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 campaigns and our shared Community Postcard.
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.
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.
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.
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, 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 or call (385) 360-1966 to talk through your routes.
