# What Is EDDM? Every Door Direct Mail Explained > USPS Every Door Direct Mail delivers to every address on a route without a mailing list. How it works, flat-size rules, and when it fits a local business. URL: https://slcspotlight.com/guide/what-is-every-door-direct-mail/ Last-Modified: 2026-10-13 Author: Tyler Biswell Tags: what is every door direct mail, eddm explained, usps eddm for small business Guide • Direct Mail # What Is EDDM? Every Door Direct Mail Explained for Local Businesses USPS Every Door Direct Mail delivers to every address on a route without a mailing list. How it works, flat-size rules, and when it fits a local business. By Tyler Biswell [/about/#tyler-biswell →](/about/#tyler-biswell) • Updated October 13, 2026 • 4 min read ![Mail carrier placing postcards into a row of curbside mailboxes](/images/featured/mail-carrier-placing-postcards-into-a-row-of-curbs.webp) ## EDDM in one paragraph EDDM stands for **Every Door Direct Mail**. It’s a USPS program that lets a business mail to **every address on a carrier route** without buying a mailing list or printing names on each piece. You pick the routes, and the mail carrier delivers your piece to every home (and, if you choose, every business) on them. It’s the program behind our solo direct mail [/direct-mail-eddm/ →](/direct-mail-eddm/) campaigns and our shared Community Postcard [/community-postcards/ →](/community-postcards/) . ## How EDDM works **1\. Routes, not names.** The Postal Service divides each ZIP code into carrier routes. With EDDM, you choose routes instead of building a list. Every address on those routes gets your mail. **2\. Simplified addressing.** EDDM pieces don’t carry individual names and addresses. They use a simplified address block meant for every resident on the route. **3\. Flat-size mail.** EDDM pieces must be flat-size mail, which means larger than a standard letter. That’s why EDDM postcards are oversized. **4\. Bundling and drop-off.** The mail is bundled by route with facing slips and dropped off at the right post office. There are rules for how bundles are counted and prepared. ![Bundles of postcards strapped together on a post office counter](/images/content/bundles-of-postcards-strapped-together-with-facing.webp) > **We handle the post office** > > Route selection, bundling, paperwork and drop-off all have rules. When we run your mailing, we take care of them. ## Why oversized cards work well Because EDDM requires flat-size pieces, EDDM postcards are bigger than regular mail. That’s an advantage: a large, glossy card sits on top of the pile instead of hiding between envelopes. Our Community Postcard is 6.5 x 12 inches for exactly this reason. ![Oversized flat postcard next to a standard letter for size](/images/content/oversized-flat-postcard-next-to-a-standard-letter-.webp) ## When EDDM fits a local business EDDM is saturation mail. It reaches everyone on a route, not a hand-picked list. That fits businesses that serve **everyone in a neighborhood**: - Home-service trades like roofing, HVAC, plumbing, landscaping and pest control. - Health and personal care like dentists, chiropractors and salons. - Restaurants, gyms and other neighborhood businesses. It’s a weaker fit if your buyers are a narrow group spread across a big area. In that case, a targeted list may make more sense. See EDDM vs mailing list direct mail [/guide/eddm-vs-mailing-list-direct-mail/ →](/guide/eddm-vs-mailing-list-direct-mail/) . ## Solo EDDM vs a shared card | | Solo EDDM mailing | Shared Community Postcard | | --- | --- | --- | | Card | Yours alone | Shared by up to 16 businesses, one per category | | Routes | You choose, across Salt Lake County | Set per edition: Draper, Sandy, Cottonwood Heights | | Homes | Depends on your routes | 2,500 per edition | | Price | By quote | From $249 per spot | Both use EDDM and neither needs a mailing list. The shared card splits the cost; the solo card gives you full control. Our comparison guide, co-op postcard vs solo EDDM postcard [/guide/co-op-postcard-vs-solo-eddm-postcard/ →](/guide/co-op-postcard-vs-solo-eddm-postcard/) , goes deeper. ## Common EDDM questions **Can I mail to businesses as well as homes?** EDDM lets you choose which address types on a route receive the mail. For most local service businesses, residential addresses are the focus. **Can I choose just part of a route?** Routes are generally mailed as a whole. That’s why route selection matters: pick routes that match your customers. **Do I need to put a name on each card?** No. EDDM uses simplified addressing, so no names or street addresses are printed on each piece. **Is there a minimum?** The program has rules about how mail is prepared and dropped off. When we run your mailing, we handle those details. ## Designing for EDDM Because EDDM pieces are flat-size and oversized, you have more room than a standard postcard. Use it well: - **Big headline and offer** that can be read from arm’s length. - **A clear photo** of your work or result. - **A large phone number and a QR code.** - **Your service area,** so readers know you work near them. Leave space for the postal indicia and address block. We set up the layout so it meets mailing requirements. ## EDDM and tracking Since EDDM doesn’t use a list, you won’t know which specific homes responded unless they tell you. That’s why tracking tools matter: a QR code linked to a page you can measure, an offer code only used on the mailer, and a habit of asking callers where they heard about you. ## Two ways to use EDDM with us You can share a card with other local businesses on the Community Postcard, from $249 for 2,500 homes per edition, or run a solo mailing with the whole card to yourself, priced by quote. ## Getting started If you want a mailing of your own, we plan the routes, design the piece, print it and mail it. Solo campaigns are priced by quote. Contact us [/contact/ →](/contact/) or call (385) 360-1966 to talk through your routes. FAQ ## Quick Answers ### Do I need a mailing list for EDDM? No. EDDM delivers to every address on the routes you choose. ### Can I target by neighborhood? Yes, by choosing USPS carrier routes that cover the neighborhoods you want. ### Can you handle the whole mailing? Yes. We plan routes, design, print and mail. ### Why are EDDM postcards so big? EDDM pieces have to be flat-size mail, so larger postcards are the usual format, and they stand out in the mailbox. Keep Reading ## Related Guides ![Addressed envelopes next to a stack of unaddressed postcards](/images/featured/hand-sorting-addressed-envelopes-next-to-a-stack-o.webp) ### Do You Need a Mailing List? EDDM Saturation Mail vs Targeted List Mail Every-door saturation mail or named-recipient list mail? Compare reach, cost drivers and fit for neighborhood service businesses. [Do You Need a Mailing List? EDDM Saturation Mail vs Targeted List Mail →](/guide/eddm-vs-mailing-list-direct-mail/) ![Route map on a laptop beside a printed postcard mockup](/images/featured/route-map-open-on-a-laptop-beside-a-printed-single.webp) ### Planning a Solo EDDM Campaign: Routes, Design, Print and Mail A step-by-step plan for your own EDDM postcard: pick routes, design the piece and offer, print, and drop off with USPS. Request a quote. [Planning a Solo EDDM Campaign: Routes, Design, Print and Mail →](/guide/how-to-plan-a-solo-eddm-campaign/) Next Step ## Learn more about Direct Mail and EDDM Contact us for a quote Questions? Call Tyler directly at (385) 360-1966. See Direct Mail [/direct-mail-eddm/ →](/direct-mail-eddm/) Get a Direct Mail Quote [/direct-mail-eddm/#quote →](/direct-mail-eddm/#quote)