Is 9x12 Too Big for a Postcard?
I get asked this a lot. The answer is no - but I understand why people worry about it.
A 9x12 postcard is 108 square inches of space. That's almost as big as a regular 8.5x11 piece of paper (which is 93.5 square inches). It's about 13% larger, actually. So yeah, it's big. But here's the thing: it's not TOO big. It still fits in a standard residential mailbox. It still feels like a postcard when someone picks it up. And people still engage with it the same way they engage with any other mailpiece - except they notice it first, remember it longer, and are way more likely to act on it.
The difference between a 9x12 and smaller sizes isn't just about the square inches. It's about presence. When your postcard lands in someone's mailbox alongside a stack of bills, credit card offers, and grocery store circulars, the 9x12 is the thing they see. Everything else becomes background noise.
And it still qualifies for USPS EDDM postage rates. Same low rate - approximately $0.203 per piece - as the smaller formats. You're getting nearly double the design space of a 6x9 postcard, but you're paying the exact same postage. That's hard to beat.
Real Story from a Car Dealer
"We were doing 6x9 postcards for our monthly inventory clearance events and getting maybe 20-30 people showing up. Switched to 9x12 with big photos of the actual cars we were clearing out, financing details, and a map to the dealership. First event after the switch? 87 people. Same offer, same neighborhood, just a bigger postcard. Now we won't go back to anything smaller." - Rick, used car dealer in Houston
Who Actually Needs a 9x12 Postcard?
Real Estate Agents (Especially Luxury Properties)
If you're selling a $600,000 house and your marketing piece is a tiny 4x6 postcard, you're underselling the property before anyone even sees it. The 9x12 gives you room to showcase the property the way it deserves. Front side: stunning exterior shot that fills the entire space. Back side: multiple interior photos, specs, neighborhood highlights, your contact info, a QR code for the virtual tour. The size alone communicates "this is a serious listing" without you having to say it.
I've worked with agents who tell me they get more showings from 9x12 EDDM campaigns than from online listings. Why? Because the postcard sits on someone's kitchen counter for two weeks while they think about it. An online ad disappears the second they close the tab.
Car Dealerships
You've got inventory you need to move. The 9x12 lets you show multiple vehicles with photos, pricing, financing offers, a dealer map, and whatever seasonal promotion you're running. It's basically a mini-catalog that lands directly in people's hands. And unlike digital ads that people scroll past in half a second, this sits on their passenger seat for the drive home.
Home Service Companies
Roofing, HVAC, remodeling, landscaping - if you're in home services and you're selling jobs that cost $5,000-$50,000, a tiny postcard doesn't cut it. The 9x12 gives you space for dramatic before-and-after photos, customer testimonials, a breakdown of your services, financing options, seasonal discounts, and all your contact info. You're not just announcing that you exist - you're building a case for why someone should hire you instead of the other ten contractors hitting the same neighborhood.
Event Organizers
Festivals, fundraisers, grand openings, community events - the 9x12 is perfect when you have a lot of information to share. You can include the full schedule, vendor list, parking map, ticket pricing, sponsor logos, and still have room for eye-catching photos. People actually keep these as reference materials instead of throwing them away.
14pt vs. 16pt Cardstock - Which One?
14pt Cardstock (Most Popular)
This is what most people choose for 9x12 postcards, and for good reason. It's thick enough that it doesn't feel flimsy or cheap. When someone picks it up, it has weight and substance. But it's not so heavy that you're adding unnecessary cost or making it awkward to handle.
For EDDM campaigns where you're mailing to thousands of homes, 14pt keeps your costs reasonable while still delivering a quality piece that people take seriously. It's durable enough to survive the mail system without getting bent or damaged, and it's rigid enough to sit flat on a table or stick to a fridge without drooping.
16pt Cardstock (Premium Option)
Step up to 16pt if you're marketing something high-end. Luxury real estate. High-ticket services. Premium products. The 16pt is noticeably thicker and heavier - in a good way. It feels like something that cost money to produce, which subconsciously tells the recipient that whatever you're selling is also premium quality.
The extra thickness also makes your postcard last longer. If you want it to sit on someone's fridge for six months as a reference piece (like a restaurant menu or service provider flyer), the 16pt holds up better over time.
Coating: Gloss, Matte, or UV?
- Gloss: Makes colors pop. Perfect for photos of cars, real estate, food, products. The shiny finish catches light and draws attention. If you've got beautiful visuals, gloss makes them even better.
- Matte: Sophisticated and easier to read. No glare. Great for text-heavy pieces, professional services, B2B marketing, or any time you want to look polished without being flashy.
- UV Coating: The high-end option. Glass-like shine, super durable, scratch-resistant. Use UV when you're targeting upscale audiences or when you just want your postcard to be the most visually impressive thing in the mailbox.
How Does 9x12 Stack Up Against Other Sizes?
| Size |
Dimensions |
Square Inches |
EDDM? |
Best For |
| 4x6 |
4" x 6" |
24 sq in |
No |
Simple one-offer promos |
| 6x9 |
6" x 9" |
54 sq in |
Yes |
General promotions |
| 8.5x11 |
8.5" x 11" |
93.5 sq in |
Yes |
Menus, newsletters, detailed flyers |
| 9x12 |
9" x 12" |
108 sq in |
Yes |
Maximum impact, premium marketing |
| 12x15 |
12" x 15" |
180 sq in |
Yes |
Extreme impact (rarely used) |
The 9x12 is exactly double the size of a 6x9 and about 15% bigger than an 8.5x11. It's not quite as massive as a 12x15, which is good because 12x15 postcards can actually feel overwhelming to some people. The 9x12 hits that sweet spot where it's big enough to make a serious impact but not so big that it feels like overkill.
Design Tips for 9x12 Postcards
1. Use Big, Beautiful Photos
You've got 108 square inches to work with. Don't waste it on tiny images or stock photos that look like they came from a free clip-art site. Use high-resolution photos that fill the space. Show your product. Show your work. Show your property. Let the visuals do the selling.
2. Don't Be Afraid of White Space
Just because you have all this space doesn't mean you need to fill every square inch with text and graphics. White space makes your content easier to read and gives your design room to breathe. Think of it like this: a cluttered postcard looks cheap. A clean, spacious postcard looks professional.
3. Create Clear Visual Sections
Divide your postcard into zones. Maybe the top half is a hero image. Middle section is your offer or key benefits. Bottom section is your call-to-action and contact info. Or split it vertically: left side is visuals, right side is text. Give people a clear path to follow with their eyes instead of making them hunt for information.
4. Make Your Headline Massive
If your main headline is in 24-point font, nobody's going to see it. Go big. Like 60-80 point font big. People should be able to read your headline from across the room. That's the whole point of having this much space - use it to shout your message, not whisper it.
Designer's Take
"I've designed a lot of these 9x12 postcards over the years. The ones that work best are the ones that trust the size. Don't try to make it look like a small postcard that got stretched out. Embrace the fact that it's big. Use big photos. Use big type. Give things space. And for the love of God, use professional photos - not blurry iPhone snapshots. The size will make bad photos look even worse." - Sarah, graphic designer, Denver
File Setup (The Technical Stuff)
Your print file needs to be 9.25 x 12.25 inches. That extra quarter-inch on each side is bleed - it gets trimmed off after printing. Keep all your important stuff (text, logos, photos you don't want cropped) at least 0.25 inches away from the edge.
Design at 300 DPI. Lower resolution and your images will look pixelated. Use CMYK color mode, not RGB. RGB is for screens. CMYK is for printing. If you send us RGB files, the colors will look different when printed.
Preferred file types: PDF, high-resolution JPEG, Adobe Illustrator, EPS. If you're using Canva or Photoshop, export as PDF and you're good.
What Does It Cost?
Let's talk real numbers. Here's what you're looking at for 9x12 postcards on 14pt cardstock with gloss coating, full-color both sides:
500 Pieces
$0.52
per piece
2,500 Pieces
$0.31
per piece
5,000 Pieces
$0.23
per piece
MOST COMMON
10,000+ Pieces
$0.18
per piece
USPS EDDM postage is separate (around $0.203 per piece). 16pt cardstock and UV coating available with a small upcharge. Need a custom quote? Call us at 512-573-1977 - we'll get you a price in five minutes.
Is the Extra Cost Worth It?
Here's a real-world example. A roofing company did two EDDM campaigns in the same neighborhood, six months apart.
First campaign: 5,000 6x9 postcards at $0.12 each = $600 in printing. Got 14 leads. Closed 3 jobs. Total revenue: $42,000.
Second campaign: 5,000 9x12 postcards at $0.23 each = $1,150 in printing. Got 31 leads. Closed 8 jobs. Total revenue: $118,000.
The 9x12 cost $550 more to print. But it brought in $76,000 more in revenue. The extra printing cost paid for itself about 138 times over.
I'm not saying every campaign will have results that dramatic. But when you're selling high-ticket services or products, the difference between "noticed" and "ignored" can be worth tens of thousands of dollars. An extra $500 in printing is nothing compared to the value of one additional customer.
What Real Customers Say
"We're a boutique real estate team and we were using standard-size postcards for our listings. Switched to 9x12 and holy cow. The first listing we marketed with the bigger size got three showings within 48 hours of the mail drop. Same neighborhood we always market to. Same offer. Just a bigger, better-looking postcard. We don't use anything smaller now."
- Jennifer M., Realtor
"We do seasonal HVAC campaigns and we'd been using 6x9 postcards for years. Tried the 9x12 last spring and our call volume doubled. Literally doubled. Same neighborhoods, same offer, same crew. The only difference was the postcard size. We spent an extra $700 on printing and booked $84,000 in new work. Best decision we made all year."
- Tom K., HVAC Company Owner
"We organize an annual outdoor festival and we used to send out these tiny postcards with just the date and a QR code. Went to 9x12 last year and included the full schedule, vendor map, sponsor logos, everything. Attendance went up 40% and we actually had people bringing the postcard with them to the event as a reference guide. Can't imagine going back to anything smaller."
- Lisa P., Event Coordinator
How Long Does It Take?
Standard production is 3-5 business days after you approve the proof. Here's the step-by-step:
- You send us your design (or we help you create one - design services available)
- We send you a free digital proof within 24 hours
- You review it and either approve or request changes
- Once approved, we print your order
- We ship to you OR handle EDDM bundling and USPS delivery
Need it faster? Rush options available on most orders. Just mention it when you call 512-573-1977.
Full-Service EDDM (We Handle Everything)
If you don't want to deal with USPS route selection, paperwork, bundling, and delivery, we can do it all for you. Our full-service EDDM packages include:
- Printing your 9x12 postcards on your choice of cardstock and coating
- Helping you pick the best routes using USPS mapping tools
- Completing all USPS paperwork and compliance requirements
- Bundling your postcards with proper facing slips
- Delivering everything to your local USPS facility
- Paying USPS EDDM postage (billed to you at cost, no markup)
You approve the design, we handle the rest. Your 9x12 postcards hit mailboxes about a week later.
