Postcard Size Guide: What You Need To Know

Did you know that, after receiving direct mail from a business, 57% of recipients visited that brand’s website? Sending postcards and other forms of direct mail is an effective method to reach new customers, make an impression on your target demographics, and build meaningful relationships.

Postcards are useful and versatile tools. They can serve many purposes, from facilitating marketing campaigns to encouraging personal communication and more.

However, did you know that there’s not only one standard postcard size? There are in fact many postcard sizes, all of which are appropriate for different situations. Whether you’re printing postcards for personal or business use, it’s important to consider which size is best for your purposes. In this article, we’ll explain each postcard size and provide tips for choosing the perfect postcard for your project.

Postcard Size Explanations

There are in fact three standard postcard sizes: 5.5x4.25, 6x4, and 7x5. Each size can be printed in portrait or landscape orientation.

Small Postcard Size

Small postcards are typically 5.5x4.25 or 4.25x5.5, and they are perfect for all kinds of notes and communication. They’re a great choice for advertising events, as they are large enough to include the name, time, and location of the event.

You can add additional information on the back of the postcard, giving you ample space on the front for an eye-catching design. Include a high-resolution photograph that grabs readers’ attention and gets them interested.

Standard Postcard Size

The standard postcard size is 6x4 or 4x6. This size is versatile and is well-suited for business, advertising, and social postcards. A 6x4 postcard provides enough space on the front for a detailed photo or piece of art, as well as enough space on the back for a personal message or handwritten letter.

This size is also cost-effective, as it is the largest USPS postcard size that can be mailed as a first-class postcard; larger postcards are classified as letters. Mailing a postcard of this size is cheaper than mailing a letter, so the standard postcard size provides the most space for information at the lowest price.

Large Postcard Size

The most common large postcard size is 7x5 or 5x7. This size gives you enough space to spread out and include lots of information. Do you want to include a coupon on your postcard or explain details of a product giveaway? Or do you want to explain a political candidate’s opinion about important issues? If so, a large postcard is the perfect size for you.

Large postcards work well as mailers, since they provide enough space to include detailed information. If you’re interested in mailers, ask your professional print partner about their direct mail services, which makes sending postcards simple. Simply upload your postcard design and specify which demographics you’re interested in sending your postcard to, and your print partner will take care of the rest.

Oversized Postcard

There are certainly other oversized postcard sizes beyond 5x7. Some people create 5.5x8.5, 6x9 and even 6x11 postcards. While these cards will incur more postage cost than small postcards like 4x6, they also stand out in your recipient’s mailbox and garner attention. These sizes give you space for beautiful larger photos and images, and provide more room for text. If you are trying to attract attention or new customers, consider these sizes and weigh the size of the card against production cost and postage.  

Postcard Size Tips

As you’re deciding between postcard sizes, keep both your postcard’s size and mailing cost in mind.

Your postcard’s size is vitally important because it influences how much information you can include and therefore transmit to your recipients. Naturally, a smaller postcard can contain a smaller amount of information than a larger postcard.

However, you must as well keep postage costs in mind. As mentioned earlier, large postcards must be sent with letter-sized postage instead of postcard postage. This costs a little more per postcard, but if you’re sending many postcards, the cost can add up.

Always check with the post office as to the current postage rate for any postcard you produce. If you’re having trouble deciding on a postcard size, ask your printing company for advice. They will be able to point you in the right direction.

Design Tips For Every Postcard Size

No matter your postcard size, you will want to keep some design principles in mind during the printing process. As you’re creating your design, consider the following ideas:

• Visual hierarchy. Balance the text and images in your postcards in order to emphasize your main messages. Emphasize your postcard’s call to action by using larger or bold text.
• Consider readability. It can be tempting to include as much information as possible on your postcard so that recipients can learn about your business. However, including too much text overwhelms readers, and text that is smaller than 10pt can be difficult to read. Limit the text on your postcard to the most important information.
• Incorporate QR codes. Even in the largest postcard sizes, you are relatively limited in the amount of text you can include. Include a QR code on your postcard that leads to your website and makes it easy for recipients to learn more. This is especially useful for smaller postcards, as it reduces the urge to cram every possible piece of information onto your postcard.

If you’re uncertain about your postcard design, or what type of design is best for your preferred size, feel free to ask ZoePrint’s design team for advice. They can even design a postcard from scratch for you!

Print Your Postcards With The Experts At ZoePrint!

Here at ZoePrint.com, we’re leaders in postcard printing, and we specialize in printing postcards for business and individuals in every postcard size. If you don't see the size you are looking for, be sure to ask! We also print custom sizes of postcards, so feel free to let us know if you’d prefer an alternative to one of the standard postcard sizes. There’s a good chance we can print exactly what you’re looking for!

In addition to postcards, we provide all the print materials your business needs, including brochures, flyers, business cards, and more.

Order your postcards online or fill out a custom quote request form today.