Bulk mail rates in 2026: what USPS charges per piece
Bulk mail is how businesses send hundreds or thousands of letters and postcards for much less than a stamp. Here are the current USPS bulk rates, what decides which rate you pay, and the rules a mailing has to meet.
The short answer
USPS Marketing Mail, the usual class for advertising, costs 39.5¢ to 46.7¢ for a letter or postcard. First-Class presorted mail costs 45.3¢ to 49.5¢ for a postcard and 62.1¢ to 70.7¢ for a letter. Every Door Direct Mail® is 26¢, and approved nonprofits pay as little as 18.5¢. Compare that with 65¢ for a postcard stamp and 82¢ for a Forever stamp.
USPS bulk mail rates in 2026
| Mail class | What it covers | Minimum | Postage per piece |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS Marketing Mail | Letters and cards up to 6.125 × 11.5 in | 200 pieces | 39.5¢ to 46.7¢ |
| Nonprofit Marketing Mail | Same, for approved nonprofits | 200 pieces | 18.5¢ to 25.7¢ |
| First-Class Mail presorted | Postcards up to 6 × 9 in | 500 pieces | 45.3¢ to 49.5¢ |
| First-Class Mail presorted | Letters up to 3.5 oz | 500 pieces | 62.1¢ to 70.7¢ |
| Every Door Direct Mail® | Flats 6.25 × 9 in and larger, to every home on a route | No list needed | 26¢ |
USPS prices since July 12, 2026, from USPS Notice 123. The low price in each range is for mail with a barcode, sorted to the 5-digit ZIP Code. The high price is for mail that can't be sorted that far.
What decides your rate
Two mailings of the same postcard can pay different postage. These five things set the price:
Mail class
USPS Marketing Mail is the lowest-cost class for advertising, catalogs and announcements. First-Class Mail costs more but is faster, is forwarded when someone moves, and is required for bills, statements and anything with personal account details.
Shape
Cards and letters up to 6.125 × 11.5 inches pay the letter price. Bigger pieces are flats and cost more, except with EDDM®, which is built for flats. Square pieces pay a surcharge. Our postcard sizes guide shows where each size falls.
How finely the mail is sorted
USPS has three sort levels: 5-digit (bundled by ZIP Code), 3-digit (bundled by the first three digits of the ZIP Code) and mixed. The more pieces going to the same ZIP Codes, the more of the mailing sorts to 5-digit and the lower the average price. A mailing to 5,000 homes in a few nearby cities sorts much better than 5,000 addresses spread across the country.
Barcodes and clean addresses
The lowest prices are automation prices: every piece needs an Intelligent Mail® barcode, and the list must be checked against USPS address and change-of-address data. Mail without a barcode pays more.
Weight
A Marketing Mail letter pays the same price up to 3.5 ounces, so a letter of one or two sheets with a reply card costs no more to mail than a postcard.
What bulk mail saves: an example
Say you mail 5,000 postcards, 6 × 11 inches, to customers in North County San Diego.
| How you mail it | Per card | Postage for 5,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Forever stamps | 82¢ | $4,100 |
| Marketing Mail, mixed | 46.7¢ | $2,335 |
| Marketing Mail, 3-digit | 43.5¢ | $2,175 |
| Marketing Mail, 5-digit | 39.5¢ | $1,975 |
A local list like this sorts mostly to 5-digit, so the postage comes to about $1,975 instead of $4,100 with stamps. If you'd rather reach every home in an area with no list at all, EDDM® vs addressed direct mail compares the two.
The rules a bulk mailing has to meet
- A minimum quantity: 200 pieces or 50 pounds for Marketing Mail, 500 pieces for First-Class presort.
- Identical pieces: every piece the same size and weight class.
- A permit: the postage is paid from a USPS permit account, with a yearly mailing fee.
- Sorting and paperwork: the mail is sorted with USPS-certified software, bundled or trayed by ZIP Code, and delivered to the Post Office with an electronic postage statement.
- Current addresses: the list must be updated against USPS change-of-address data.
A mailing service already has the permit, the software and the Post Office account, so you pay the bulk price without setting any of it up. That's what we do every day for businesses in San Marcos and across Southern California.
Postage is only part of the cost
A full mailing also includes printing, addressing and preparation, and a mailing list if you don't have one. See how much it costs to mail a postcard, our postcard mailing services, and EDDM® prices with printing included. To buy addresses, you can order a targeted mailing list on our site.
Frequently asked questions
What is the bulk mail rate in 2026?
For USPS Marketing Mail letters and cards up to 6.125 × 11.5 inches, 39.5¢ to 46.7¢ a piece, depending on how finely the mail is sorted. First-Class presorted letters are 62.1¢ to 70.7¢, and Every Door Direct Mail® is 26¢. These prices took effect July 12, 2026.
How many pieces do you need for bulk mail?
At least 200 pieces or 50 pounds for USPS Marketing Mail, and at least 500 pieces for First-Class presorted mail. Every piece in the mailing must be the same size and weight class.
Is bulk mail cheaper than stamps?
Yes. A 6 × 11 postcard needs a 82¢ Forever stamp on its own, but mails for as little as 39.5¢ as bulk Marketing Mail, about half the price.
Do I need a bulk mail permit?
Only if you mail it yourself. A permit comes with a yearly mailing fee and USPS paperwork for every mailing. When you use a mailing service, your mail goes out under the service's permit, so you pay only the postage.
What is the nonprofit bulk mail rate?
Nonprofit USPS Marketing Mail letters are 18.5¢ to 25.7¢ a piece in 2026. The organization must first be approved by USPS with PS Form 3624.