Postcard Sizes Ultimate Guide: What Are The Standard Dimensions

The standard postcard size is 4″ x 6″ in Canada and is the most cost-effective size. However, there are multiple Canada Post postcard sizes and mailing options available. Your choice depends on your postcard templates and content. The legal postcard size for standard-size postcards should be at least  3.6” x 5.6” (90 mm x 140 mm) and the maximum could be 6.1” x 9.6” (156 mm x 245 mm). Canada Post also accepts square-shaped postcards with a minimum size of 5.6” x 5.6” x 0.007” (140 mm x 140 mm x 0.18 mm) and a maximum of 6.1” x 6.1” x 0.2” (156 mm x 156 mm x 5 mm). The weight should always be under 50g.

However, the mailing service also accepts non-standard and oversized mail. These mailers should never exceed the di0.6” x 14.9” (270 mm x 380 mm). 500 grams is the maximum weight allowed for sending non-standard mail. Anything more than this will be classified as a parcel. For international mailing, the postcard can have a maximum dimension of 4.72” x 9.25” (120 mm x 235 mm).

There are more options to run postcard marketing nationally apart from letter mail. Registered Mail is a great option if you need proof of mailing and a copy of the addressee’s signature. The standard postcard size for prepaid envelopes should not exceed 5.9” x 9.4” (150 mm x 240 mm).

What Is The Standard Postcard Size?

The standard Postcard size is 4″ x 6″. It’s the most cost-effective size, as it allows you to qualify for mailing at the Personalized Mail from Canada Post. Perfect for budget-friendly campaigns.

Other postcard sizes are 6″ x 9″, 6″ x 11″ are available from PostGrid.

Sending postcards as direct mail pieces is not too complicated if you know about the Canada Post postcard sizes and the available mailing options. With a compact space, postcards can look congested at times. Hence, there are many different sizes that you can look into – depending on your postcard templates and content.

You might not consider the postcard dimensions while sending one to your grandmother who lives a few miles away and would be delighted to get anything in the mail from you. In direct mail, the focus is on many things. The cost factor significantly defines your postcard size. In fact, there are many more factors that need to be carefully considered before you make an ideal choice.

The legal postcard size for standard-sized postcards should be at least 3.6” x 5.6” (90 mm x 140 mm). The required minimum thickness is 0.007” (0.18 mm). These minimum postcard dimensions are the same for standard, non-standard, and oversized mail.

Hence, your postcards should be at least of the abovementioned dimensions or else Canada Post will not be able to mail them.

How Big is a Postcard?

Apparently, there are so many sizes of postcards for you to select from. Considering the factors mentioned in the earlier section, you can select the ideal postcard size. For standard lettermail, the maximum postcard size is 6.1” x 9.6” (156 mm x 245 mm). The thickness of your standard lettermail postcards should not exceed 0.2” (5 mm).

Moreover, along with the standard postcard dimensions, you need to also stay within the weight limit. The minimum weight of your postcards should be 2 grams and should not be more than 50 grams. Any postcard that crosses the 50-gram limit is sent as either non-standard or oversize mail – depending on the postcard mailing size.

Canada Post also accepts square-shaped postcards with a minimum postcard size of 5.6” x 5.6” x 0.007” (140 mm x 140 mm x 0.18 mm). These postcards should stay within the specifications of 6.1” x 6.1” x 0.2” (156 mm x 156 mm x 5 mm).

Also Read: Standard Envelope Sizes Canada

The next category is “other” under which non-standard and oversize mail are covered. Self-mailers, oversize envelopes, and cards are sent through this mailing option. However, postcards are also sent under this category, if the maximum postcard size limit is crossed or the mail weighs more than the maximum weight limit.

Non-standard mail should never exceed the postcard dimensions of 10.6” x 14.9” (270 mm x 380 mm). 0.8” is the maximum thickness allowed for sending postcards as non-standard mail. If the thickness or anything else increases in size, your postcards can be sent as oversize mail. Though there are not many marketers who opt for a postcard size that is so large. However, if you want to create a campaign that none of your recipients miss, going for an oversize postcard could be worth it.

Oversize mail also has the same maximum postcard size, but the weight range starts at 5 grams, whereas the minimum weight required for sending non-standard mail is 3 grams. Any mail that exceeds 500 grams is considered and sent as parcels. However, it is very unlikely that your postcard is so heavy and needs to be sent as a parcel.

Postcards that are sent locally take up to 2 days to get delivered. Deliveries within a province are completed within 3 days – unless the destination is located in the northern regions or at a remote location, which takes up to 6 days. National deliveries are completed within 4 days, but it can take about 8 days for northern regions and remote locations.

If you want to send postcards to the US, you need to follow the Canada Post postcard sizes and not the US postcard sizes. Deliveries to the US are completed within 4 to 6 business days. It can take up to 4 to 7 business days to deliver postcards to other international countries.

Also Read: Flyer Sizes and Dimensions

The above postcard dimensions are for mailing within Canada. Letter-post is a mailing option provided by Canada Post for mailing to countries other than Canada. For sending postcards to the US and other international countries, the minimum postcard size remains the same.

The maximum postcard size to mail to countries other than Canada is 4.72” x 9.25” (120 mm x 235 mm). The maximum postcard weight for sending postcards internationally is 50 grams. You can always pay more and get your postcards delivered under the “other letter-post” option that allows mailing up to 500 grams.

Postcards are meant to be light and compact – therefore, these oversized mail options might probably not be of any use to you. But, you might need these options for sending postcards that do not fit within your postcard dimensions.

Also Read: Canada Post Letter Size

Other than lettermail, there are more options to conduct postcard marketing campaigns nationally. If you send your postcards through registered mail, you get proof of mailing. You can also avail of proof of delivery.

A mailing receipt, a copy of the addressee’s signature, and the date and time of delivery are all provided to the sender under the registered mail option. Mail items that come under the lettermail category can be sent as registered mail by paying an extra fee.

Basically, registered mail is an added service used along with your mailing option to get proof of delivery. The postcard size in Canada for sending standard-sized registered mail is the same as standard-sized lettermail. Furthermore, the postcard size for non-standard and oversize mail is also the same as stated for lettermail.

However, for prepaid envelopes – the standard postcard size should not exceed 5.9” x 9.4” (150 mm x 240 mm). Prepaid envelopes for postcards other than the standard-sized ones should be within the size limit of 9.5” x 12.5” (241 mm x 318 mm). The delivery timeframe for registered mail is the same as lettermail.

Both big and small postcard sizes can be used for sending smartmail. The smartmail marketing option is a smart derivative of direct mail, wherein personalized mail, postal code targeting, and neighbourhood mail are all covered explicitly.

• Personalized mail is used to target individual persons, whereas postal code targeting focuses on a particular postal code area.
• Neighbourhood mail is an option for marketers looking for marketing in a specific neighbourhood that fits their prospects’ profiles.

Postcards sent as smartmail marketing items should be rectangular, but square envelopes are also acceptable if you stay within the standard postcard size. All postcard dimensions for sending mail under the smartmail marketing option are the same as lettermail.

 Also Read: Standard Envelope Weight

Advantages of Selecting the Right Postcard Size

Create Eye-Catching Postcards

Selecting the ideal postcard size gives you the ability to create designs that are eye-catching and perfect for your messaging. When the postcard design and size are considered along with its size, you can create a well-crafted and thoughtful postcard that can do really well with your audience.

Your postcard dimensions are definitely decided in accordance with your messaging, but selecting the perfect size highlights and justifies your message in an engaging and creative way. So, you can say that messaging and postcard size is interdependent to create absolutely attractive postcards that are sure to perform great.

Get Your Postcards Delivered On-Time

Staying within the standard postcard dimensions enables you to help Canada Post sort and send your postcards faster. Too small and too big postcards are handled, processed, and delivered separately as compared to the standard size mail items. Hence, if you select a standard-size postcard for your direct mail marketing campaigns, you are actually accelerating the delivery process.

In case you are sending postcards with time-bound offers or holiday season messages, go for a size that falls within the standard size – to ensure on-time delivery.

Increase Engagements

Getting responses is the prime objective of any marketing campaign; choosing the right postcard size can help you achieve this objective very easily. Make sure to include pURLs and unique phone numbers to track engagements and measure results.

Increased ROI to Cover and Justify Costs

You can opt for a testing campaign where you send out a few postcards to a small target audience – for recording and analyzing the results. See what works best for you, try different colour and size combinations, and design various different postcards to test the capabilities of every variation. When you select a suitable postcard size and blend it with the right combination of words, graphics, and colours – the ROI is likely to be positive.