Postcard sizes, and which ones mail at the postcard rate
The standard postcard is 4 × 6 in. USPS only charges the cheaper postcard price for cards from 3.5 × 5 in up to 4.25 × 6 in, 0.007 to 0.016 in thick; larger cards such as 5 × 7, 6 × 9 and 6 × 11 in mail at letter prices. In A-size countries the postcard is A6, 105 × 148 mm. With 0.125 in bleed, a 4 × 6 card is set up at 4.25 × 6.25 in, 1275 × 1875 pixels at 300 ppi.
Postcard sizes: dimensions, bleed and pixels
Bleed is 0.125 in on every side for inch sizes and 3 mm for metric ones. Pixels are rounded to the nearest whole pixel.
| Size | Inches | Millimeters | With bleed | Pixels at 300 ppi (with bleed) | Notes and template |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | 4 × 6 in | 101.6 × 152.4 mm | 4.25 × 6.25 in | 1,200 × 1,800 px 1,275 × 1,875 px | Free template |
| Largest USPS postcard-rate size | 4.25 × 6 in | 107.95 × 152.4 mm | 4.5 × 6.25 in | 1,275 × 1,800 px 1,350 × 1,875 px | |
| 5 × 7 in | 5 × 7 in | 127 × 177.8 mm | 5.25 × 7.25 in | 1,500 × 2,100 px 1,575 × 2,175 px | Letter price Free template |
| Half letter | 5.5 × 8.5 in | 139.7 × 215.9 mm | 5.75 × 8.75 in | 1,650 × 2,550 px 1,725 × 2,625 px | Letter price Template |
| 6 × 9 in | 6 × 9 in | 152.4 × 228.6 mm | 6.25 × 9.25 in | 1,800 × 2,700 px 1,875 × 2,775 px | Letter price |
| 6 × 11 in | 6 × 11 in | 152.4 × 279.4 mm | 6.25 × 11.25 in | 1,800 × 3,300 px 1,875 × 3,375 px | Letter price |
| EDDM | 6.25 × 9 in | 158.75 × 228.6 mm | 6.5 × 9.25 in | 1,875 × 2,700 px 1,950 × 2,775 px | Flat, for EDDM |
| EDDM | 6.25 × 11 in | 158.75 × 279.4 mm | 6.5 × 11.25 in | 1,875 × 3,300 px 1,950 × 3,375 px | Flat, for EDDM |
| A6 | 4.13 × 5.83 in | 105 × 148 mm | 111 × 154 mm | 1,240 × 1,748 px 1,311 × 1,819 px | Template |
Postcard rate, letters and flats
USPS sorts mail by shape. A postcard qualifies for the postcard price only if it is rectangular, at least 3.5 × 5 in and no more than 4.25 × 6 in, and 0.007 to 0.016 in thick (most 14 pt and 16 pt card stocks are within that). Bigger cards, up to 6.125 × 11.5 in, mail as letters, which cost more per piece but give much more room.
Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) works the other way: pieces must be flats, larger than a letter in at least one direction, which is why EDDM postcards start around 6.25 × 9 in. USPS updates its rules and prices, so confirm the current figures on usps.com or with your mail house before printing.
The address side
Leave the right half of the back for the address and postage. The postage or indicia goes in the top right corner, and the bottom 5/8 in of the card, along the right-hand side, has to stay clear for the barcode USPS sprays on. Keep that strip free of text and dark backgrounds; a light, plain background scans best.
Questions
- What size is a 4 × 6 postcard in pixels?
- 1200 × 1800 pixels at 300 ppi (1800 × 1200 landscape), or 1275 × 1875 pixels with 0.125 in of bleed on every side.
- Is a 5 × 7 card a postcard?
- It can be printed as one, but USPS mails it at the letter price, because the postcard price stops at 4.25 × 6 in. 5 × 7 is a popular size for invitations and promotional cards for that reason: more room, still a letter.
- What thickness does a postcard need?
- For the USPS postcard price, between 0.007 and 0.016 in. Standard 14 pt and 16 pt postcard stocks fall inside that; thinner paper can be refused as a postcard.
- What size is an EDDM postcard?
- EDDM pieces must be flats, so common sizes are 6.25 × 9, 6.25 × 11, 8.5 × 11 and 9 × 12 in. A standard 4 × 6 postcard doesn’t qualify.
If the printer sends the file back
Terms on this page: Bleed, Safe area (safe zone), GSM (paper weight).
More print sizes, or all of them on one page:
Cards, paper and stationery: Business card · Paper · Envelope · Letterhead · Greeting card · Presentation folder
Flyers, brochures and handouts: Flyer · Brochure · Rack card · Door hanger · Menu · Table tent · Bookmark
Stickers, labels and tags: Sticker · Label · Hang tag
Bottle, can and jar labels: Wine label · Beer label · Water bottle label · Candle label · Jar label
Boxes and packaging: Mailer box · Shipping box · Tuck box · Stand-up pouch · Pizza box
Posters, books and calendars: Poster · Book · Calendar
Signs, billboards and vehicles: Banner · Yard sign · Car magnet · Billboard
T-shirts and apparel: T-shirt
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