About 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" Postcards - Graphic Design, Printing and Mailing Services
4 1/4" x 5 1/2" postcards are an economical and effective way to advertise your products or services, promote special offers, reach prospective customers, or encourage repeat business from existing customers. This postcard size meets the size requirements for USPS standard postcard rates and can be printed in black or full color on one or both sides. Discount Printing Service provides professional postcard graphic design, AI-assisted graphic design, preflight file checks, high-quality digital postcard printing, and mailing services to help you take your postcard project from concept to delivery.
For an effective postcard marketing campaign, your design should combine clear, easy-to-understand copy with attention-getting graphics that quickly communicate your message. An important but often overlooked part of postcard design is a strong call to action that encourages the recipient to respond, such as visiting your business, calling a telephone number, scanning a QR code, visiting your website, or redeeming a special discount or limited-time offer.
Key Benefits
- Meets the size requirements for USPS standard postcard rates
- Economical and effective direct-mail advertising
- Available with black or full-color printing on one or both sides
- Professional graphic design and AI-assisted graphic design available
- Preflight file checks for customer-supplied artwork
- Postcard mailing services available
- Mailing list services available to help target your ideal customers
4 1/4" x 5 1/2" Postcard Product Specifications and File Requirements
- File Type: PDF (contact us for assistance with other file types)
- Design File Page Size: 5.5" wide x 4.25" tall
- Orientation: Landscape
- Margin: 1/4" recommended (1/8" minimum)
- Bleed: 1/8" minimum recommended
- Crop Marks: Recommended
- Ink(s): Black or Full Color (CMYK)
- Color Space: Grayscale, RGB or CMYK (recommended)
- File Resolution: 300 dpi (dots per inch) recommended for optimum quality, 1200 dpi for vector artwork is recommended
- Paper: 14 point C2S cover standard; contact us for different paper options
- Free File Check: All artwork files are pre-flighted for technical issues before printing.
- Free PDF Proofs: Sent by email for approval prior to printing
- Graphic Design Services: Available for an additional fee, including AI-assisted graphic design
- Mailing Included In Price: No. The printing prices on our website DO NOT include mailing lists, mailing services or postage. All mailing services and postage must be quoted separately. Please contact us for a mailing quote for your postcards.
- Mailing Lists: You can supply your in-house address file or contact us for custom mailing lists. Mailing-list services are priced separately and must be quoted.
- Postage Options: USPS Marketing Mail (Standard Mail) or 1st Class Mail postage. USPS Marketing Mail requires a minimum of 200 pieces or 50 pounds of mail. First-Class Mail may be available for smaller quantities, depending on the mailing requirements. Postage is not included in the postcard printing price and must be quoted separately.
- Fulfillment: Mailing fulfillment is priced separately from postcard printing and must be quoted. Services can include mailing-list preparation (deduplication, NCOA, CASS certification), addressing, postal sort/tray preparation, and delivery to USPS.
For the best quality printing, we recommend submitting a flattened PDF file prepared for commercial printing. A minimum 1/8" bleed is recommended when artwork or background colors extend to the edge of the postcard. Important text, logos and other critical design elements should remain inside the recommended margin so they are not too close to the finished edges.
We check customer-supplied postcard graphic design files with preflight software for common technical issues before printing. If you need help creating your postcard, we also offer professional graphic design and AI-assisted graphic design services. When we provide graphic design or make changes to your artwork, we provide a free PDF proof by email for your approval before the postcards are printed.
Free Downloadable Layout Templates
Free downloadable 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" postcard layout templates coming soon!
4 1/4" x 5 1/2" Postcard Mailing Services
Discount Printing Service offers postcard printing and mailing services to help you get your postcards directly in front of your target audience. You can have your finished postcards shipped to you anywhere in the U.S., or we can coordinate the mailing of your postcards through our mailing service.
Our mailing services can use your own mailing list or a mailing list we provide based on your ideal customer, client, or target audience. Our mailing and data-list services can help target recipients using demographic and geographic information appropriate for your campaign.
We provide mailing-list data preparation services for both customer-supplied lists and lists provided through our mailing-list services. Depending on the mailing, these services can include deduplication, NCOA processing and CASS certification to help prepare mailing data for postal processing. Our mailing services can also include direct addressing, indicia use, postal sort and tray preparation, and delivery to a USPS Commercial Mail Center.
Standard and Oversized Postcard Sizes and Postage
Discount Printing Service offers postcards in several standard and oversized formats to give you flexibility in choosing the size that best fits your marketing campaign. Standard postcard sizes are designed to meet USPS requirements for the standard postcard mailing rate when the mailing meets the applicable USPS requirements. Our standard postcard sizes include 4 1/4" x 5 1/2", 4" x 6", and 4 1/4" x 6".
Our oversized postcards provide additional space for larger graphics, more information and greater visual impact. Oversized sizes include 5" x 7", 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", and 6" x 11". Because these larger postcards do not qualify for the standard postcard-size rate, they may be subject to higher USPS postage rates depending on their exact dimensions, weight and mailing classification. Contact us for a mailing quote so we can determine the appropriate postage and mailing requirements for your postcard size and quantity.
Postcard Uses and Marketing Ideas
Postcards are a versatile marketing and communication tool that can be used by businesses, contractors, professional services, retailers, real estate professionals and many other organizations. They can be used for both promotional advertising and practical customer communications.
Common postcard uses include appointment reminders, service reminders, vehicle maintenance reminders, oil change reminders, dental and medical appointment reminders, lawn care services, landscaping promotions, roofing services, gutter cleaning, pressure washing, handyman services, home improvement contractors, HVAC services, plumbing services, electrical contractors, pest control, carpet cleaning, house cleaning, remodeling, painting contractors and other home-service businesses.
Postcards are also effective for real estate agent mailings targeting potential home buyers and sellers, new-listing announcements, open house invitations, recently sold property announcements, neighborhood farming campaigns and general real estate marketing. Other popular uses include restaurant promotions, grand openings, retail sales, coupons and special offers, salon and spa promotions, auto dealerships, fitness centers, churches and nonprofits, fundraising campaigns, seasonal promotions, customer appreciation campaigns, new-business announcements and local event promotions.
Because postcards put your message directly in the recipient's hands without requiring an envelope to be opened, they can be an effective way to deliver a short, focused marketing message and a strong call to action.
Bulk Postcard Mailing Options
Our bulk postcard mailing service has a 200-piece minimum for USPS Marketing Mail (Standard Mail). First-Class Mail may be available for postcard mailings of fewer than 200 pieces, depending on the mailing requirements and postage option selected. We can help determine the appropriate USPS mailing service for your postcard project.
Depending on your mailing requirements and campaign, postcards can be prepared for USPS Marketing Mail (Standard Mail) or USPS 1st Class Mail. Bulk and commercial mailing services can provide a more economical alternative to applying individual postage stamps or handling a large mailing through a postage meter. Depending on the size, quantity and requirements of your mailing, our services may help reduce postage costs while saving you the time and work involved in preparing and delivering a postcard mailing.
All mailing services, mailing-list services and postage are priced separately from the postcard printing price shown on our website and must be quoted separately. Contact us for more information about postcard mailing services, mailing lists, data preparation and postage options.
4 1/4" x 5 1/2" Postcard Turnaround, Shipping and Production
Production time for postcard printing is typically 24–48 business hours, excluding weekends and holidays. Production time can vary depending on quantity and options such as graphic design and mailing services, which may require additional processing time. Production time begins after final proof approval when Discount Printing Service provides graphic design or a proof is required, or after completion of the purchase when press-ready PDF artwork is supplied and no proof is required.
Printed postcards can be shipped anywhere in the U.S. by UPS Ground, Second Day Air or Next Day Air. When postcards are being mailed through our mailing service, additional time is required for mailing-list preparation, addressing, postal processing and delivery to the USPS Commercial Mail Center.
Our postcards are printed on high-quality paper substrates selected by experienced printing professionals for the intended use of the product and according to industry standards. We use professional digital printing press equipment capable of producing a minimum 1200 dpi print resolution at speeds of more than 5,000 impressions per hour. This combination of professional equipment, quality materials and efficient production allows us to provide high-quality postcard printing with competitive discount pricing.
Other Popular Postcard Sizes