Postal Guidelines

Postal service in the USA and some other countries uses special equipment that sorts mail automatically and helps to deliver mail faster and more accurately (and sometimes at less cost). To qualify for automated processing, your mailpiece must be prepared properly.

The Postal Guidelines marks the recommended zones for the Return and Delivery addresses. Use "Show/Hide Postal Guidelines" from the View menu to toggle the guidelines on / off. Placing your addresses within these zones, as well as meeting other requirements provided below, helps to make your mailpieces automation-compatible. Automated equipment can process mail more efficiently, allowing the Postal Service to maintain lower rates for those pieces.

To be automation-compatible, your mailpiece should meet the following requirements:

• Dimensions for letter-size mail should range from 3 1/2" x 5" to 6 1/8" x 11 1/2".
• Use ZIP+4 code when applicable. Make sure the code is correct!
• Enable postal barcodes when possible (works for US, UK and Canadian addresses).
• Position the addresses within the guideline's zones.
• Recommended font size for delivery address is from 8 to 18 points.
• Avoid using unusual fonts/styles for addresses. Plain Arial font will work in most cases.

Mail Factory lets you prepare your labels and envelopes in accordance with USPS postal guidelines (which should work for most other countries, too).