EDDM Postage Rates: Current 2026 USPS Pricing
Complete breakdown of Every Door Direct Mail postage rates, how they compare to other USPS services, and how to calculate your total EDDM campaign cost.
EDDM postage rates make Every Door Direct Mail one of the most affordable ways to reach residential and business addresses in your target area. At just $0.26 per piece (including fees), EDDM costs a fraction of what you would pay for First-Class Mail or even standard Marketing Mail. Understanding exactly what you will pay - and what factors affect your total cost - helps you budget accurately and maximize your return on investment.
Ready to see what your EDDM campaign will cost? Use our free EDDM route planning tool to select carrier routes and get instant pricing estimates.
Current EDDM Postage Rates (2026)
USPS offers two EDDM entry options, each with slightly different pricing. The rate you pay depends on how you enter your mail into the postal system.
EDDM Retail
EDDM Retail is designed for small businesses that drop off their mail directly at the local post office. This is the simplest option and requires no permits or special accounts.
- Per-piece rate: $0.226
- Facing slip fee: $0.50 per bundle (approximately 15 pieces per bundle)
- Effective per-piece cost: Approximately $0.26 when including the facing slip fee
- Minimum per drop: 200 pieces
- Maximum per day per ZIP: 5,000 pieces
EDDM Retail is ideal for campaigns of 200 to 5,000 pieces. You pay at the post office counter when you drop off your mail - no permits, no annual fees, no bulk mail accounts required.
EDDM BMEU (Business Mail Entry Unit)
EDDM BMEU is the commercial version, typically used by mail service providers like MPA on behalf of businesses. It offers a slightly lower per-piece rate and no daily maximum.
- Per-piece rate: Approximately $0.214
- Requires: USPS Business Mail permit and BMEU access
- No daily maximum: Mail as many pieces as needed
- Best for: Campaigns over 5,000 pieces or recurring mailings
When you work with MPA, your EDDM mail is entered through our BMEU facility, which means you get the lower commercial rate without needing your own permit. Our full-service EDDM handles all postal paperwork, bundling, and entry - you just approve the routes and we take care of the rest.
Plan your EDDM campaign with our interactive route selector. Learn more about our EDDM services →
EDDM vs Other USPS Postage Rates
To understand why EDDM is such a compelling value, compare its postage rate to other USPS mailing options for the same type of mailpiece:
| Mail Class | Per-Piece Rate | Mailing List Required? | 5,000-Piece Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDDM Retail | $0.26 | No | $1,300 |
| EDDM BMEU | $0.214 | No (permit needed) | $1,070 |
| Marketing Mail (Presorted) | $0.43 | Yes | $2,150 |
| Presorted First-Class | $0.68 | Yes | $3,400 |
| First-Class Mail | $0.74 | Yes | $3,700 |
A 5,000-piece EDDM campaign saves $850 in postage compared to Marketing Mail, $2,100 compared to Presorted First-Class, and $2,400 compared to standard First-Class Mail. Plus, EDDM eliminates the cost of purchasing a mailing list, which can add $0.03-$0.10 per record.
The savings become even more dramatic at higher volumes. A 10,000-piece EDDM campaign at $0.26 per piece costs $2,600 in postage - compared to $4,300 for Marketing Mail or $7,400 for First-Class. These postage savings alone often justify choosing EDDM over addressed mail for saturation campaigns.
Calculating Your Total EDDM Cost
Postage is only one component of your total EDDM campaign cost. Here is a complete breakdown of what goes into the per-piece price you will pay:
Postage: $0.26 per piece
This is the USPS postage charge for EDDM Retail, including the facing slip fee averaged across your bundle. This rate applies regardless of the size or weight of your mailpiece (as long as it meets EDDM size requirements and stays under 3.3 ounces).
Printing: $0.05 - $0.25 per piece
Printing costs depend on three factors: postcard size, paper stock, and quantity. Larger postcards cost more to print, heavier paper stock adds cost, and higher quantities bring the per-piece price down significantly. For a standard 6.5" x 9" postcard on 14pt cardstock:
- 1,000 pieces: ~$0.15-$0.25 per piece
- 2,500 pieces: ~$0.08-$0.15 per piece
- 5,000 pieces: ~$0.05-$0.10 per piece
- 10,000+ pieces: ~$0.04-$0.08 per piece
Design: $0 - $500 (one-time)
If you provide print-ready artwork, there is no design cost. If you need professional design, expect to pay $150-$500 for a custom EDDM postcard design. Many print shops, including MPA, offer design services that can be amortized across your campaign volume.
Preparation and Handling: $0.01 - $0.03 per piece
EDDM requires specific preparation: bundling by carrier route, creating facing slips, and organizing for post office drop-off. When you work with a mail service provider, this preparation is typically included or charged as a nominal per-piece fee.
Total Cost Examples
| Campaign Size | Postage | Printing | Prep | Total Per Piece |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 pieces | $0.26 | $0.20 | $0.03 | $0.49 |
| 2,500 pieces | $0.26 | $0.12 | $0.02 | $0.40 |
| 5,000 pieces | $0.26 | $0.08 | $0.02 | $0.36 |
| 10,000 pieces | $0.26 | $0.06 | $0.01 | $0.33 |
For a more detailed breakdown including all cost components, see our complete EDDM cost guide. You can also compare these rates with our full postcard mailing cost breakdown covering all sizes and mail classes.
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Minimum Quantities and Route Selection
EDDM has specific quantity requirements that affect how you plan your campaign. Unlike addressed mail where you can send to any number of recipients, EDDM delivers to every active delivery point on the carrier routes you select.
EDDM Retail Minimums
- Minimum per drop: 200 pieces (you must mail at least 200 pieces per post office visit)
- Maximum per day per ZIP code: 5,000 pieces
- Route coverage: You must mail to every active delivery address on each selected route
- No cherry-picking: You cannot skip individual addresses on a route
How Route Selection Works
Carrier routes typically contain 200 to 800 active delivery points each. When you select a route, you are committing to mail every address on that route. This saturation approach is what allows USPS to offer the discounted EDDM rate - it eliminates the sorting and sequencing costs associated with addressed mail.
You can be strategic about which routes you select. Using our free EDDM route planning tool, you can filter routes by demographics like household income, age distribution, and household size to target the neighborhoods most likely to respond to your offer.
Carrier route sizes vary significantly. A route in a dense urban neighborhood might have 600+ addresses, while a rural route might have only 250. Always check route sizes before committing to ensure your budget covers the total number of pieces needed.
How to Save Money on EDDM Postage
While the per-piece EDDM postage rate is fixed by USPS, there are several strategies to reduce your overall campaign cost:
Use EDDM BMEU Through a Mail Service Provider
Working with a provider like MPA gives you access to the lower BMEU rate ($0.214 vs $0.226 per piece) without needing your own postal permit. On a 5,000-piece campaign, this saves approximately $60 in postage alone - plus you eliminate the time and hassle of post office drop-offs.
Choose the Right Postcard Size
The minimum EDDM-qualifying size (6.125" x 11") is the most cost-effective to print. Larger formats provide more design space but cost more per piece to produce. Match your size to your message complexity - do not pay for space you do not need. See our EDDM size requirements guide for all qualifying dimensions.
Increase Volume for Lower Print Costs
Printing costs drop dramatically with volume. Consider mailing more routes in a single campaign rather than running multiple small campaigns. The per-piece savings on printing can be significant - dropping from $0.20 per piece at 1,000 to $0.06 per piece at 10,000.
Mail During Off-Peak Seasons
Print shops are busiest from September through December. Planning your campaigns during January through July can sometimes get you better turnaround times and potentially lower printing costs from vendors looking to fill capacity.
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Use Our Free EDDM ToolFrequently Asked Questions
How much does EDDM postage cost per piece?
EDDM Retail postage is $0.226 per piece, plus a $0.50 facing slip fee per bundle of approximately 15 pieces. This works out to approximately $0.26 per piece all-in. EDDM BMEU (commercial entry) is approximately $0.214 per piece, available through mail service providers like MPA who have BMEU access.
What is the minimum quantity for EDDM?
EDDM Retail requires a minimum of 200 pieces per drop-off, with a maximum of 5,000 pieces per day per ZIP code. EDDM BMEU (commercial entry through a mail service provider) has no daily maximum, making it the better option for larger campaigns. You must mail to every active delivery address on each carrier route you select.
Is EDDM cheaper than regular direct mail?
Yes, significantly. EDDM postage is $0.26 per piece compared to First-Class Mail at $0.74, Presorted First-Class at $0.68, or Marketing Mail at $0.43. EDDM also eliminates the cost of purchasing and cleaning a mailing list, which can add $0.03-$0.10 per record. For a 5,000-piece campaign, you save $850-$2,400 in postage alone by choosing EDDM over addressed mail.
Does EDDM postage change every year?
USPS typically adjusts postage rates in January and sometimes mid-year. EDDM rates have remained among the most affordable mailing options available. The current 2026 EDDM Retail rate is $0.226 per piece. Check with your mail service provider or USPS.com for the latest rates before planning a campaign.
Related Resources
Continue learning about EDDM costs and campaign planning:
MPA Editorial Team
Expert insights from Mail Processing Associates, a SOC 2 Type 2 certified and HIPAA compliant commercial mail facility in Lakeland, FL. Serving businesses nationwide since 1989. Veteran-owned. View compliance documentation.