Let's Be Clear About What This Is
The 12x15 postcard is not for everyone. It's not for pizza shops. It's not for lawn care services. It's not for chiropractors running a "free adjustment" promotion.
This format is for businesses selling high-value products and services where the profit margin on a single sale justifies aggressive marketing spend. Luxury real estate agents selling $2 million homes. Car dealerships moving $80,000 vehicles. Remodeling companies bidding $150,000 kitchen renovations. High-end service providers targeting affluent zip codes.
The 12x15 costs more to print than smaller formats. Significantly more. But if you're selling something expensive, the extra cost is irrelevant. What matters is results. And the 12x15 delivers results by sheer force of presence.
With 180 square inches of design space, you have room to showcase multiple property photos, display detailed product specifications, include comprehensive service packages, feature customer testimonials, and still have space left over for maps, QR codes, and contact information. This isn't a postcard. It's a marketing statement.
And yes, it qualifies for USPS EDDM postage rates. Same $0.203 per piece as smaller formats. USPS sets the maximum EDDM dimensions at 15 inches long and 12 inches high. The 12x15 hits both limits. You cannot go bigger and still use EDDM. This is the ceiling.
Critical Reality Check
A realtor who closes one additional $600,000 listing generates roughly $18,000 in commission. If printing 5,000 12x15 postcards costs an extra $800 compared to using 6x9 postcards, that extra cost is 4.4% of the commission from ONE sale. If the larger format helps close even one deal that wouldn't have happened with a smaller postcard, the ROI is massive. This is the math that justifies maximum-size marketing.
Who Should Actually Use 12x15 Postcards
Luxury Real Estate Agents
If you're selling properties above $500,000, the 12x15 format matches the premium positioning of your listings. Show the property exterior, interior highlights, aerial view, neighborhood amenities, and detailed specifications all on one piece. Include your headshot, your track record, testimonials from satisfied clients, and a QR code linking to the virtual tour. The size alone communicates that this is a serious listing marketed by a serious professional.
High-End Car Dealerships
Luxury brands. Performance vehicles. High-ticket inventory. The 12x15 lets you showcase multiple vehicles with specs, pricing, financing details, and dealership information without cramming anything. Or dedicate the entire front side to one flagship vehicle and use the back for your complete luxury lineup. The format screams premium.
Major Home Remodeling Companies
Kitchen renovations starting at $50,000. Bathroom remodels at $30,000. Whole-home renovations in the six figures. Show dramatic before-and-after transformations. Display multiple completed projects. Include detailed service packages, financing options, warranties, and testimonials. The 12x15 gives you the space to build a complete case for why someone should hire you instead of your competitors.
Grand Openings & Major Events
New store openings. Product launches. Major sales events. Charity galas. High-profile fundraisers. Anything that needs to make a splash and generate serious attendance. The 12x15 format signals that this isn't just another event - it's something significant worth paying attention to.
Cardstock & Coating (Go Premium or Go Home)
16pt Cardstock - The Only Real Choice
If you're spending the money to print 12x15 postcards, you're spending the extra dollar per thousand to upgrade to 16pt cardstock. The 16pt is noticeably thicker and heavier than 14pt. It feels expensive. It feels substantial. It reinforces the premium positioning of whatever you're marketing.
14pt works fine if budget is a concern. But honestly, if budget is a concern, you probably shouldn't be using the 12x15 format in the first place. This size is for businesses that understand the value of premium marketing materials.
UV Coating - Maximum Impact
For 12x15 postcards targeting affluent audiences, UV coating is the move. The glass-like finish makes colors richer, photos sharper, and the entire piece more visually impressive. It's scratch-resistant and durable. It screams quality.
Gloss coating works well for most applications - it makes photos pop and draws attention. Matte coating is fine if you're targeting professional services or B2B audiences where you want a sophisticated, non-flashy presentation. But for maximum-size postcards marketing high-value offerings, UV coating is worth the upgrade.
Size Comparison: Understanding the Scale
| Size |
Dimensions |
Square Inches |
vs. 6x9 Standard |
Best For |
| 6x9 |
6" x 9" |
54 sq in |
Baseline |
General promotions |
| 8.5x11 |
8.5" x 11" |
93.5 sq in |
+73% larger |
Menus, newsletters |
| 9x12 |
9" x 12" |
108 sq in |
+100% larger |
High-impact campaigns |
| 12x15 |
12" x 15" |
180 sq in |
+233% LARGER |
MAXIMUM EDDM SIZE |
The 12x15 is more than three times larger than the standard 6x9 postcard. It's 67% larger than the 9x12. It is, by definition, the biggest marketing piece you can mail via EDDM. There is nothing larger that qualifies for these postage rates.
Design Principles for Maximum-Size Postcards
1. Professional Photography Only
You have 180 square inches of space. Use professional photos. Not iPhone snapshots. Not stock images. Hire a professional photographer to shoot your properties, your products, your facilities. The size amplifies everything - including poor-quality images. Invest in photography or don't bother with this format.
2. Create Clear Visual Hierarchy
With this much space, you need structure. Hero image at top. Key selling points in the middle. Call-to-action at bottom. Or split the postcard into distinct zones: left side visuals, right side details. Guide the reader's eye through the content deliberately.
3. Don't Overcrowd
Just because you have 180 square inches doesn't mean you should fill every inch with text and graphics. White space makes content readable. It makes design sophisticated. It lets important elements breathe. Less is often more.
4. Make Your CTA Unmissable
Phone number in large, bold type. Website URL clearly displayed. QR code prominently placed. Make it brain-dead simple for people to take the next step. You're spending serious money to get this postcard into their hands - don't make them hunt for your contact information.
Common Fatal Mistakes
Mistake #1: Using the 12x15 format to market low-ticket products. If you're selling $30 oil changes, this format is absurd. Match the format to the value of what you're selling.
Mistake #2: Cramming too much content. Just because you have the space doesn't mean you should use all of it. Keep it focused.
Mistake #3: Poor-quality images blown up to fill the space. Blurry photos look even worse at this size. Invest in professional photography.
File Setup Requirements
Your final print file must be 12.25 x 15.25 inches to include bleed on all sides. Keep all critical content at least 0.25 inches from the trim edge. Design at 300 DPI minimum. Use CMYK color mode. Set your canvas to 12.25 x 15.25 inches in your design software.
What It Costs (And Whether It's Worth It)
Here's the pricing for 12x15 postcards on 14pt cardstock with gloss coating, full-color both sides:
500 Pieces
$0.72
per piece
2,500 Pieces
$0.42
per piece
5,000 Pieces
$0.30
per piece
TYPICAL ORDER
10,000+ Pieces
$0.24
per piece
USPS EDDM postage is separate (approximately $0.203 per piece). 16pt cardstock and UV coating available with upcharge. Call 512-573-1977 for exact pricing on your specific project.
ROI Reality
A 5,000-piece 12x15 EDDM campaign costs approximately $1,500 in printing ($0.30/piece) plus $1,015 in EDDM postage ($0.203/piece) = $2,515 total.
If you're a luxury real estate agent and this campaign generates ONE additional listing at $800,000 with a 3% commission, you just made $24,000. The $2,515 campaign cost is 10.5% of the commission. If the campaign generates TWO listings, your ROI is 1,806%.
If you're a remodeling company and this campaign books ONE additional $100,000 kitchen renovation with a 35% gross margin, you just made $35,000. The campaign paid for itself fourteen times over.
This is why businesses selling high-value products use the 12x15 format. The printing cost is insignificant compared to the value of one additional customer.
What Serious Marketers Say
"We sell luxury waterfront properties starting at $3 million. The 12x15 postcard lets us showcase the property the way it deserves - professional photography, detailed specs, neighborhood amenities, everything. We've closed four listings directly attributed to these mailings in the past six months. The format matters when you're marketing premium real estate."
- Patricia Rodriguez, Luxury Real Estate Broker
"We do high-end kitchen and bathroom remodels averaging $120,000 per project. The 12x15 format gives us space to show multiple before-and-after transformations, explain our process, feature client testimonials, and include financing information. Our lead volume from EDDM increased 58% after switching from 9x12 to 12x15. Worth every penny."
- David Chen, Premium Home Remodeling
"We opened a new luxury car dealership and used 12x15 postcards for the grand opening. Showcased our flagship models, included detailed event information, and targeted every home in the surrounding affluent zip codes. Had over 400 people show up. Sold 28 vehicles during the event weekend. The size made a statement before anyone even read the content."
- Robert Manning, Luxury Auto Dealer
Production Timeline
Standard turnaround is 3-5 business days after proof approval. Process:
- Submit your design or request design services
- Receive free digital proof within 24 hours
- Approve proof or request revisions
- Production begins immediately upon approval
- Shipping or EDDM delivery
Rush options available. Contact 512-573-1977 to discuss expedited production.
Full-Service EDDM (Recommended for Maximum-Size Campaigns)
For 12x15 postcards, we strongly recommend full-service EDDM. Our complete EDDM packages include:
- Professional printing on premium cardstock with your chosen coating
- Route selection targeting your ideal demographics
- Complete USPS paperwork and compliance
- Professional bundling with facing slips
- Delivery to USPS facilities
- EDDM postage at cost (no markup)
You approve the design. We handle everything else. Your 12x15 postcards hit mailboxes within 7-10 days.
