Postcard Printing Near Me: Sizes, Finishes, Mailing Options, and Fast Turnaround

Searching for postcard printing near you usually means you need a printed piece that’s easy to hand out, mail, or use in a local marketing campaign. Whether you’re promoting an event, announcing a sale, mailing real estate postcards, sending appointment reminders, or advertising a local business, the right postcard size, paper, finish, and mailing setup can make your campaign look more professional and reach more people.

Need postcards printed near Hollywood? Minuteman Press Hollywood handles postcard printing, file review, paper and finish guidance, and local pickup for businesses, events, and direct mail campaigns.

Where Can You Get Postcards Printed Near You?

For professional postcard printing, local print shops are the most capable option. They can advise on size, paper, and finish before production, review your file for bleed and mail panel setup, and offer same-day or next-day turnaround for qualifying jobs.

Office supply stores handle basic digital printing for low-volume needs, but their paper options, finish choices, and file support are limited. For postcards going into a direct mail campaign or representing a brand, they typically fall short.

Online printers are competitive on price for large quantities with long lead times. The tradeoff is no in-person file review, no local pickup, and shipping time that doesn’t work when you have a real deadline. For postcard printing in Hollywood, a local shop gives you faster communication, convenient pickup, and the ability to resolve file issues the same day rather than waiting on a support ticket.

Why Choose a Local Print Shop for Postcards?

Postcards have specific production requirements that a local shop helps you navigate before the job runs.

Mail panel layout needs to be incorporated into the design before anything else is finalized. Paper choices affect how the card feels and whether the address side can be written on. Finish selection (matte, gloss, UV) affects how the card photographs and reads under different lighting. 

A local print partner walks you through those decisions upfront, which saves time and protects your budget.

For deadline-driven campaigns, local also means accountable. You pick up the finished job rather than waiting on a carrier.

Common Postcard Sizes and When to Use Them

Postcard size determines your visual and copy space and, for mailed pieces, how the card is classified and priced by USPS.

4″ x 6″ is the most common and cost-effective size for high-volume campaigns. USPS classifies it as a letter, qualifying for first-class or standard postage rates. It works well for compact promotions, coupons, and simple announcements.

5″ x 7″ gives more room for photography and detail without a significant cost increase. It’s a strong choice for event invitations and product announcements where the visual impact needs more breathing room.

5.5″ x 8.5″ postcard printing qualifies as a flat in USPS classification, meaning higher postage but more standout presence in the mail stack.

6″ x 9″ postcard printing is one of the most popular sizes for direct mail campaigns. Large enough to be visually compelling, it has proven performance in real estate and retail direct mail.

6″ x 11″ is the largest standard postcard format and makes a strong statement. For high-impact campaigns where the piece needs to dominate the mailbox, this size delivers.

Custom sizes are available for projects with specific creative or distribution requirements. Confirm dimensions with your print shop before building the file.

Choosing the Right Paper and Finish for Postcards

Paper stock and finish affect how the postcard feels in hand and how well the printing reads.

Standard cardstock (14–16 pt) is the baseline for most postcard printing. It’s sturdy enough to mail as a self-mailer, holds color well, and keeps per-unit cost manageable at volume.

Heavy cover stock (18–32 pt) produces a more premium feel. For luxury real estate postcards and high-end event invitations, the added weight communicates quality in a way that standard stock doesn’t.

Gloss finish amplifies color vibrancy, making it the right call for photographic content, bold color fields, and campaigns where visual impact is the priority.

Matte finish produces a cleaner, softer look that reads as polished and professional. It’s easier on the eyes for text-heavy designs and the more common choice for real estate and service business postcards.

Uncoated stock allows for writing or hand-addressing, useful for postcards that include a writable area or need a personal feel.

Full-color postcards on both sides are the standard for marketing campaigns. A full-color front with a simpler back is a practical cost option that doesn’t sacrifice visual impact.

Not sure which postcard size or finish fits your campaign? Contact Minuteman Press Hollywood for guidance before the file is built.

Single-Sided vs. Double-Sided Postcards

Single-sided postcards work for simple handouts and pieces where the message is brief. A bold image, a headline, and a phone number or URL is sometimes enough.

Double-sided printing is the stronger choice for mailed pieces and detailed campaigns. The front carries the visual impact. The back handles the address area, postage indicia, a QR code, a map, event details, appointment information, offer terms, or additional copy. For direct mail postcards, double-sided printing is essentially the default.

Postcard Mailing Options Explained

Postcards can be distributed as handouts, included in packages, or mailed through several different USPS programs.

Addressed direct mail sends postcards to a specific list of recipients by name and address. It’s the right choice for targeted campaigns: past customers, specific neighborhoods, or curated prospect lists.

Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) lets businesses mail to every address on selected carrier routes without a mailing list. It’s practical for local awareness campaigns, grand openings, restaurant promotions, and any campaign targeting a defined geographic area without needing individual addresses.

For either option, the mail panel needs to be incorporated into the design from the start. The address block, postage area, and indicia placement have specific size and position requirements. Confirm the correct mail panel layout with your print shop before the design is finalized.

Planning a direct mail campaign? Ask Minuteman Press Hollywood about postcard printing and mailing support.

Best Uses for Printed Postcards

Postcards serve a wide range of marketing and communication purposes.

Real estate postcards are one of the most consistent uses in the category. Just listed and just sold campaigns, open house announcements, neighborhood farm mailers, and broker introduction cards are all standard formats.

Restaurant promotions reach nearby households with new menu items, seasonal specials, delivery offers, and grand opening announcements. For local restaurants, a targeted EDDM campaign can drive meaningful foot traffic at a manageable cost.

Event invitations and promotions work well in postcard format, particularly for entertainment events, screenings, brand activations, and nightlife promotions in the Hollywood and Los Angeles area.

Appointment reminder postcards are used by healthcare providers, salons, veterinary offices, and service businesses for scheduled follow-up reminders and re-engagement campaigns.

Product launches and seasonal sales benefit from the physical format because a postcard in hand is harder to ignore than an email in a crowded inbox.

Nonprofit outreach uses postcards for appeal mailings, event announcements, and program awareness campaigns.

How to Prepare Your Postcard File for Printing

A clean, print-ready file is the most effective way to protect your deadline and avoid reprints.

Use the correct dimensions for your chosen postcard size with 0.125 inches of bleed on all sides if the design runs to the card edge. Keep all critical content at least 0.125 inches inside the trim line. Images should be 300 DPI or higher at final output size. Set color mode to CMYK, not RGB, and export as a print-ready PDF with embedded or outlined fonts.

For mailed postcards, reserve the back for the address block, postage area, and USPS indicia. Keep this area free of background imagery that could interfere with address readability. USPS has specific requirements for mail panel dimensions, so confirm the correct layout with your print shop before the design is built.

Proofread everything before submission: phone numbers, email addresses, URLs, offer details, event dates, and physical addresses. These are the errors that show up in print after the job has already run.

How Fast Can Postcards Be Printed Locally?

Print-only postcards on standard cardstock with a print-ready file are among the faster jobs a digital press handles. Same-day and next-day turnaround is realistic for qualifying jobs at moderate quantities.

What extends turnaround: specialty finishes, mailing preparation (address merge, indicia setup, postal sorting), large quantities, files needing corrections, and custom sizes requiring non-standard stock. For any campaign with a fixed launch date, submit the file early and confirm production timing in advance. For rush jobs, call before submitting.

Where to Print Postcards in Hollywood

Minuteman Press Hollywood produces professional postcards and print products for local businesses, real estate agents, restaurants, event promoters, entertainment companies, nonprofits, and service providers across Hollywood and Los Angeles. We handle standard and custom postcard sizes with paper and finish guidance built into every job.

We also produce flyers, brochures, business cards, and booklets, so your full print package can be coordinated through a single local partner.

Every deadline matters. Call (323) 461-1222 or visit mmhollywood.com to get your postcard project moving.

Postcard Printing FAQs

Where can I get postcards printed near me?

Local print shops are the best option for postcard printing. They can help with size selection, paper and finish guidance, file review, mailing setup, and same-day or next-day options for qualifying jobs. For Hollywood and Los Angeles customers, Minuteman Press Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard handles the full range of postcard formats.

What is the most common postcard size?

4″ x 6″ is the most widely used size and cost-effective for high-volume campaigns. 5″ x 7″, 5.5″ x 8.5″, 6″ x 9″, and 6″ x 11″ are popular for larger promotions and direct mail pieces where more visual space is the priority.

What paper is best for postcard printing?

14–16 pt coated cardstock is the standard. Gloss works well for bold photography; matte is polished and readable; uncoated stock is appropriate when a writable area is part of the design.

Can postcards be mailed directly? Yes, as long as they meet USPS size, weight, and mail panel requirements. A print shop can help ensure the mail panel is set up correctly before the file goes to press.

What is EDDM postcard printing?

Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) allows businesses to mail postcards to every address on selected carrier routes without a mailing list. It’s practical for restaurant promotions, grand openings, local awareness campaigns, and neighborhood marketing.

Can I get same-day postcard printing?

Same-day is possible for print-only postcards with a print-ready file at moderate quantities. Specialty finishes, large quantities, mailing preparation, and files needing corrections extend into next-day or longer. Call ahead to confirm.

Do postcards need bleed?

Yes, if artwork runs to the card edge. Apply 0.125 inches of bleed on all sides and keep all critical content at least 0.125 inches inside the trim line.