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Postcard size guide: dimensions, bleed, and pixels for print
Short answer
A common US postcard size is 4 x 6 inches, often designed as 6 x 4 inches in landscape orientation. Popular postcard dimensions also include 4.25 x 6, 5 x 7, 6 x 9, and 6 x 11 inches. With 0.125 inch bleed on every edge, a 6 x 4 inch postcard needs a 6.25 x 4.25 inch full-bleed file, or 1875 x 1275 px at 300 DPI. USPS mailing rules and printer specifications use the trimmed piece, not the bleed box, and still control final acceptance.
Use this page when choosing a postcard trim size, setting up bleed, or checking whether a postcard proof is ready for a printer or mailing workflow.
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What this page covers
- Final trimmed postcard size
- 0.125 inch bleed on every edge when artwork runs to trim
- Full-bleed document size after adding bleed
- 300 DPI pixel size for raster artwork
- Safe-area placement for headlines, offers, logos, and addresses
- USPS postcard-rate dimensions when mailing cost matters
- Printer-requested crop marks, PDF/X level, and color workflow
How to use this guidance
- 1Choose the final trimmed postcard size before designing
- 2Confirm whether the job must meet USPS postcard-rate dimensions
- 3Add 0.125 inch bleed on all sides if artwork reaches the edge
- 4Keep important text, logos, offer details, and address areas inside the safe area
- 5Use 300 DPI math only for raster artwork at final size
- 6Export with the printer's requested crop marks, color workflow, and PDF/X standard
- 7Run preflight and compare the proof against the printer's file requirements
Common postcard sizes
The most common US marketing postcard is 4 x 6 inches, often set up as 6 x 4 inches for a landscape design. Other common print sizes include 4.25 x 6 inches, 5 x 7 inches, 6 x 9 inches, and 6 x 11 inches. The right choice depends on mailing cost, message length, product photos, and the printer's available formats.
Postcard bleed and pixel size
If the artwork runs to the edge, add 0.125 inch bleed to each side. A 6 x 4 inch trimmed postcard becomes a 6.25 x 4.25 inch full-bleed file. At 300 DPI, that is 1800 x 1200 px for the trimmed artwork and 1875 x 1275 px for the full-bleed artwork.
USPS mailing dimensions versus print dimensions
USPS Publication 25 lists card-price postcard dimensions as 5 to 6 inches long, 3.5 to 4.25 inches high, and 0.007 to 0.016 inch thick. Larger pieces can still be mailable when they meet letter-size rules, but they may price differently. Mailing rules apply to the trimmed piece after bleed is cut away.
Where Trim Proof fits
Trim Proof creates a fresh postcard proof from a structured brief, keeps final copy in the deterministic PDF layer, applies explicit trim and bleed geometry, and checks the PDF/X export before production download. It does not replace the printer's spec sheet or USPS mailing rules.
Related print-ready tools
Postcard Template for Print-Ready PDFsCreate a postcard template for print-ready PDF proofs with 4 x 6 setup, bleed, crop marks, vector text, PDF/X, preflight, and paid clean downloads.Add Bleed to PDF OnlineAdd bleed, trim, safe-area guides, and crop marks to print files before export.Print-Ready PDF GeneratorCreate print-ready PDF/X files online with bleed, crop marks, CMYK output, embedded vector fonts, and preflight checks.
Common questions
What is the standard postcard size?
A common US postcard size is 4 x 6 inches. Many printers also offer 4.25 x 6, 5 x 7, 6 x 9, and 6 x 11 inch postcards, but mailing price rules can vary by trimmed size and thickness.
What size is a postcard with bleed?
With 0.125 inch bleed on every edge, add 0.25 inch to the total width and height. A 6 x 4 inch postcard becomes a 6.25 x 4.25 inch full-bleed file.
What pixel size is a 4 x 6 postcard?
At 300 DPI, a 6 x 4 inch landscape postcard is 1800 x 1200 px after trim. With 0.125 inch bleed on every side, the full-bleed file is 1875 x 1275 px.
Can Trim Proof guarantee USPS or printer acceptance?
No. Trim Proof can create and check a print-ready postcard proof, but USPS mailing rules and each printer's trim, bleed, marks, color, stock, thickness, and delivery requirements still control final acceptance.