What a year of farming mail costs
Postage and printing are the two costs that matter, and the mailing method changes postage more than anything else. The calculator prices a year of mailings four ways so you can see the difference.
The four methods
- EDDM Retail, $0.26 a piece. Every Door Direct Mail goes to every address on the carrier routes you choose. No names, no list, no permit. The piece has to be a “flat”: longer than 10.5 inches, or taller than 6.125 inches, or thicker than a quarter inch.
- Presorted addressed mail, about $0.45 to $0.50. A mail house or an online postcard service sorts it and applies the permit.
- A stamped postcard, $0.65. Only for cards up to 4.25 × 6 inches.
- A stamped larger card, $0.82. The First-Class letter price, for cards up to 6.125 × 11.5 inches.
Prices are from the USPS price list effective July 12, 2026. USPS has raised mailing prices each July in recent years, so check before you budget a year.
Choosing between them
EDDM is the cheapest way to reach every home in an area, renters included. Addressed mail lets you send to owners only, skip homes that just sold, and use names. On a small farm the difference in dollars is modest, and the targeting can be worth it.
Printing runs roughly $0.10 to $0.35 a piece for a large card, depending on quantity and paper. See EDDM for real estate agents for sizes and steps, and what to send all year.
Questions agents ask
How much does EDDM cost per piece in 2026?
EDDM Retail postage is $0.26 a piece as of July 12, 2026. With printing at $0.10 to $0.35, a do-it-yourself mailing comes to roughly $0.36 to $0.61 a piece. Full-service vendors charge more.
Does a 6 × 9 postcard qualify for EDDM?
No. An EDDM piece must be longer than 10.5 inches, or taller than 6.125 inches, or thicker than a quarter inch. A 6.25 × 9, 6.5 × 9, 6 × 11 or 8.5 × 11 card qualifies.
How many postcards do I need to send for EDDM?
EDDM Retail requires at least 200 pieces per mailing and allows up to 5,000 a day per ZIP code.