Door hangers vs postcards: which reaches more homes for less?
Prices and rules checked October 2026.
Door hangers vs postcards: door hangers can cost a little less per home and let you skip houses, but you need a crew to walk every street. EDDM postcards cost about $0.44 to $0.59 a home with postage, reach every home on a route including gated areas and apartments, and USPS does the walking. Pick door hangers for a few chosen streets. Pick postcards for whole neighborhoods. Many businesses use both.
Door hangers vs postcards at a glance
| Door hangers | EDDM postcards | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per home, all in | About $0.24 to $0.46 | About $0.44 to $0.59 with us, postage included |
| Who delivers | Your staff or a hired crew | Your USPS mail carrier |
| Gated areas and apartments | Often cannot get in | Delivered to every mailbox on the route |
| Rural homes | Slow and costly to walk | Same price per piece |
| “No soliciting” signs and HOA rules | Can block you | Do not apply to USPS mail |
| Proof it went out | GPS tracking costs extra | Post Office receipt, and we send a drop photo |
| Pick single houses or streets | Yes | No. Whole carrier routes only |
| Where it ends up | On the door handle, seen at the door | In the mailbox, with the day’s mail |
What door hangers cost
Door hangers have two costs: printing and getting them on doors. Published 2026 ranges from a door hanger company put printing at about $0.06 to $0.18 a piece for 1,000 to 5,000 pieces. Distribution runs about $0.18 to $0.28 a door for 1,000 to 5,000 doors. Together, that is roughly $0.24 to $0.46 a home. Rural areas cost more to walk. Proof of delivery adds a few cents.
If your own staff hangs them, you save the distribution fee, but count their hours. A walker covers about 80 to 120 doors an hour.
What EDDM postcards cost
With us, a 6.25 x 9 postcard is $0.59 a home under 1,000 homes and $0.44 at 5,000 or more. That includes printing, bundling, $0.26 USPS postage, and the drop. Full details are in how much EDDM costs in 2026.
The law: never use the mailbox
Federal law (18 U.S.C. 1725) bars putting anything without postage in a mailbox. That includes tucking a flyer under the flag or taping it to the post. 4over4’s guide puts the fine at up to $5,000 per occurrence. Door hangers go on the door handle only. Some cities and HOAs also limit door-to-door flyers, so check local rules first. We are not lawyers. Ask your city or a lawyer if you are unsure.
EDDM avoids the issue because the postage is paid and your mail carrier delivers it.
When to pick each
Pick door hangers when
- You want only certain streets or houses, like the street around a job.
- You have staff with free time to walk.
- The area is dense, walkable, and has no gates.
Pick EDDM postcards when
- You want every home in a neighborhood or ZIP Code.
- The area has gated communities, apartments, or long rural roads.
- You do not want to manage a crew or worry about “no soliciting” signs.
- You want to track calls and QR scans per mailing.
Use both
The strongest plan is often both. Mail postcards to the full routes. Then hang door hangers on the few streets that matter most, like the blocks around a job you just finished. People who see your name twice in a week remember it.
Start with the routes. Our free route planner shows homes and the full price per route.
Quick answers
Are door hangers cheaper than postcards?
Often a little, if you count printing and distribution. Not always, once you add rural areas, gated communities, or your own staff time.
Can I put a door hanger in a mailbox?
No. It is against federal law. Use the door handle only.
Can EDDM mail door hangers?
Only if the piece meets USPS flat size rules and carries the EDDM indicia. Most door hangers are cut to hang, not to mail, so a postcard is the usual choice.