What Is Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM)?
Every Door Direct Mail is a USPS program that lets you blanket a carrier route by ZIP code, delivering mail to every residential or business address without a named mailing list. For small businesses that need fast local reach, EDDM is a simple, cost-efficient form of direct mail that the postal service processes through your neighborhood post office. You pick routes, set a drop off date, pay postage, and the delivery goes to every door on those routes.
With door direct mail EDDM, you work at the route level instead of the individual level. The USPS mapping tool shows census-based insights like average household size and income so you can focus your campaign where your target audience lives. This helps you reach the right people at scale, especially when you want to promote a new location, drive traffic, or introduce your brand to new customers across a local community.
If you need to reach specific demographics by name, or do one-to-one personalization, consider a traditional list-based direct approach instead of EDDM. For broad coverage and speed, every door direct mail keeps paperwork light while giving you predictable retail costs and reliable neighborhood saturation.
💡 Comparing formats for mail pieces like oversized postcard or flyers? See our Postcards. If you need named targeting instead of EDDM, read our guide to Direct Mailing Lists.
How Door Direct Mail Works With The Postal Service
- Search and select routes. Use the USPS tool to create a route plan by ZIP code, reviewing average income and household size to align with your local market. Pick residential, business, or both, and confirm the post office location for your drop.
- Choose format and print. Standard EDDM mailing specs favor large postcard sizes and flat mailers. Quality print and a bold offer help your campaign stand out.
- Prepare paperwork. Gather order documentation, fill facing slips, and follow current permission and mailing permit requirements.
- Set a drop off date and pay postage. Bring your bundled mail to EDDM Retail at the post office to be dropped for dispatch, or use EDDM BMEU via the Business Mail Entry Unit if you have a bulk mailing permit. Confirm payment options accepted at your site.
- Delivery and tracking. The postal service performs delivery across the selected route set. Add QR codes or offer codes for practical tracking of responses and sales.
💡 Want better visibility into responses after delivery? Explore LettrLabs Tracking & Analytics. Ready to plan a print-plus-route campaign with a specialist? Get a Demo.
The Benefits Of Direct Mail For Small Businesses
Direct mail is a reliable way for small businesses to connect with their local community and deliver measurable results. With door direct mail services like Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM), you can target by ZIP code and carrier routes, ensuring your message reaches the most potential customers nearby. Unlike digital ads that disappear in crowded feeds, direct mail puts your brand directly in the hands of your target audience, making it easier to spark attention and action.
EDDM lets you reach every household or business on a selected route, so there is no need to purchase or manage a mailing list. This broad coverage is ideal for promoting a new location, launching a special offer, or increasing visibility in the community. By aligning your eddm campaign to basic specific demographics like household size or income, you can focus on the right customers and improve ROI.
For small businesses that want to drive traffic, attract new customers, and build lasting relationships, door direct mail EDDM is a practical, proven channel that complements your digital mix and keeps your message tangible and memorable.
💡 Want deeper benefits and playbooks? Read Benefits Of Direct Mail Advertising and see hyperlocal tactics in Local Advertising For Small Business.
Is A Mailing List Required For EDDM Mailing?
You do not need a named mailing list for EDDM mailing. The program delivers mail to every address on selected carrier routes, which makes it ideal when you want broad coverage in a local community without list purchase or data work. If you need to reach specific demographics by name or use one-to-one personalization, pair EDDM with a traditional direct mail list strategy instead.
💡 Need named targeting instead of route saturation? See our guide to Direct Mailing Lists. If you prefer to keep it simple with large, visible cards, explore LettrLabs Postcards.
EDDM Retail Vs EDDM BMEU: Which Fits Your Business
Both options use every door direct mail, but the workflow and volume differ. Choose the path that matches your business size, cadence, and budgeted postage.
EDDM Retail At The Post Office
EDDM Retail is built for smaller drops. You bundle your mail pieces, bring them to the local post office, pay postage using accepted payment options, and schedule a drop off date. It works well for seasonal promos, a new location launch, or a quick neighborhood campaign.
💡 Budgeting your first retail drop? Review our Pricing. When you are ready to plan the creative, browse Postcards.
EDDM BMEU Through The Business Mail Entry Unit
EDDM BMEU runs through a Business Mail Entry Unit and requires a bulk mailing permit or mailing permit. It suits recurring volumes, multi-route saturation, and hands-off operations. You can coordinate larger drop windows and integrate with production services for ongoing campaign work.
💡 Scaling beyond one-off drops? Talk with us on Get a Demo. For always-on sending, see Direct Mail Automation.
Plan Your Door Direct Mail EDDM Campaign For The Local Market
Define your target audience, offer, and outcome before you create artwork. Clarify what action proves success: calls, in-store visits, or online purchases. Shape your value prop to the local market so it resonates with nearby customers and reaches the right people at the right time.
💡 Want help shaping a neighborhood campaign that converts? Explore Direct Mail Automation or request strategy support via Get a Demo.
Choose Routes By ZIP Code, Household Size, And Specific Demographics
Use USPS route tools to sort by ZIP code, average household size, and income bands. Prioritize location clusters where potential customers live and work, then confirm the servicing post office location for each route. This gives predictable delivery coverage while keeping cost efficient.
💡 Building hyperlocal visibility? See our post on Local Advertising. For neighborhood mapping tactics, read Neighborhood Mailing.
Excluding Specific Addresses From Your EDDM Campaign
USPS rules require EDDM mailings to go to every address on a selected carrier route. You cannot remove individual stops with EDDM Retail or EDDM BMEU at the post office. The program exists for broad, route-level saturation, which makes it ideal when you want neighborhood or community coverage handled by the postal service.
If you need to exclude specific addresses, target only certain households, or use specific demographics, switch to a custom mailing list instead of EDDM. A marketing consultant can help you build the list, set up suppressions, and tailor a direct mail campaign that reaches the right customers with precise offers and timing.
💡 Need named targeting and suppressions? Start with our guide to Direct Mailing Lists. Want help planning the workflow and list rules? Get a Demo.
Design Your Postcard And Flyers For Door Direct Mail EDDM
Large postcard formats and bold print help your door direct mail stand out. Keep copy tight, add a single primary CTA, and feature an easy-to-scan offer. Use QR codes and promo codes for simple response tracking. Match your brand and consider multiple panels if using tri- or bi-fold mailers.
💡 Need specs and layout ideas? Start with LettrLabs Postcards and our guide to Direct Mail Design.
Partnering With A Printer For Door Direct Mail
Choosing the right production partner is critical for a successful door direct mail rollout. A printer with EDDM expertise helps you design and produce compliant mail pieces—oversized postcards and flyers that stand out—while keeping USPS rules simple and your direct mail campaign on schedule.
What a strong EDDM printer handles
- Format and compliance: Recommends eligible sizes, paper weights, and indicia placement for EDDM Retail or EDDM BMEU so your pieces pass acceptance at the post office.
- Print quality and proofs: Provides color-accurate proofs, checks layout for clear CTAs, and confirms space for QR codes or offer codes.
- Bundling and paperwork: Prepares facing slips, correct bundle counts, and required order documentation for the selected routes and drop off date.
- Postage and payments: Calculates postage, confirms payment options, and aligns on permit needs if you move from Retail to BMEU.
- Logistics and timing: Coordinates delivery expectations with the local post office location, then schedules production so you can hit in-home windows.
- Tracking readiness: Adds unique codes or URLs so you can attribute responses and optimize future campaign sends.
Partnering with a reputable printer streamlines the workflow, reduces rework, and protects budget. You get consistent quality, predictable timelines, and fewer surprises at acceptance—so your eddm mailing reaches the right audience on time and on brand.
💡 Need high-impact postcards built for EDDM? Explore our Postcards. Want help coordinating routes, paperwork, and timing with a specialist? Get a Demo.
Prepare Paperwork And Order Documentation At Your Post Office Location
Complete USPS facing slips, bundle counts, and required order documentation. Confirm permission requirements and verify your mailing permit or bulk mailing permit if you plan to use EDDM BMEU. Bring your bundles to the correct post office location tied to the selected route set.
💡 Unsure how production affects cost? Review the Cost Of A Direct Mail Campaign. If you also send stamped letters, see Where Do You Buy Stamps? in our help library: Where Do You Buy Stamps.
Set Your Drop Off Date, Delivery Window, And Tracking
Lock your drop off date based on inventory, printing, and in-store staffing. Ask the post office for the projected delivery window for your chosen routes. Use custom URLs, codes, and call tracking to measure responses and attribute revenue.
💡 Close the loop with LettrLabs Tracking & Analytics. If you want triggered sends tied to web behavior, see Direct Mail Automation.
Payment Options For EDDM Retail And BMEU
Confirm accepted payment options for EDDM Retail at your local counter. For EDDM BMEU, set up the right USPS account funding and link it to your permit. Keep receipts for paperwork and reconciliation of postage and print charges.
💡 Have questions about permits and funding? Contact us via Get a Demo. For pricing ranges, check Pricing.
Door Direct Mail Retail Checklist For Drop Day
Bring correctly counted bundles, facing slips, and tray tags. Reconfirm drop timing, post office acceptance hours, and any limited Saturday windows. Validate your address and route labels match the paperwork to avoid rework.
💡 Before you head to the counter, grab a free sample to validate format quality: Free Sample Pack. If you plan to expand formats later, browse Direct Mail Formats.
Cost To Advertise With EDDM And How To Drive Traffic To A New Location
Your total cost combines print, postage, and handling. Because EDDM saturates by route, the per-piece rate is predictable and often lower than named-list direct programs. To drive traffic to a new location, include a strong first-time offer and a map inset that anchors the address and location context.
💡 Price out your plan on our Pricing page. For a deeper budget model, read the Cost Of A Direct Mail Campaign.
DIY EDDM Vs Professional Services: What’s Right For Your Business
Small businesses can run EDDM mailing two ways: do it yourself or hire professional services. The DIY route reduces cost, but you handle everything—creative, print, bundling, order documentation, facing slips, postage payment, and the drop off date at the post office for EDDM Retail or paperwork for EDDM BMEU at the Business Mail Entry Unit.
When DIY makes sense
- Simple door direct mail offer, one or two routes, predictable delivery window.
- In-house skills for design, file prep, and basic compliance checks.
- Willingness to follow USPS specs and acceptance rules.
When to use professional services
- Larger or recurring campaign cadence, multi-ZIP route sets, or strict in-home timing.
- Need for creative testing, better tracking, and help with payment options, bundling, and acceptance.
- Preference for one partner to create, print, and coordinate drop so your team can focus on sales.
Professional partners reduce risk, prevent rework at acceptance, and usually improve speed to mailbox. DIY is still viable for a tight budget and a straightforward postcard run, as long as you are comfortable managing USPS requirements.
💡 Want automation and pro support across design, print, and drop? See Direct Mail Automation or talk with us via Get a Demo.
Non-Profit Discount Opportunities With EDDM
Qualified 501(c) organizations can access USPS postage discounts that make every door direct mail more affordable. You still mail to every address on each selected route, but approved non-profits pay reduced rates that stretch your budget and expand community reach. Eligibility requires USPS verification and the right documentation at the time of drop.
How non-profits succeed with EDDM
- Use route data like income and household size to align mission messaging with the local market.
- Choose bold postcard or folded flyers to lift response, then add QR codes for simple tracking.
- Coordinate your drop off date around events or fundraising peaks to maximize foot traffic and donations.
If you are unsure about eligibility or paperwork, a marketing consultant or your local post office can confirm requirements and help set timelines.
💡 Planning a cost-efficient appeal? Review our Cost Of A Direct Mail Campaign. For expert setup—routes, paperwork, and timing—request a Get a Demo.
Example EDDM Campaign For Small Businesses
A cafe opening a new location selects three adjacent routes by ZIP code, confirms average household size, sets a Thursday drop off date, and runs a weekend grand-opening offer. Oversized postcard creative uses a QR code for a free pastry with purchase, plus a map and store address. Result: strong weekend lines and measurable redemptions from nearby customers.
💡 Want more playbooks for small businesses? See Local Advertising For Small Business. For additional vertical ideas, explore Direct Mail For Home Services.
How LettrLabs Services Help You Create, Print, And Drop EDDM Mailers
LettrLabs can create your artwork, handle print, and coordinate drop logistics for EDDM Retail or EDDM BMEU. We help you select routes, plan delivery timing, and add post-drop tracking so you see what converts. If you later need named targeting, we can shift from door direct mail to list-based direct mail without rebuilding your brand assets.
💡 See everything we offer on the LettrLabs Homepage. Ready for tailored advice from a marketing consultant? Request a Get a Demo.
FAQ On Address, USPS, Postage, And Delivery
Q: Do I need a permit?
For EDDM Retail, no USPS permit is required. For EDDM BMEU, you need an active mailing permit at the Business Mail Entry Unit.
Q: Can I choose only residential doors?
Yes. In the USPS tool you can include residential, business, or both per route.
Q: How long is delivery after my drop?
Ask your post office for local timelines. Typical delivery spans a few days after your drop off date, subject to postal service operations.
Q: What sizes work best?
Oversized postcard and folded flyers perform well because they are easy to see and cost-effective to mail.
💡 New to mailing rules and timing? Read What Time Does USPS Stop Delivering and other postal basics in our library: What Time Does USPS Stop Delivering. For next steps on creative formats, check Direct Mail Formats.
Make Every Door Count With EDDM
For fast neighborhood reach, every door direct mail gives you predictable postage, easy drop workflows, and consistent delivery to every door on targeted routes. Choose EDDM Retail at the post office for small drops or EDDM BMEU via the Business Mail Entry Unit when volume grows. Pair a compelling offer with clear calls to action, then measure redemptions to optimize your next eddm campaign.
💡 If you are ready to launch, start with Postcards. Want guidance on routes, payment options, and timing? Contact us through Get a Demo.
