We regularly survey BuyerZone users to ask how their purchases went. We've used their responses to provide a sampling of actual prices businesses paid for direct mail services.

The largest single expense of your direct mailing will be postage. This will account for almost one-third of the total costs of a direct mail campaign.

Your other costs – the mailing list, printing, designing, copywriting, and fulfillment – will vary based on which services you require. If you have the resources to do the mailing in house, you can save money by organizing and sending the materials from your office. Otherwise, a full-service mailing house will do all the work for you.

The four-color postcard is the simplest and most common form of direct marketing. It's also the least expensive and easiest to mail. Other forms of direct marketing such as mailers, brochures, newsletters, and catalogs can raise your costs considerably.

Prices for mailing postcards

• "I was billed $965 which included a custom designed postcard, a 5,000-name mailing list, and printing and mailing of 5,000 postcards. Postage comes out to $950."

  – Financial Services Provider, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• "Color printing and direct mailing of 1,796 postcards: $898."

  – Event Planner, Corinth, Texas

• "$1,280 for 2,000 5"x8.5" postcards mailed first class and printed (full color front and back)."

  – Retail Owner, Atlanta, Georgia

• "1,000 postcards for $400 (which includes postage.)"

  – Summer Camp Manager, Belmont, Massachusetts

• "$1,300 for design, printing, mailing and use of mailing list for multiple uses."

  – Realtor, Honolulu, Hawaii

• "$765: 5,000 postcards including design, printing, sorting, and mailing."

  – Retailer, Houston, Texas

• "13,000 postcards with our design at $1,400 without mailing."

  – Retailer, League City, Texas

• "$2,500, printing and mailing our postcards."

  – Marketing Professional, Chicago, Ilinois

• "Approx. $3,000 for design and mailing of 5,000 postcards."

  – Real Estate Developer, Oakland, California

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Want more information on choosing an direct mail service? Read our Direct Mail Services Buyer’s Guide.

Information was provided by BuyerZone users. Quotes have been edited for clarity only.