Mailing Indicia
for Bulk Mail

Bulk mailing can be a cost-effective way to reach your audience, but it’s important to understand the tools available. Use a mailing indicia to cut your mailing costs. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of indicia, explaining what they are, how they work, and why they’re essential for businesses looking to reduce mailing expenses.

What is a Mailing Indicia?

Indicia Meaning:

Indicia (pronounced in-DIE-sha) are pre-printed markings that take the place of stamps on bulk mail. They show that postage has been paid and must include key details like your permit number and mail class (for example, First-Class Mail® at $0.73 per piece as of April 2025).

Using indicia can save businesses up to 30% compared to traditional stamps, making them ideal for large mailings.

For example, sending 1,000 pieces with stamps costs over $600 at $0.66 each. With indicia, costs drop by nearly half. At Printing Partners in Indianapolis, IN 46202, we help businesses maximize these savings by designing compliant indicia and managing every step of your bulk mailing process

To get your company or organization started with bulk mailing, this indicia USPS guide is a valuable resource.

Benefits of Using a Mailing Indicia:

Cost Savings

Using a mailing indicia significantly reduces postage costs compared to traditional stamps, especially for bulk mailings. For example, sending 1,000 mail pieces with standard stamps could cost over $600, while indicia-based postage rates can lower that expense to nearly half. These savings make indicia an ideal choice for businesses looking to manage budgets while maintaining effective communication.

Time Savings

With an indicia, there’s no need to affix individual stamps to each envelope, which can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. Instead, indicias are pre-printed directly onto mail pieces during production, allowing you to streamline the entire mailing process. This time efficiency is particularly valuable for large campaigns, where thousands of pieces need to be prepared and sent quickly.

Piece of Mind

Using a mailing indicia through Printing Partners ensures your bulk mail campaigns are handled with efficiency and precision. Our high-capacity equipment and skilled team can process millions of mail pieces each month, eliminating the bottlenecks that can occur with manual preparation. By pre-printing indicias directly onto your mail, we streamline every step, from production to delivery, making it the perfect solution for large-scale campaigns.

Why Should You Use a Mail House?

Accurate Postage Calculation:

Our team calculates postage costs precisely, helping you maximize savings while meeting USPS requirements.

Compliance with USPS Rules:

We stay up-to-date on all USPS regulations, ensuring your mailings are formatted correctly and processed without delays.

Reliable Mail Delivery:

From sorting and bundling to coordinating with the post office, we ensure your mail reaches its destination on time.

Do I Have To Have My Own Permit Number?

Nope, you can use ours. If you don’t have your own local postal customer indicia, you can use Printing Partners’ permit to send your mail. If you already have a permit, we’ll ensure your funds are applied properly to keep your mailing process seamless.

Design Guidelines for Indicia

USPS has specific requirements for indicia design to ensure they’re readable and compliant:

Must be placed in the upper right corner of the address area, at least 1/4 inch from the top and right of the mail panel area.
Minimum size: 1/2 inch high by 1/2 inch wide to ensure visibility for postal processing.
Text within the indicia should be at least a 7pt font. It is often recommended to be slightly larger for better readability.
Must include the following elements:
- Class of mail (e.g., “Presort First Class” for presorted business mail, “Presort Standard” for marketing mail, “Nonprofit Org.” for eligible nonprofits, or “First Class” for non-presorted mail, to determine the correct postage rate).
- “U.S. Postage Paid” to indicate postage is covered.
- Your permit number, unique to your mailing permit.
- The city and state of permit issuance (e.g., “Indianapolis, IN”).

Our design team at Printing Partners ensures all indicia meet these standards.

Download Free Mailing Indicia Template

We have got you started with a helpful mailing template. This file will contain indicias for Nonproit Indicia, First Class Indicia, Presort First Class Indicia, and Presort Standard Indicia. This file also contains a mailing safe area to keep open for automated mailing rates.

InDesign Mailing Indicia Template

Illustrator Mailing Indicia Template

PDF Mailing Indicia Template

Exploring Other Postage Options:

Understanding the Differences Between Stamps, Metered Mail, and Indicia

Stamps

Pros:

Easy to use
No minimum quantity
No need for an endorsement line or Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb)

Cons:

Time-consuming for bulk mail
Costlier than other options

Precanceled Stamps

Pros:

Professional first-class look that boosts open rates
Lower cost than regular stamps
Good for smaller bulk mailings
Better postage rates with an endorsement line and Intelligent Mail Barcode

Cons:

Requires USPS approval
Not suitable for large volumes

Metered Mail

Pros:

Convenient for varying mail volumes
Automated process
No need for an endorsement line or Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb)

Cons:

Initial cost of meter
Ongoing rental fees

Indicia

Pros:

Cost-effective for bulk mailing
Streamlines operations
No need for individual stamps

Cons:

Requires a minimum of 200 pieces
Best managed by a professional mail house like Printing Partners
Requires an endorsement line and Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb)

The Financial Benefits of Using a Prepaid Postage Mark

Potential Savings

If there was a business sending out 1,000 pieces of mail, using ordinary stamps would amount to $660. However, using presort standard rates with a Prepaid Postage Mark could bring the cost down to between $326 and $381. This could result in a possible savings of as much as $334 per mail-out.

Can You Implement a Bulk Mail Imprint Yourself?

While it may seem straightforward, it's advisable to use a professional mail house like Printing Partners. We work closely with the post office to send mail efficiently and follow all rules to save money.

Using Your Own Permit vs. Printing Partners' Permit

If you don't have your own mailing permit, you can mail under Printing Partners' permit number. However, you must provide the postage amount at the time of mailing. If you already have a permit number, the funds will need to be available in that account when we mail your piece.