Postcard USPS Specifications
Standard & First Class Requirements & Automated (Bulk Rate) Mail

— First Class Postcard Mailing Rates —
Single Piece Prices Based on Shape and Weight

Standard Postcard - a "standard" postcard mails First Class at current rate of 28¢.
The smallest mailable size for ANY postcard is 3½″ x 5.″
The largest postcard size for mailing at the 28¢ rate is 4¼″ x 6.″
The paper thickness must be at least 0.007" (mil) and not more than 0.016" (mil) in thickness.

Jumbo Postcards - oversized postcards can measure up to 6⅛″ x 11½,″ but the postage required is the standard letter rate of 44¢. The paper thickness of a postcard over 4¼″ X 6″ postcard must be at least 0.009″ (mil) and not more than 0.25″ (mil) in thickness.

28¢ stamp
First Class Postcard Specification Chart
28¢ Postcards Minimum Maximum
Postcard Length 5″ 6″
Postcard Height 3½ ″ 4¼ ″
Paper Thickness 0.007″ 0.016″
first class stamp
Jumbo Postcard Specification Chart
44¢ First Class Postcard Minimum Maximum
Postcard Length > 6″ 11½″
Postcard Height > 4¼ ″ 6⅛″
Paper Thickness 0.009″ 0.25″

— Bulk Rate Postcard Mailing Rates —
Lower priced Bulk Rate Postcard Rates

Bulk Mail saves money on postage by doing things that save the US Postal Service (USPS) both time and money. The USPS will pass some of the savings along to you by charging lower postage prices to mail your postcards.

Bulk mail postage prices vary by whether your postcards are sent First Class (1-3 business days for arrival) or Standard Mail (up to 2 weeks or more for arrival) and by whether your mailing list will qulify for the Automation Rate.

Bulk Rate Postcards by Class and Size
Bulk Rate
Postcard Postage Rate		 Automation
Postcard Rate		 Non-Automation
Postcard Rate
First Class
Standard Postcards		 0.0205 - 0.233 0.245
First Class
Jumbo Postcard		 0.335 - 0.382 0.414
Standard Rate
Jumbo Postcard		 0.233 - 0.270 0.256 - 0.273
Non-Profit
Postcard Rate		 0.132 - 0.169 0.155 - 0.172

Presorted First Class - most "bulk mail" is mailed at Standard Class prices. If you want your mail delivered as quickly as normal First Class mail, or if you are mailing pieces that are different for every recipient, you must use presorted First Class to receive discounted postage prices.

Each postcard mailing at presorted First Class prices must consist of at least 500 pieces. Nonprofit mailers do not receive any additional discounts over other mailers when using presorted First Class.

Standard Class is an inexpensive way to mail a group of identical pieces, but Standard Class mail is processed after First Class. Typically a Standard Class postcard will arrives within a few days for local mail, but as much as a few weeks if mailing throughout the USA.

Each mailing at Standard Class prices must consist of at least 200 pieces. (Exception: If each piece weighs more than 4 ounces, the mailing will meet the minimum if the total mailing weighs at least 50 pounds.)

Aspect Ratio - in order to receive the lower automation postage rate your postcard must have an "aspect ratio" between 1.3 and 2.5 to qualify. The aspect ratio is simply a number calculated by taking the length of the postcard and dividing it by the height.
Note: There is one exception: a postcard with the dimension 5 1/2 inches by 4 1/4 inches, which is exactly the size of a standard letter-sized piece of paper divided precisely into 4 equal pieces which is an aspect ration of 1.29 as there is no paper waste.

postcard regulations chart


Clear Areas - the address clear area and barcode clear area must be completely free of any text to qualify for automation postage rates. A background graphic is permitted, but must be 7% greyscale or less.

Contrast - the address area background must be white or a light color.

Coatings Warning! - the address area must be completely free of any UV or aqueous coatings or laser addressing will not be possible, as the toner will not be able to adhere to the paper. Labels can be used, but it will cost more money than laser addressing and look less attractive.


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Postcard Specifications Template

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Download Postcard Specifications PDF

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