EDDM Retail is the USPS Every Door Direct Mail option built for small local mailings. It lets businesses send at least 200 and up to 5,000 mailpieces per day per ZIP Code without buying an annual mailing permit. The process includes selecting postal routes in the USPS EDDM route search tool, bundling flats in stacks of 50 to 100, attaching USPS facing slips, completing paperwork, and dropping the bundles at the assigned delivery Post Office.
EDDM Retail vs. Commercial: Why Retail is Built for Local Businesses
EDDM Retail is the hands-on version of Every Door Direct Mail. It is made for local businesses that want to reach every mailbox on selected postal routes without buying a mailing list or opening a bulk mail permit.
That makes it useful for pizza shops, realtors, gyms, home service contractors, dental offices, and other local brands that want neighborhood coverage. A business can choose routes, print mailpieces, prepare bundles, and complete an EDDM post office drop off without hiring a full agency.
EDDM Retail has a daily limit of 5,000 pieces per ZIP Code. That limit is usually more than enough for a local campaign targeting one town, one neighborhood, or a few carrier routes.
EDDM Commercial, often entered through a Business Mail Entry Unit, is better for larger volume campaigns, permit-based mailing, and more advanced production workflows.
Mail The Block’s EDDM service helps local businesses that want route-based coverage but prefer not to manage route setup, print prep, bundling, and USPS compliance alone.
2026 EDDM Retail Sequence Component
The Step-by-Step Drop-Off Blueprint
Step 1: Mapping the Routes
Start inside the USPS route search tool. Enter a ZIP Code, city, or full local address. From there, view available carrier routes and compare counts by residential delivery points, total addresses, age, household size, income, and cost.
This is where local direct mail marketing becomes practical. A fitness studio can target homes near a gym. A pizza shop can select dense residential routes. A contractor can reach neighborhoods near recent projects.
For design support before printing, review Mail The Block’s direct mail postcards page.
Step 2: Counting and Bundling
Once the mailers are printed, count them carefully. USPS requires EDDM bundles in stacks of 50 to 100 pieces. Do not create random bundle counts unless a route count requires a final partial bundle.
Each bundle should be tight, clean, and easy for the clerk to inspect. Use rubber bands that hold the stack together without bending the mailpieces. Sloppy bundling can slow down the counter process or trigger a rejection.
Step 3: Completing the Facing Slips
Facing slips USPS forms tell the Postal Service which route each bundle belongs to. Every bundle needs its own facing slip on top.
The facing slip should match the route, ZIP Code, bundle count, and total piece count. If there are multiple bundles for one route, number them clearly as part of the full set.
This is the step many DIY mailers underestimate. The postcards may be printed correctly, but missing or incorrect facing slips can stop the mailing at the counter.
Step 4: The Post Office Delivery
An EDDM Retail drop-off does not go into a random mailbox. The bundles must go to the specific Post Office delivery unit assigned to the selected routes.
The USPS EDDM order summary shows the correct EDDM post office drop off location. Bring the bundles, facing slips, required forms, payment receipt if paid online, and a sample mailpiece. If paying at the counter, be ready to pay the postage total shown by the order.
DIY EDDM Retail Checklist
Before leaving for the Post Office, confirm:
- The mailpiece meets EDDM size and weight rules.
- Each selected route is included in the USPS order.
- Bundles are stacked in groups of 50 to 100.
- Every bundle has a facing slip attached.
- The mailing statement is printed and complete.
- The drop-off location matches the route order.
- Payment is ready or already completed online.
- A sample mailpiece is available for inspection.
When to Let Mail The Block Handle the Details
EDDM Retail is useful for hands-on business owners, but it takes precision. Route selection, postcard design, print sizing, bundling, facing slips, and post office delivery all need to line up.
Mail The Block helps contractors and local businesses run direct mail without getting buried in USPS paperwork. Contact Mail The Block for help planning a route-based campaign.