Mailing Indicia Guide: Cut Costs and Simplify Bulk Mail

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Business is the activity of making one's living or cing or buying and selling products

Mailing indicia help you save money on large mailings. They take the place of stamps or postage meters. If you're sending 200 or more pieces, this method lowers your postage cost and speeds up delivery. This guide shows how indicia work, how to get a bulk mail permit, and how to avoid errors that cause returned mail.

What Is a Mailing Indicia?

A mailing indicia is a printed box that shows you’ve paid for postage. It goes on the top-right corner of each envelope or postcard. It includes your permit number, mailing class, city, and state.

Indicia vs Stamp vs Meter

Type	Best For	Cost Savings	Setup Needed
Indicia	Bulk mail (200+ pieces)	✅ Yes	USPS permit
Stamp	Small mailings	❌ No	None
Postage Meter	Office mail	⚠️ Some	Machine lease

USPS Indicia Rules

To use indicia postage, the USPS requires a permit. This is called a bulk mail permit or mailing permit. You must also meet these rules:

Send at least 200 pieces for Marketing Mail
Or send 500 pieces for First-Class Mail
Print the indicia in the right spot
Show the correct class of mail
Include your city, state, and permit number

We help nonprofits use the special nonprofit indicia to save even more.

How to Use Mailing Indicia

You do not need stamps. Instead, print a permit box on your mailpiece.

Here's what you need:

Your USPS permit info
The right mailing class (like "Marketing Mail")
Your city and state
A clean, easy-to-read format

When to Use Indicia

Indicia postage works well for:

Mailers with 200+ pieces
Fundraisers and nonprofit mail
Promotional postcards
Monthly billing or invoices
Busy mailing schedules

Make Your Own Indica With These Free Indicia Template Downloads

InDesign Mailing Indicia Template

PDF Mailing Indicia Template

Illustrator Mailing Indicia Template

How to Use Mailing Indicia

You do not need stamps. Instead, print a permit box on your mailpiece.

Here's what you need:

Your USPS permit info
The right mailing class (like "Marketing Mail")
Your city and state
A clean, easy-to-read format

When to Use Indicia

Indicia postage works well for:

Mailers with 200+ pieces
Fundraisers and nonprofit mail
Promotional postcards
Monthly billing or invoices
Busy mailing schedules

Using an indica is the smart way to streamline your mailings and reduce postage cost.

Bulk Mail Permit Options

To use mailing indicia, you need a USPS-approved permit number. That typically means setting up an account and managing documentation—but most of our clients skip that hassle.

Printing Partners offers a simpler path. You can use our mailing indicia permit, issued from Indianapolis—on your printed materials. Here’s what that means for you:

No need to set up a USPS account
No annual USPS fees or paperwork
No returned mail from improper formatting
Faster project turnaround

If you prefer to use your own indicia mailing permit, we can accommodate that as well. But for the majority of our customers, using our permit saves time and cost while ensuring compliance with all USPS indicia requirements.

Real Savings Example

Let’s say you mail 10,000 postcards using a postage stamp at $0.53 each. That’s $5,300 in postage.

Now consider switching to a bulk mail indicia with Marketing Mail. That rate can drop to around $0.33 per piece, depending on your sort level and ZIP Code grouping. Your total postage cost drops to $3,300—a $2,000 savings on one mailing.

For First-Class Mail Indicia, the savings are smaller, but still important. If you're sending 500 invoices or notices, bulk rates can reduce postage from $0.68 to around $0.51 each, saving over $85 on a single job.

The more you mail, the more you save. Indicia works best for high mailing volumes and repeat mailers with an organized mail list.

To see current USPS pricing, check our Bulk Mailing Rates page.

Current Bulk Mail Rates

Get Expert Help

Printing Partners makes indicia printing easy. We offer:

Custom indicia printing
Bulk permit usage
USPS-ready sorting
Free mailing indicia templates
Support for presorted standard mail indicia

We manage the full process, from file setup to final delivery.

Start Saving Time and Money

Using indicia postage makes mailing faster, cheaper, and easier. You avoid sticking a single postage stamp on each item. You also skip dealing with postage meters.

With the right indicia mailing permit, you unlock business mail savings and USPS-approved efficiency. Whether you're sending Marketing Mail Indicia campaigns or First-Class Mail Indicia notices, the process stays simple.

Printing Partners handles your full mail services process, from mail list sorting to USPS delivery. We take care of everything—design, print, indicia setup, and paperwork—so you don’t have to.

Request A Print and Mail Estimate

Printing Partners
929 West 16th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202

Indicia is a special printed box on mail that shows postage has been paid. It takes the place of a stamp.

“Indicia” means signs or markings. On mail, it means the printed marking that shows how postage is paid.

The correct word is “indicia.” Some people say “indicies,” but that’s not used for mail. Use “indicia” instead.

Some say “uhn-di-shee-uh” (like Google). But here in the Midwest, at Printing Partners, we say in-DIE-sha.

Say it slowly: uhn-di-shee-uh

An indicia is a printed mark that tells the post office you’ve already paid for the postage.

People often mean “indicia,” but say “indicies” by mistake. “Indicia” is the right word for mail.

You can use our mailing indicia if we print and mail for you. Or you can get your own by applying for a permit at your local post office.

It’s the indicia style used in the United States. It follows USPS rules to show your postage is covered.

It’s a printed box with your permit number and mailing info. It replaces stamps and helps you save time and money.

A collection of assorted stationery items including folders, notepads, and business cards in various colors.

Various packaging designs featuring characters named Martha, Toni, and Robin in different colors and styles.

Check Our Our
Mailing Services .

Learn More Here

Exploring Other Postage Options:

Understanding the Differences Between Stamps, Metered Mail, and Indicia

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)

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

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

Contact Us

Mailing Indicia Guide: Cut Costs and Simplify Bulk Mail

Fill the form to Get a quote

What Is a Mailing Indicia?

Indicia vs Stamp vs Meter

USPS Indicia Rules

How to Use Mailing Indicia

When to Use Indicia

Make Your Own Indica With These Free Indicia Template Downloads

InDesign Mailing Indicia Template

PDF Mailing Indicia Template

Illustrator Mailing Indicia Template

How to Use Mailing Indicia

When to Use Indicia

Bulk Mail Permit Options

Real Savings Example

Get Expert Help

Start Saving Time and Money

Check Our Our
Mailing Services .