Postcards are a staple of summer, and at HPG, we print lots of them. Whether they are announcing a new mortgage rate or a sizzling summer sale, mailed postcards are designed specifically to grab your attention. But in order to go through the mail at a discounted rate, postcards must be a standard size and have a visible (not covered by an envelope) reverse side message.
According to the USPS, postcards must have a maximum height of 4.25 inches and a maximum width of 6 inches. As such, postcards have an aspect ratio (length divided by height) of between 1.3 and 2.5. If your piece qualifies, you qualify for a reduced postcard rate of 32 cents per piece.
Larger marketing postcards fall under the USPS defined Letter Rate (45 cents per piece), but must still fit an aspect ratio of 1.3 to 2.5. For letter sized postcards to qualify, they must not exceed 6.125 inches high by a maximum length of 11.5 inches.
Sometimes the print experts at HPG are asked to print postcards that surpass the USPS aspect ratio definitions. What happens then? You can still send the postcard, but an additional charge called a “non-machinable surcharge” is added to your rate.
Consider using bright, attention-getting, urgency-creating postcards to get your message across. HPG can help you create intense graphics, print them… and of course, mail them!