for EDDM BMEU, as listed on USPS.com on September 23, 2026 | The current USPS price on the mailing date |
| Printing | Your printer or provider | Size, stock, quantity, and proof rounds |
| Preparation and entry | You or your provider | Bundling, facing slips, forms, and drop-off or shipping to the Post Office |
USPS prices can change, so check USPS.com before the mailing date. For a full budget, read how much direct mail costs, estimate a send with the direct mail and EDDM cost calculator, or compare all Sendvo pricing.
Two USPS paths
What is the difference between EDDM Retail and EDDM BMEU?
USPS offers two ways to enter an EDDM mailing. The right one depends on volume and whether you hold a bulk mailing permit.
EDDM Retail is the small-business path; EDDM BMEU is the bulk path. EDDM Retail allows 200 to 5,000 pieces per day per ZIP Code, needs no mailing permit, and is entered at the Post Office that serves your routes. EDDM BMEU has no volume limit, allows multiple ZIP Codes, and requires a bulk mailing permit and Business Mail Entry Unit drop-off.
| Feature | EDDM Retail | EDDM BMEU |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | At least 200 and up to 5,000 pieces per day per ZIP Code | No volume limit; multiple ZIP Codes can be selected |
| Permit | No special mailing permit needed; no annual presort or mailing fees | Pay with a bulk mailing permit |
| Postage listed on USPS.com | $0.26 per piece | As low as $0.259 per piece |
| Where you enter the mail | The Post Office that delivers to the selected routes | A Business Mail Entry Unit at a USPS mail processing center |
| Paperwork | Facing slips and postage statement from the EDDM Online Tool | Facing slips plus PS Form 3602 and PS Form 8125 from the EDDM Online Tool |
Audience decision
EDDM or targeted mail?
The choice starts with the audience. Use broad route coverage when names do not matter. Use targeted mail when selected people or records matter. See the full EDDM vs targeted direct mail guide.
Cover carrier routes.
Use EDDM for broad local coverage without a named recipient list.
- Carrier-route audience
- No named-address list required
- Useful for neighborhood coverage
Choose selected recipients.
Use targeted mail when the campaign must reach an owned, prepared, or licensed audience.
- Named or selected recipient records
- Audience preparation and address review
- Useful for customer, property, or event-driven outreach
Campaign workflow
Choose the route. Prepare the piece. Review the campaign.
The account shows the campaign options that are currently available. Keep the route, creative, count, and price review in one decision path.
01
Choose the audience
Compare carrier-route coverage with targeted audience options.
02Prepare the creative
Choose the mailpiece and review the proof before submission.
03Review the price
Confirm the current EDDM rate and campaign count.
04Open the campaign path
Start free and review the options shown in your account.
Printing and mailing services
What should direct mail marketing services help you decide?
Useful direct mail printing and mailing services should make the audience, creative, price, approval, and delivery-status path clear.
Audience
Confirm whether the campaign uses EDDM carrier routes or targeted recipients.
Creative
Review the postcard or letter format, content, and proof before submission.
Campaign cost
Confirm the count and current price. Use the public rate card for Sendvo pricing.
Review and status
Keep approval and available mailstream status connected to the campaign record.
Buying path
Compare the service model before you request a quote.
The same EDDM campaign can require very different work from your team. Compare the audience, creative, production, and status responsibilities before choosing a provider path.
| Service model | Best fit | Your team still owns | Confirm before buying |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS self-service path | Teams that can prepare the routes, piece, bundles, forms, and drop-off | Route selection, design, printing, preparation, and entry | Current eligibility, dimensions, route counts, forms, and entry steps |
| Local print or mail house | One-time sends that need local production help | Audience decision, approved creative, offer, and measurement plan | What the quote includes, proof process, postage, entry, timing, and status reporting |
| Managed direct-mail service | Teams that want planning and production support | Campaign goal, audience approval, offer approval, and final sign-off | Service scope, revision limits, data handling, price basis, and reporting |
| Self-serve software | Repeatable campaigns that need audience, creative, price, and status in one workflow | Route choice, message, proof approval, budget, and response measurement | Available EDDM path, current rate, account capabilities, and campaign review controls |
Normalize every quote: record the route count, piece size, quantity, design work, printing, postage, preparation, entry method, proof revisions, expected status reporting, taxes, and any plan or service fee.
Sendvo original research
Choose the offer and response path before the route.
Across 1,873,585 industry-assigned physical-mail records in 15 sectors, automated labels found a URL on 87.1% and a phone path on 85.4%. Price-or-payment language appeared on 91.8%, while QR appeared on 6.5%. This broader catalog is not EDDM-specific and does not measure campaign performance.
| Creative choice | Broader catalog observation | Count and share | EDDM planning question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offer | Price or payment label | 1,720,564 · 91.8% | Is the price, payment, or cost statement accurate and limited? |
| Offer | Discount or savings label | 1,144,645 · 61.1% | Can the business state the discount and its terms? |
| Response path | URL present | 1,631,075 · 87.1% | Should the web page be the primary action or a support path? |
| Response path | Phone present | 1,600,507 · 85.4% | Can the business answer and attribute calls from the mailing? |
| Response path | QR present | 122,260 · 6.5% | Does QR make the action easier after a physical proof test? |
Source: Sendvo aggregation of 1,873,585 industry-assigned physical-mail records in 15 sectors. Source received August 15, 2026. The sample is not EDDM-specific. Automated labels can overlap and contain errors. Counts do not measure response, revenue, ROI, or causation. Explore the full industry benchmark library.
Good-fit campaign paths
Connect EDDM to the job you need to do.
Use one complete commercial page for EDDM. Continue to a specific solution page when the job or workflow is different.
Cover a service area.
Compare broad route coverage, local targeting, and past-customer lists for nearby jobs.
Plan home services direct mail →Build a repeatable workflow.
Use automation for triggers, review steps, and repeat campaign operations.
Explore direct mail automation →Compare total campaign cost.
Review the cost components, current rate card, and worked budgeting examples.
Read the direct mail cost guide →Every Door Direct Mail FAQ
Answers before you choose the campaign path.
Confirm the audience, rate, creative, and workflow before submission.
What is Every Door Direct Mail?
Every Door Direct Mail, or EDDM, is a USPS saturation mailing service. Flat-size pieces addressed to “Postal Customer” go to every address on the carrier routes you choose, so no named recipient list is needed. Choose targeted mail when the campaign must reach selected people or records.
What size does an EDDM postcard need to be?
For EDDM Retail, a piece must weigh no more than 3.3 ounces and be longer than 10-1/2 inches, taller than 6-1/8 inches, or thicker than 1/4 inch, up to 15 by 12 inches and 3/4 inch thick. That rules out standard 4×6 and 6×9 postcards. Sizes such as 6-1/4×9, 6-1/4×11, and 8-1/2×11 meet the dimension rule.
How much is EDDM postage?
USPS.com lists EDDM Retail postage for USPS Marketing Mail flats up to 3.3 ounces at $0.26 per piece and EDDM BMEU postage as low as $0.259 per piece. Printing and preparation are separate from USPS postage. USPS prices change, so check USPS.com before the mailing date.
How much does EDDM cost with Sendvo?
Sendvo publishes a flat EDDM rate of $0.65 per postcard across Local, Operator, and Growth. The price includes USPS EDDM postage, printing, and drop-off. EDDM does not use the separate Operator or Growth non-EDDM rate schedule.
What is the difference between EDDM Retail and EDDM BMEU?
EDDM Retail allows 200 to 5,000 pieces per day per ZIP Code with no mailing permit, entered at the Post Office for the selected routes. EDDM BMEU has no volume limit, allows multiple ZIP Codes, requires a bulk mailing permit, and is entered at a Business Mail Entry Unit.
How long does EDDM take to deliver?
USPS does not publish a guaranteed EDDM delivery time. EDDM pieces are USPS Marketing Mail, which may receive deferred handling, and USPS does not guarantee Marketing Mail delivery within a specified time. Plan the drop-off date and offer dates with that in mind.
Does EDDM require a mailing list?
EDDM uses carrier routes, so it does not require a named-address list. Targeted mail uses an owned, prepared, or licensed audience when the campaign needs selected recipients.
What is the difference between EDDM and targeted mail?
EDDM provides broad carrier-route coverage without named recipients. Targeted mail reaches selected recipient records and supports a more specific audience. The right path depends on whether the campaign needs broad local reach or selected people.
Can home services teams use EDDM?
EDDM can fit a home services campaign that needs broad coverage in a service area and does not need named recipients. Use local targeting or an owned list when the job requires selected households or past customers.
How does direct mail automation relate to EDDM?
Automation is a separate workflow decision. Use it for repeatable triggers, review steps, and campaign operations. Confirm the audience path, current pricing, and account options before you submit a campaign.
Does Sendvo research show which EDDM creative works best?
No. Sendvo's broader research covers physical mail across 15 industries. It is not an EDDM-specific sample and does not measure response, revenue, ROI, or causation. Use the observed patterns to plan a controlled test, not to declare a winning format or offer.
Sources
Where do these EDDM rules come from?
USPS rules and postage on this page come from primary USPS sources, checked on September 23, 2026. Sendvo's rate comes from its public rate card.
| Source | What it supports |
|---|---|
| USPS: Every Door Direct Mail | EDDM Retail and BMEU postage, volume limits, permits, route selection, “Postal Customer” addressing, indicia, bundling, and drop-off steps |
| USPS Domestic Mail Manual 143: EDDM-Retail prices and eligibility | 3.3-ounce weight limit, minimum flat dimensions, 200-to-5,000-piece quantity rule, content limits, no annual presort or mailing fees (143.1.2), and Marketing Mail delivery terms |
| USPS Domestic Mail Manual 101: Physical standards for flats | Maximum flat size, flexibility, corner, and uniform-thickness rules |
| USPS PostalPro: Every Door Direct Mail | EDDM BMEU volume and the forms generated by the EDDM Online Tool |
| Sendvo pricing | Sendvo's flat EDDM rate of $0.65 per postcard across Local, Operator, and Growth |
Every Door Direct Mail
Compare the route, rate, and campaign path.
Start free to review the options shown in your account, or check the current public pricing before you begin.