Be Careful Of Your Direct Mail Piece Design

For sending standard mail – what used to be called bulk mail – the post office has only 2 sizes.  Mail is either letter size or non-letter size.  The dividing line is larger or smaller than 6-1/8” x 11-1/2” x ¼” thick.  The aspect ratio (length divided by height) must also be in the range of 1.3 to 2.5.  This latter criterion makes all square mail non-letter size. 

One of the biggest changes the post office has made is in the acceptance and design of non-letter size mail – the larger pieces.  And the consequences can be staggering.

It used to be that non-letter size mail could be designed in practically any fashion and receive some form of discounted postage rates.  Not anymore.  Now, mail must be laid out so the mailing address is in the top half of the mail piece.    And, regardless of whether the mail piece runs horizontal or vertical, the top half is always defined by the vertical direction.  That is to say, if the mail piece is a 9”x12” envelope and the envelope is designed so that the address runs across the 12” side, the top half of the envelope for post office purposes is still regarded by folding the 12” side in half.

The consequence for not following this design:  pay full first class postage prices.  There is no give on this issue.  There is no in between postage rates available.  And local post offices may not issue letters of exception.  If someone wishes to get a letter of exception, they must send a request to a central processing facility in New York and this could take some time, time which most direct mailers do not have.

Moral:  If you want to send non-letter size mail at discounted rates, be sure to follow the post office’s design specs.