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Printing Partners > Services > Direct Mailing Services > Bulk Mailing Rates

Bulk Mailing Rates

Home › Direct Mailing Services › Bulk Mailing Rates

Bulk Mailing Rates & Postage Costs

Bulk mail postage starts at $0.395 per piece for USPS Marketing Mail automation letters, $0.185 for qualified nonprofits, and $0.453 for Presort First-Class postcards, at USPS prices effective July 12, 2026. Printing Partners presorts, prints, and drops your mail to earn the maximum postage discount on every piece.

Written by Kraig Downham, Marketing Director, with Printing Partners since 2005. Last updated October 2026.

✓ In-house printing + mailing ✓ USPS-authorized mail house ✓ G7 Color Certified ✓ ISO 9001:2015 ✓ Variable data printing ✓ Indianapolis, Indiana
Jump to: Marketing Mail Presort First Class EDDM Nonprofit Mail Retail Comparison

All rates are USPS prices effective July 12, 2026. Updated October 2026: on October 12, 2026 we checked every figure on this page against USPS Notice 123, the Postal Explorer price list (current edition effective October 4, 2026), and all of them still match. Commercial ranges shown are automation 5-digit through mixed prices; actual postage per piece depends on piece weight, size, presort level, entry point, and destination. Always verify at usps.com/business/prices.htm.

USPS Marketing Mail Presort Standard

Minimum 200 pieces. Best for promotions, catalogs, newsletters, and advertising where delivery speed is flexible. Typical delivery: 3 to 10 business days.

Piece Type Weight Limit Rate Range (per piece) Vs. Single First Class
Letters 3.5 oz or less $0.395 to $0.467 Save up to 52%
Flats / Large Envelopes 4 oz or less $0.783 to $1.260 Save up to 25%
Who qualifies? Any business or organization with a USPS Marketing Mail permit mailing 200+ pieces per run. Printing Partners can obtain and maintain your permit. USPS Marketing Mail specs on Postal Explorer →

Presort First Class Mail First Class Service

Minimum 500 pieces. Full First Class service (forwarded to new addresses, returned if undeliverable) at a significant discount over retail rates.

Piece Type Rate Range (per piece) Retail First Class Savings
Postcards $0.453 to $0.495 $0.65 Save up to 30%
Letters (1 oz or less) $0.621 to $0.707 $0.82 Save up to 24%
Flats (1 oz or less) $1.025 to $1.585 $1.69 Save up to 39%
Best for: Invoices, statements, time-sensitive promotions, and anything requiring address forwarding or return service. Pieces must meet First Class size and weight standards.

Every Door Direct Mail® (EDDM) No List Required

No mailing list. No permit. Target every household and business on a carrier route. Ideal for grand openings, local promotions, and saturation campaigns.

Piece Type Weight Limit Rate (per piece) Min. Pieces
EDDM Retail Flats Up to 3.3 oz $0.260 200 per route
EDDM Piece Size Requirements
DimensionMinimumMaximum
HeightOver 6.125 inches*12 inches
LengthOver 10.5 inches*15 inches
Thickness0.007 inches (or over 0.25 inches*)0.75 inches
WeightNo minimum3.3 oz

*Meet at least one of these, not all of them. A piece qualifies as a flat if it is taller than 6.125″, longer than 10.5″, or thicker than 0.25″. Every piece must still be at least 3.5″ high and 0.007″ thick.

Printing Partners EDDM service: We print EDDM-compliant flats, bundle by carrier route, and drop at your chosen post offices. Select your routes on USPS EDDM Route Selector, and we handle the rest. New to route picking? Our EDDM cost and route guide walks through it step by step.

Nonprofit USPS Marketing Mail 501(c) Eligible

Minimum 200 pieces. Qualified nonprofits receive some of the lowest available USPS postage rates.

Piece Type Weight Limit Rate Range (per piece) Vs. Commercial Marketing Mail
Letters 3.5 oz or less $0.185 to $0.257 Save up to 53% vs. standard
Flats / Large Envelopes 4 oz or less $0.516 to $0.993 Save up to 34% vs. standard
Eligibility: 501(c)(3) charities, religious institutions, educational institutions, scientific organizations, labor unions, and veterans’ groups. USPS Nonprofit eligibility requirements →

Retail First Class Rates Reference Only

Single-piece, walk-in rates. Included so you can show clients exactly how much they save by switching to a bulk mail program.

Piece Type Retail Rate Notes
Single Piece Postcard $0.65 1 oz or less
Single Piece Letter $0.82 1 oz; +$0.29 per additional oz
Single Piece Metered Letter $0.78 1 oz or less
Single Piece Flat $1.69 1 oz or less
International Letter (1 oz) $1.75 First Class International
✓ With bulk presort, most mailers save 24 to 52% vs. retail rates. Ask us to calculate your exact savings.

How Much Does Bulk Mail Cost?

Bulk mail cost depends on mail class, piece shape, weight, quantity, presort level, and whether the sender has nonprofit authorization. There is no single bulk rate. As an illustration using USPS list prices, 5,000 commercial Marketing Mail letters sorted to 5-digit automation cost $0.395 each, or $1,975 in postage, while the same 5,000 letters with $0.82 First-Class stamps would cost $4,100. Qualified nonprofits pay $0.185 to $0.257 per automation letter.

Current USPS Bulk Mail Rates

Current bulk mail rates for automation 5 digit letters are $0.395 per piece for commercial Marketing Mail and $0.185 per piece for nonprofit Marketing Mail, effective July 12, 2026, under USPS Notice 123. Flats, heavier pieces, and less finely sorted mail cost more, which is why the tables above show a range for each class.

Can You Get Bulk Rates at the Post Office Counter?

No. Bulk rates are not a walk-in discount at the retail counter. Marketing Mail requires at least 200 pieces, while Presorted First Class requires at least 500 pieces. Earning bulk rates requires a permit tied to the mailing, plus address preparation, barcoding, and presorting before USPS induction.

What Is Mass Mailing Postage?

Mass mailing postage is discounted postage for a prepared mailing sent in volume. The mailer qualifies pieces by meeting the applicable minimum, cleaning addresses, applying Intelligent Mail barcodes, sorting to USPS rules, and presenting the job with postal documentation. The rate still varies by mail class, size, weight, automation eligibility, destination, and presort depth.

What Qualifies for Bulk Mail Rates?

Bulk mail rates generally require at least 200 Marketing Mail pieces or 500 Presorted First Class pieces. Addresses must meet USPS standards, with CASS processing, NCOA updates, and an Intelligent Mail barcode where applicable. Pieces are sorted to qualifying levels and submitted with the correct permit and documentation before USPS acceptance.

At a Glance: List-Based Bulk Mail Rates

These rates apply when you have a mailing list and qualify for presort discounts. The more deeply sorted and the larger the list, the lower the rate.

$0.453+
per piece
Presort First Class
Postcards, letters & flats
Forwarded & returned
Best for address-sensitive mail
500-piece minimum
$0.395+
per piece
Presort Standard (Marketing Mail)
Letters & flats
3 to 10 day delivery
Best for bulk promotions
200-piece minimum
$0.185+
per piece
Nonprofit Marketing Mail
Lowest available USPS rate
501(c) organizations only
Letters & flats
200-piece minimum

Rates effective July 12, 2026 per USPS Notice 123. Actual rate within each range depends on presort depth, piece size/weight, entry point, and destination.

We Print It. We Mail It. You Don’t Lift a Finger.

Most print shops hand you a box of postcards and let you figure out the mailing. Printing Partners is a full-service mail house. We handle printing, addressing, ink-jet personalization, CASS certification, presort, bundling, and post office drop, all under one roof at our Indianapolis facility.

Need variable data printing? We personalize each piece with a unique name, address, offer code, or QR code, then mail it at bulk rates.

Request a Print + Mail Quote
1
Design & Print
Offset or digital printing. G7 certified color, short runs to 500,000+.
2
Address & Personalize
CASS certification and NCOA processing to maximize deliverability. Variable data personalizes each piece.
3
Presort & Bundle
Sorted to carrier route, 5-digit, 3-digit, and mixed ADC levels for maximum postage savings.
4
Drop at USPS
We deliver sorted mail to the post office and provide a postage statement. Done.

What We Print & Mail

From postcards to multi-page catalogs, if it fits in a mailbox, we print and mail it.

✉
Postcards

EDDM & targeted mailing. Most popular bulk mail format.

💌
Invitations

Events, fundraisers, and grand openings, mailed at bulk rates.

📄
Brochures

Tri-fold and multi-panel, self-mailer ready.

📰
Newsletters

Multi-page newsletters mailed as flats.

📖
Catalogs

Saddle stitch or perfect bind, then mailed.

✉
Envelopes

Printed outer envelopes for letter campaigns.

📆
Greeting Cards

Seasonal and event cards at bulk rates.

📋
Leaflets & Flyers

Single-sheet saturation mailings via EDDM.

See our Mailing Design Guide and Bulk Mailing Indicia Guide for print-ready file specifications.

Bulk Mail Compliance Guide

USPS discounts come with piece specifications. Here’s what your mail must meet and what Printing Partners handles for you.

🗉 Piece Size Requirements

FormatMin SizeMax Size
Postcard3.5″ × 5″4.25″ × 6″
Letter3.5″ × 5″ × 0.007″6.125″ × 11.5″ × 0.25″
FlatOver 6.125″ high, 10.5″ long, or 0.25″ thick (any one)12″ × 15″ × 0.75″
EDDM FlatOver 6.125″ high, 10.5″ long, or 0.25″ thick (any one)12″ × 15″ × 0.75″

📄 Weight Limits by Class

  • Marketing Mail Letters: 3.5 oz maximum
  • Marketing Mail Flats: 4 oz max (up to 13.5 oz books/catalogs with endorsement)
  • Presort First Class: 3.5 oz letters; 13 oz flats
  • EDDM Flats: 3.3 oz maximum
  • Nonprofit Letters: 3.5 oz maximum
  • Nonprofit Flats: 4 oz maximum

🏠 Addressing Requirements

  • Full delivery address required on every piece
  • CASS-certified address processing (we run this)
  • ZIP+4 required for automation rates
  • Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb) required for automation prices
  • Return address required for First Class; recommended for Marketing Mail
  • NCOA processing recommended to remove undeliverable addresses

🛈 Permits & Indicia

  • Permit Imprint required for Marketing Mail and Nonprofit Mail
  • Annual permit fee applies (USPS charges separately)
  • Indicia appears in the upper-right corner of the address side
  • Printing Partners holds an active permit, and most clients mail under ours
  • EDDM Retail requires no permit and uses a separate EDDM indicia
  • See our Mailing Indicia Guide for design specs
We handle all of the above. Our prepress team reviews every job for USPS compliance before it goes to press. Noncompliant pieces are flagged and corrected before you pay postage.

How Much Will You Save on Your Next Mailing?

Tell us your piece type, quantity, and destination area and we’ll give you an exact postage estimate plus total print + mail cost. Most Indiana businesses save $500 to $5,000 per campaign vs. stamps.

Why Indiana Businesses Choose Printing Partners for Direct Mail

🌟

G7 Master Colorspace Certified

Brand colors accurate and certified on every piece, every run.

📋

ISO 9001:2015 Quality

Documented processes from prepress through mail drop. USPS compliance built in.

📈

Variable Data at Scale

Personalized name, address, offer, QR code on 500 to 500,000 pieces at bulk rates.

🏠

Indiana-Based

Indianapolis, serving Carmel, Fishers, Speedway, and central Indiana. Call us, stop by.

✅

One Vendor, Full Accountability

Print problems cause mail problems. We own it from design to delivery.

🗂

FSC Certified Options

FSC-certified paper available on direct mail campaigns for environmental compliance.

View our equipment list, or see the full direct mailing services overview.

Bulk Mailing Rates: Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about USPS bulk mail costs, requirements, and how Printing Partners can help.

Current USPS bulk mailing rates (effective July 12, 2026) range from $0.185/piece (nonprofit automation letters) to $1.585/piece (Presort First-Class automation flats). USPS Marketing Mail automation letters run $0.395 to $0.467/piece, and automation flats run $0.783 to $1.260/piece. EDDM Retail flats are $0.260/piece. Always verify at USPS Postal Explorer, as USPS adjusts rates periodically.

Cost per piece depends on mail class, piece format, presort level, and weight:

  • Nonprofit automation letters: as low as $0.185/piece
  • Marketing Mail automation letters: $0.395 to $0.467/piece
  • EDDM Retail flats: $0.260/piece
  • Presort First Class postcards: $0.453 to $0.495/piece
  • Presort First Class letters: $0.621 to $0.707/piece

Your total campaign cost also includes printing. Contact us for a combined print + postage estimate.

  • USPS Marketing Mail (Presort Standard): 200 pieces
  • Nonprofit Marketing Mail: 200 pieces
  • Presort First Class: 500 pieces
  • EDDM Retail: 200 pieces per carrier route

Below 200 pieces, single-piece First Class rates apply. We can advise on the most cost-effective option for your volume.

  • Marketing Mail: Lower cost ($0.395 to $0.467/automation letter), 3 to 10 day delivery, not forwarded or returned by default. Best for promotions, catalogs, and newsletters.
  • Presort First Class: Higher cost ($0.621 to $0.707/letter), 2 to 5 day delivery, automatically forwarded to new addresses, returned if undeliverable. Best for invoices, statements, and address-sensitive mail.

Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) lets you mail to every address on a carrier route with no mailing list or permit required. EDDM Retail rate: $0.260 per flat piece (up to 3.3 oz; must be over 6.125″ high, 10.5″ long, or 0.25″ thick). Ideal for restaurants, real estate, home services, and local retailers. Printing Partners prints EDDM-compliant pieces and handles bundling and post office drop.

Marketing Mail and Nonprofit Mail require a USPS Permit Imprint. Printing Partners holds an active permit, and most clients mail under ours, eliminating your annual fee. EDDM Retail requires no permit.

USPS Nonprofit Marketing Mail automation rates (effective July 12, 2026): letters $0.185 to $0.257/piece; flats $0.516 to $0.993/piece. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) charities, religious, educational, and scientific organizations. You need a USPS Nonprofit Authorization before mailing at nonprofit rates. We help Indiana nonprofits navigate the authorization process. USPS nonprofit eligibility →

Presort discounts require: (1) meeting the piece-count minimum, (2) CASS-certified addresses with ZIP+4, (3) Intelligent Mail Barcodes on each piece, (4) pieces meeting size/weight specs, and (5) a mailing permit. Printing Partners handles all of this automatically, and our presort software sorts to the deepest qualifying level to maximize your savings.

Yes, that is our specialty. We handle offset and digital printing, variable data personalization, CASS/NCOA address processing, ink-jet addressing, Intelligent Mail Barcoding, presort, bundling, and post office drop, all in-house in Indianapolis. Request a print + mail estimate →

Variable data printing (VDP) personalizes each piece with unique content (name, offer, QR code, or imagery) while mailing at bulk postage rates. Personalized mail consistently outperforms generic mail by 2 to 5 times in response rate. We run VDP through XMPie, the industry standard platform. See our Variable Data Printing Guide for details.

  • USPS Marketing Mail: 3 to 10 business days
  • Presort First Class: 2 to 5 business days
  • EDDM Retail: 3 to 7 days after post office drop

Marketing Mail has no guaranteed delivery date. If your campaign is date-sensitive, upgrade to Presort First Class or allow extra lead time. We can advise on mail drop timing to hit your in-home date.

Print & Mail Your Next Campaign From Indianapolis

Printing Partners | 929 W 16th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Serving Carmel, Fishers, Speedway, and all of central Indiana. Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.

Preferred by Indiana nonprofits, healthcare organizations, automotive dealers, real estate agencies, and retailers.

Official USPS postage prices: usps.com/business/prices.htm. USPS, Marketing Mail®, Every Door Direct Mail®, and EDDM® are trademarks of the United States Postal Service.

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929 W 16th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202
317-635-2282

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