The right number of custom postcards starts from a real count: your cleaned mailing list or EDDM route, the visitors you expect before the card goes out of date, and a small reserve for samples and staff. Get Custom Postcards prints from a minimum of 12, so you can order exactly what you need and reorder from approved artwork when stock runs low.
- Minimum order is 12 custom postcards
- Count from a cleaned list, an EDDM route total or real foot traffic
- Free mockup within 24 hours for every version
- Standard turnaround about 2 weeks, faster with express shipping
- Reorders start from your approved artwork
How many custom postcards should you order?
The right number of custom postcards is your mailing count plus your hand-out count plus a small reserve, rounded to a quantity you can actually use before the message goes stale. Start from a real list, a real route or a real counter, never from a round number that simply sounds right. Get Custom Postcards prints from a minimum of 12, so the floor is low and you can size the order to the job.
Most postcard orders fall into one of three shapes. A mailed campaign is sized by addresses or carrier routes. A counter or event card is sized by the people you expect to meet. A keep-on-hand card, such as an appointment reminder or a thank-you, is sized by how many you hand out over a season. Each shape has a different way of counting, and mixing them up is the most common reason buyers end up with boxes left over or run out in the first week.
- Mailed cards: count addresses or routes first, then add a reserve.
- Hand-out cards: count visitors, guests or appointments for the period the card stays current.
- Keep-on-hand cards: count how many leave the counter in a normal month, then decide how many months to cover.
How do you count postcards for a mailing list or EDDM route?
Postcards for a mailing list are counted from the cleaned list, not the raw export. Remove duplicates, old addresses and anyone who asked not to hear from you, then use what remains as the base number. For EDDM postcards, the base is the total of residential or business addresses on the carrier routes you choose, since every address on a selected route receives a card.
After the base, add a reserve for the cards you will want that never go in the mail: samples for the office, a few for staff to recognize when customers mention them, and replacements for any that are damaged while you bundle. If you plan to mail the same list more than once, decide that now. Repeat mailings to the same households usually perform better as a planned series, and a series is easier to quantity-plan as separate designs than as one large stack of a single card.
- Export and clean the list, or select your EDDM routes.
- Write down the address count as the base.
- Add a small reserve for samples, staff and damage.
- Decide whether this is a single drop or one card in a series.
How many postcards do you need for a counter, event or hand-out?
Hand-out postcards are counted from foot traffic over the time the card stays accurate. A card with an event date, a seasonal offer or a limited menu has a short shelf life, so the order should match the visitors you expect before that date passes. A card with evergreen information, such as your services, a QR code to booking or a referral message, can be sized for a longer stretch.
For an event, count expected guests and add cards for the staff table, sponsors and anyone who asks for an extra to pass on. For a shop counter, look at a normal week of customers and ask what share actually takes a card when it is offered. That share is usually smaller than owners expect, which is why counter cards are where overordering happens most. Sizing for a shorter period and reordering is almost always the better plan, especially with a minimum of just 12 and a free mockup that keeps the artwork ready for the next run.
Is it better to order more postcards up front or reorder later?
Ordering more postcards up front makes sense only when the design will stay accurate for the whole time the cards are in use. If any detail on the card could change, such as an offer, a date, a staff name, a phone number or a seasonal photo, a smaller order with a planned reorder protects you from throwing away a box of outdated cards.
A larger single run tends to suit evergreen cards: brand postcards, thank-you cards, referral cards and appointment reminder cards with a write-in date line. A smaller run with reorders tends to suit anything tied to a calendar. The table below is a quick way to decide.
| Card type | Shelf life | Better plan |
|---|---|---|
| Event invitation or save-the-date | Until the event | Order for the guest list plus a reserve |
| Seasonal or limited offer | Until the offer ends | Smaller run, reorder if it works |
| Appointment reminder or thank-you | Months or longer | Larger run that covers several months |
| EDDM or list mailing | One drop | Order for the route or list count |
| Brand or services card | Until details change | Larger run, check details first |
With standard turnaround of about 2 weeks, a reorder is predictable enough to plan around. Set a reminder when your stock gets low rather than when it runs out.
Should you split one postcard order into several versions?
Splitting a postcard order into versions is worth it when different groups need different details. A business with several locations, a nonprofit with chapters or a mailing aimed at both new prospects and past customers will usually get better results from a card that speaks to each group, and each version can still be planned from its own count.
Count each version separately, starting from its own list, route or audience. Keep the shared elements, such as the logo, layout and back-side structure, identical so the design team only changes what needs to change. A mockup for each version arrives within 24 hours, which makes it easy to check that every location, phone number and offer is correct before anything prints. Versions also help when you want to learn what works: send two fronts or two offers to similar groups, then put more of the next order into the one that brought in more responses.
- One version per location, chapter or territory.
- One version for new prospects and one for past customers.
- A test version with a different headline, photo or offer.
How do size and finish choices change your postcard quantity?
Postcard size and finish rarely change how many people you need to reach, but they often change how many cards you choose to send. A jumbo postcard stands out in a stack of mail, so some buyers send fewer jumbo cards to their best addresses and use standard cards for a wider audience. Our standard vs. jumbo comparison walks through when each size earns its place.
Premium finishes work the same way. Foil postcards suit a short list of high-value recipients, such as top clients, donors or event guests, while a full-color standard card handles the broad mailing. Planning the order as two tiers, a smaller premium run and a larger everyday run, keeps the special card special. If you are unsure how to split the quantity, ask for both on the quote form and the team will lay out the options side by side.
What is the minimum order and what happens when you run out?
The minimum order for custom postcards at Get Custom Postcards is 12, so small tests, short guest lists and single-location mailings are all practical. You pay nothing until you approve the design, and revisions to the mockup are unlimited and free, so there is no cost to getting the quantity and artwork right before printing.
When you run out, the reorder starts from the approved artwork. Tell the team whether anything should change, such as a new date or offer, and a fresh mockup confirms it within 24 hours. Standard turnaround is about 2 weeks, and faster turnaround is available with express shipping if you misjudged the count and need cards quickly. The simplest habit is to note how fast the first order disappeared, then use that pace to size the next one. Start your order on the quote page, or read how it works for the full process.
Frequently asked questions
How many extra postcards should I add to a mailing order?
Extra postcards for a mailing order should cover samples for your files, a few for staff, and any cards damaged while bundling or addressing. Keep the reserve small, because spare mailing cards with a dated offer rarely get used later. Get Custom Postcards prints from a minimum of 12, so a reorder for a forgotten group is easy if you come up short.
Can I order postcards for a test mailing before a larger campaign?
Postcards for a test mailing are a smart first step, especially when you are trying a new list, offer or design. Get Custom Postcards accepts orders from 12 cards, so you can mail a small group, see what comes back, and then size the larger campaign around real results. The approved artwork is kept ready for the bigger run.
Should each business location get its own postcard version?
Postcards for multi-location businesses usually work better with one version per location, showing the right address, phone number and hours. Count each version from that location's own list or route. Get Custom Postcards keeps the shared layout identical and changes only local details, and every version gets its own free mockup within 24 hours for checking.
How do I estimate counter postcards for a new shop with no history?
Counter postcards for a brand-new shop are best estimated conservatively, since you do not yet know how many customers will take one. Order enough for the first few weeks, watch how quickly the stack goes down, and use that pace for the reorder. A minimum of 12 and reusable approved artwork make a cautious start inexpensive to correct.
Do jumbo postcards change how many cards I should mail?
Jumbo postcards often lead buyers to mail fewer cards to a tighter list, since the larger size is meant to stand out with the households most likely to respond. The quantity still starts from your address count. Get Custom Postcards can quote standard and jumbo sizes together if you want to split one campaign into two tiers.
Can I split one postcard order between mailing and hand-outs?
One postcard order can cover both mailing and hand-outs when the design suits both uses. Count the addresses first, then add the cards you expect to give away at the counter or at events. Mention both uses on the quote form so Get Custom Postcards can check that the back works with and without an address.
How often should I reorder appointment reminder postcards?
Appointment reminder postcards should be reordered based on how many leave the front desk in a normal month. Track how long the first box lasts, then order enough to cover a comfortable stretch with time to spare for turnaround of about 2 weeks. Reorders start from your approved artwork, so the process is quick.
What should I do if my postcard count changes after I order?
A postcard count that changes before you approve the mockup is simple to adjust, since you pay nothing until the design is approved. Tell the team the new number and any version changes. Get Custom Postcards will update the quote and mockup, and revisions are unlimited and free, so a late list cleanup costs you nothing extra.
Is it wasteful to order postcards with a date on them?
Postcards with a date are not wasteful as long as the quantity matches the people you can reach before that date. Count the guest list, route or audience first and keep the reserve small. For ongoing events, consider a write-in date line or a QR code to a schedule, so the same postcards stay useful longer.
Can I plan a postcard series instead of one big order?
A postcard series is often the better plan when you want to reach the same households more than once. Each card in the series gets its own design and its own count, and you can adjust later drops based on early responses. Get Custom Postcards keeps every approved design on file, making each new drop quick to schedule.
How many foil postcards should I order for top clients?
Foil postcards for top clients should be counted from a short, named list rather than a broad mailing, since the finish is meant to feel special. Add a few spares for new clients you sign during the season. Get Custom Postcards can pair a small foil run with a larger standard run in one quote.
Get a free mockup for your postcards
Send your logo or idea and the quantity you have in mind. Get Custom Postcards returns a free mockup within 24 hours, you approve the design before anything is produced, and standard turnaround is about two weeks with faster options available. Get a custom quote.