EDDM step-by-step: from "what is it" to mail in hand

EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail) is the cheapest way to mail print pieces to people in the US. Postage is about 60% less than first-class. But the rules are strict and any mistake rejects your mailing. Here is the playbook.

What EDDM is USPS lets you mail to every address on a mail-carrier route without buying an address list. You pick the routes by ZIP code, USPS delivers to every door, you pay a flat per-piece rate (currently around $0.21 per piece for retail EDDM).

Two flavors **EDDM Retail (DIY postage at the Post Office):** You drop bundles of 50-200 pieces at the Post Office, fill in forms, pay postage in person. Cheapest option. You handle bundling.

**EDDM Full Service (we mail it for you):** We print, bundle, complete the paperwork, and induct directly into the mailstream. About $0.07-0.12/piece more than DIY but you skip the trip to the Post Office.

Size and weight rules (strict) Your piece must be: - Larger than 6.125" x 11.5" — OR exceed one dimension (most postcards qualify) - Smaller than 12" x 15" - Less than 3.3 oz - Must include a USPS EDDM indicia (we add this automatically in our print files)

Common sizes that qualify: 6.5"x9", 6.25"x11", 8.5"x11", 9"x12", 11"x14".

Step-by-step (EDDM Full Service through us) 1. Pick your size on the [EDDM Full Service Postcards](/products/eddm-full-service-postcards) page 2. Upload your design (or use our designer) 3. Use the EDDM Route Mapper on the product page to select carrier routes by ZIP 4. Approve proof + pay 5. We print + ship + drop at the right USPS facility 6. Mail arrives at every door on selected routes within 5-7 business days

How to pick routes The USPS EDDM tool shows every carrier route in the country with household counts. Look for: - Average household income (filter for your target market) - Owner-occupied vs renter-occupied (most home services target owner-occupied) - Total addresses (so you know your total piece count)

A typical mailing covers 1,500-5,000 addresses across 5-15 routes.

Cost example (5,000 EDDM 6.5"x9" full service) - Printing: about $650 (14PT C2S full color both sides, 4-day turnaround) - Postage: about $1,050 (5,000 x $0.21) - Postal prep + induction: about $200 - Total: about $1,900 (about $0.38/piece all in)

Cadence advice One mailing rarely converts. Households need 2-3 touches to remember your business. The realtors and home-service operators who make EDDM work mail the same neighborhood every 30-45 days for 4-6 months minimum.

Track results by adding a unique offer or phone number to each mailing so you know which mailing produced each lead.

Start your EDDM mailing.