Direct Mail|Commercial Print
16pt Postcards
The premium card. 16pt adds real thickness and rigidity, so the piece feels substantial in the hand and reads as a brand that invested in the impression.
No account needed to design — build your 16pt postcards in the browser free, then create an account to order.
At a glance
Sizes 4" x 6", 4.25" x 6", 5" x 7", 5.5" x 8.5", 6" x 9", 6" x 11"
Stock 16pt
Mailing Mails as a USPS mailpiece
Heavier 16pt cards for a more substantial feel. Same USPS size rules as any card: 4.25 x 6 in for the retail postcard price, up to 6 x 9 in for the commercial card price when presorted; beyond that it prices as a letter.
Postcards are typically the fastest product on the floor. See turnaround times.
Overview
About 16pt postcards
16pt is the premium point of the postcard family. The extra caliper is not about durability alone - it changes the moment the card is picked up. A 16pt card resists the flex of a thinner stock, holds a crisp edge, and lands with a weight that a recipient registers before they read a word. For a luxury offer, a high-dollar donor ask, or a brand that wants the mail to match the product, that first tactile impression is the message.
The rigidity also protects the print: heavy solids and edge-to-edge photography sit flatter and show fewer handling marks through the mailstream on 16pt than on lighter stock. Paired with a soft-touch or UV coating, a 16pt card reads unmistakably high-end.
Every postcard job moves through the same pipeline as our largest mailings. The list is CASS-standardized and NCOA-updated, deduplicated, and matched to carrier routes; postage is optimized and mapped; and camera verification is available to read every piece as it runs and reconcile the count against your list. The result is a small, fast job that still carries the documentation of a serious mailing.
Postage does not change with the thickness - the class is set by size, so a 16pt card mails at the same rate as a 14pt of the same dimensions. You are buying feel and brand impact, not a different postage bill, which is why 16pt is the choice when the audience is smaller and each impression is worth more.
Mailing It
How 16pt postcards mail
Size decides the rate, and the rate decides the budget. Up to 4.25x6 inches mails at the retail First-Class card rate. Since July 12, 2026 a presorted or automation First-Class mailing can use the commercial card price on cards up to 6x9 inches that meet USPS thickness and automation requirements; 6x11 and anything larger mails as a letter, where Marketing Mail presort usually wins on cost at volume. The address side needs a clear barcode zone in the lower right and an address block that survives the postage indicia. We price the First-Class card rate against a presorted Marketing Mail letter from your actual list so the cheaper path is a fact, not a guess.
Common Uses
Where 16pt postcards earn their keep
Retail & service offers
Grand openings, promotions, and appointment reminders with an offer code or QR that ties response back to the drop.
Political persuasion & GOTV
Big image, short message, and no envelope between the voter and the argument. The workhorse of campaign mail, produced to in-home dates that line up with the election calendar.
Reorders & recurring programs
Monthly reminders and repeat promotions reorder from saved artwork sized to the exact product they ran on, with no re-setup.
Good To Know
Before you order
- 16pt is the premium caliper: noticeably heavier and more rigid in the hand than 14pt
- Feel and brand impact are the point - postage is identical to 14pt at the same size
- Best for high-value offers, donor asks, and premium brands where each impression matters
- Leave the lower-right address zone clean: the barcode clear zone (about 4.75 x 0.625 in) is checked in preflight
- Soft-touch, UV, or matte coatings pair with 16pt for an unmistakably high-end finish
- Reorders start from your saved artwork, sized to the exact product it ran on
Questions
16pt Postcards FAQs
What is the cheapest way to mail a postcard?
At volume, a presorted Marketing Mail letter-size postcard (6x9 or 6x11) usually beats the First-Class card rate. We price both from your actual list so the comparison is real, not a rule of thumb.
What postcard sizes can you print and mail?
From 4x6 up through 6x11 as standard, plus custom trims. Size drives the postage class, so we help you pick the size that hits your budget and your in-home date, not just the one that looks biggest.
Can you print today and mail tomorrow?
Postcards are the fastest product on the floor. Exact dates depend on quantity and the day's schedule, so tell us the in-home date you need and we work backward from it.
Do you check my artwork before printing?
Yes. Preflight verifies size, bleed, resolution, and the USPS address and barcode zones, and flags problems before production, not after.
Can each postcard be personalized?
Yes. Variable data can change the image, the offer, and the recipient details on both sides in the same press pass, which is how targeted and split-test drops are produced.
Do you provide the mailing list?
We can supply consumer, business, new-mover, and saturation lists by geography or selection, or process a list you already own with CASS, NCOA, and deduplication before it mails.
Related
Often ordered together
Business Cards
Standard 3.5 x 2 in cards on heavy cover stock - the exact stocks and finishes are listed under At a glance.
14pt Postcards
High-volume postcards for political, nonprofit, commercial, and constituent mail.
Print + Insert
Printed letter or insert package, matched to an envelope and inserted, addressed and mailed as one job.
Price your 16pt postcards
Quantity, size, and dates. Quotes come back fast, and an account is free.