The backside layout of your postcard must comply with current postal regulations.  To keep the U.S.Post Office from rejecting or returning your postcards to you, there should be no address placed lower than the mailing address.  The Post Office scans the mail from bottom to top diagonally, reading the first zip code that the scanner finds.

Avoid the RED Area

When you are designing cards yourself, the areas shown in red should be devoid of any text or graphics.  The mailing address should be placed at a 5/8" minimum from the edge of the postcard because the Post Office will print a bar code for postal scanning in this area.  If there is text in this area, the Post Office will affix a white label here to cover up any text.  Therefore, we recommend that you avoid placing anything in this 5/8" area from the edge of the postcard.

Proper allowable size for a vertical or horizontal address area is 1.75" X 5". Your return address must be placed higher than the mailing label.

Incorrect Positioning

This postcard has incorrect positioning placement. The return address could mistakenly be read before the mailing address by Post Office scanners and type appears in the 5/8" area where the Post Office prints its bar code.   Either of these two can lead to the Post Office rejecting or returning your postcards.

Call us toll-free at 1-866-627-0400 or you can contact us by email.

A Grip Customer Care Representative is always happy to provide you with additional information concerning general postal regulations and postal rates.