A buyer wants a larger card for more copy and still expects postcard-rate postage. Postcard sizes are print options first. Mail class is a USPS rule second. The print matrix never proves the stamp class by itself.
Archived print sizes versus mail-class claims
| Size key | Archived print cell | Postage in matrix? | Mail class status here |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4×6 | $29.2824 | No | Verify current USPS postcard standards |
| 5×7 | $36.5246 | No | Verify current USPS postcard standards |
| 6×9 | $56.3598 | No | Verify current USPS postcard standards |
The archive listed 36 size keys, including 4×6 labeled as a standard horizontal marketing size. A longer size list is not a postage chart. Confirm which sizes remain sellable on the live postcard printing form before locking artwork.
Print ladder for common mail-relevant sizes
Within the archived snapshot, moving from 4×6 to 5×7 added about $7.24 at 100 pieces for the locked paper and color keys. Moving from 4×6 to 6×9 added about $27.08. Those deltas are historical print differences only. They do not include shipping, tax, coatings, rush, or postage.
| Decision | Print evidence | Still required |
|---|---|---|
| Short offer, photo front | 4×6 archive cell context | Live size + USPS class check |
| More copy or map | 5×7 or 6×9 archive context | Live size + USPS class check |
| Square format | Archive may list keys | Current USPS eligibility before claiming postcard class |
| EDDM saturation | Separate EDDM size rules | Live EDDM root + USPS EDDM guidance |
EDDM size rules are not addressed postcard rules
Every Door Direct Mail uses its own eligibility path. Do not copy an addressed 4×6, 5×7, or 6×9 assumption into an EDDM order. Confirm eligible formats on the EDDM product root and current USPS EDDM materials. Archived EDDM print cells also fail to prove postage.
Thickness, stock, and class interactions
Stock and coating can change thickness. Thickness can change mail class. This page does not invent millimeter thresholds. Pair the live stock selector with current USPS postcard and letter standards before promising a rate category. If the live form offers a thicker premium stock, re-verify class after the stock choice, not before.
- Choose the print size for the message first.
- Confirm the size still exists on the live form.
- Check current USPS dimensions and thickness rules.
- Keep postage in a separate budget row.
- Use EDDM only when saturation routes are the job.
At 55printing, postcard sizes are configured on the product root. A larger card can be the right marketing choice and still move into letter class under current postal rules. That is not a failure of the print form. It is a reminder that print dollars and postage class are different ledgers. Short offers usually fit 4×6 when the live size and current class rules both clear. Longer maps, menus, or multi-offer backs often need 5×7 or 6×9, with a fresh class check after the size lock.
Square cards need an explicit current USPS check before anyone calls them postcards for postage. Archive presence of a square size key proves print history only. Shipping to the buyer is also separate from postage to recipients. Confirm destination shipping on checkout when cards ship to the buyer for self-mailing.
Rebuild size, stock, quantity, and destination on the current postcard form.
Live recheck discipline for this page
Archive matrix dollars on this page are historical planning context only. Before any customer quote, rebuild the same configuration on the live 55printing product form named in the CTA, capture the visible production label, and continue through checkout with the real destination ZIP when shipping matters.
Keep postage, preparation, tax, and mailing-service lines in separate rows until first-party evidence proves inclusion. Do not invent competitor prices, open rates, or USPS day counts from memory. If a selector, size, stock, or turnaround label has changed since July 30, 2026, publish the live label and keep the archive cell as dated history only.
Internal links on this page point to product roots that own transactions. This article owns decision framing, worksheets, and honest blockers. Soft-index paths and unfinished TITLE-LOG packages do not replace a live HTTP 200 product root for ordering.
When two product families could apply, choose the root that matches the mailing system first: addressed or self-mail print on postcard printing, saturation routes on EDDM postcards, and deadline production on rush postcards. Mixing those families inside one cart comparison without disclosing the root change creates false cheapest stories.
Postcard size FAQ
Which postcard sizes appear on the archived 55printing matrix?
The archive listed 36 size keys, including 4×6 labeled as a standard horizontal marketing size. Presence in the archive is not a live availability promise. Confirm every size on the current postcard form before final artwork. EDDM campaigns need a separate eligibility check on the EDDM root.
What did archived 100-piece 4×6, 5×7, and 6×9 print cells show?
Checked July 30, 2026, the both-sides archive cells were $29.2824 for 4×6, $36.5246 for 5×7, and $56.3598 for 6×9 under the locked paper and color keys in the brief. Those are historical print bases only. Recheck live cells before quoting.
Does the print price include postage?
No evidence in the matrix shows postage inside the print cell. Keep stamp or permit postage in a separate row until checkout or a verified mailing service proves inclusion. Do not invent a postage dollar to complete a spreadsheet. Shipping to your door is also separate from recipient postage.
How is postcard class different from letter class?
Class depends on current USPS dimension, aspect, and thickness standards, not on the marketing name postcard. Use primary postal guidance for the rule set. This article does not publish remembered thresholds. Re-verify after size and stock are locked on the live form.
Do EDDM size rules match addressed postcard rules?
No. EDDM eligibility is a separate path. Confirm formats on the EDDM postcards root and current USPS EDDM materials. Do not transfer an addressed 4×6 assumption into an EDDM order without that check. Confirm the matching live 55printing form selectors, proof rules, and checkout summary for the order date before treating any archive cell as a current delivered total or postage promise.
Can square cards qualify as postcards?
Only current USPS rules can answer that for the mailing date. Archive presence of a square size key proves print history, not postage class. Verify before promising postcard-rate postage. If class fails, budget letter postage or change the size.
Which size fits a short offer versus a longer message?
Short offers often fit 4×6 when live size and class both clear. Longer copy, maps, or multi-offer backs often need 5×7 or 6×9. Use the archived print deltas only as historical context, then rebuild on the live form with a fresh class check.
Where should buyers confirm current sizes and order?
Use the postcard printing product root. It owns size, stock, quantity, and checkout. This article owns the size-to-class verification map. It is not a second storefront and cannot replace a live configured total. Confirm the matching live 55printing form selectors, proof rules, and checkout summary for the order date before treating any archive cell as a current delivered total or postage promise.