TigerPress provides the following information as general guidance only. Please consult your local post office or TigerPress representative if you have a specific question about your direct mail project.

Direct Mail Piece Size Size

Confirming that your direct mail piece size is within the post office regulations can save you hundreds in postage. You will always receive a better postage rate if the direct mail piece width is larger than the height of the direct mail piece. A rectangular shape is best. The recipient address must be parallel with the width side of the direct mail piece.

Requirements for letters and postcards (width x height):

Letter maximum size: 11 1/2" x 6 1/8" and 0.009" thick
Postcard maximum size: 6" x 4 1/4" and 0.016" thick
Mail piece minimum size: 5" x 3 1/2" and 0.007" thick
Maximum thickness: 1/4"
First Class mail: less than 1 ounce
Presort Standard mail: 3.3 ounces or less

Requirements for flats (width x height):

Flat minimum size: 11 1/2" x 6 1/8"
Flat maximum size: 15" x 12"
Maximum thickness: ¾"

United States Postal Service Mail Template

Direct Mail Paper Type

You selected a great paper type for you next direct mail piece, but is it compatible for an address inkjet? The ink used to apply a recipient address cannot adhere to most hi-gloss or varnished papers.

Requirements for paper type:

Hi-gloss or varnished paper: leave a 3 3/4" x 2 1/8" unvarnished address panel
Paper thickness: minimum 0.007" thick

When in doubt, contact your mail house. Insufficient paper types result in hand applied address labels, adding unnecessary, additional costs to your direct mail piece.

Direct Mail Piece Folding and Wafer Seal

You are saving money on your direct mail piece by not inserting it into an envelope, but where did you place the fold? By not considering the fold, in conjunction to the address panel, your direct mail piece may not qualify for the best postage discounts.

Requirements for folded brochures (one sheet of paper)

All automated, folded direct mail requires a wafer seal
Fold must be at direct mail piece bottom, below the address panel, and wafer seal must be at top.

Brochure Fold & Wafer Seal Guidelines

Requirements for folded booklets (more than on sheet of paper)

Effective September 8th there are new requirements for tabbing booklets.
Please see the PDF link below for the details.

Booklet Fold & Wafer Seal Guidelines

Commercial Flats Address Standards

The are some new regulations for addressing commercial flat mail such as catalogs and magazines. The address block must appear on the top of the mail piece instead of the usual placement on the bottom of the back cover.

Complete address standard for commercial flat mail

Postage

Postage Display

A display of postage paid must be applied to all pieces of mail. You are not limited to just stamps.

Permits: The most effective way to apply postage to a mail piece. An indicia bearing the permit number of your company or mail house is imprinted on your mail piece either at the time of printing or mailing.
Stamps: Not just for First Class mail, there is a stamp for each permit type also. Letter with stamps have a higher rate of return than mail with indicias.
Meter: Used for First Class mail only. Postage amount prints onto each mail piece.

Postage Display Guide

Postage Payment

All direct mail processors will require pre-payment of postage before mailing can occur. In most cases the check can be made out directly to the postmaster. A sample of your mail piece along with your list will be required to calculate the postage required.

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