Every Door Direct Mail® (EDDM®) is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways for contractors and home service businesses to reach local customers. Whether you offer HVAC, roofing, plumbing, landscaping, handyman services, or anything in between this strategy helps you stay visible and top-of-mind—right in the mailbox.
Below, we answer the most common questions about how EDDM® works, how to target the right homes, and how to get results.
EDDM® is a USPS® service that lets you send postcards to every home on a mail route—no mailing list required. It’s ideal for generating leads and building brand awareness in specific neighborhoods.
No. You choose the routes and USPS delivers to every household on them. That’s why EDDM is a perfect fit for reaching homeowners near your service area.
All-Inclusive: We handle everything—design, printing, bundling, paperwork, and USPS delivery. Ideal for busy contractors who want turnkey campaigns.
Retail: You manage printing and delivery to USPS. It’s slightly cheaper per piece but requires more effort.
EDDM pricing varies based on postcard size, quantity, and mailing method. In general, the more you send, the more you save.
You can choose between two options:
EDDM All-Inclusive: Higher per-piece price, but includes everything—design, printing, bundling, and delivery. It’s fast, easy, and saves you time.
EDDM Retail: Lower cost per piece, but you’ll handle prep and drop-off to USPS yourself.
No matter which option you choose, EDDM remains one of the most affordable ways to reach local customers at scale.
View all EDDM pricing guides here.
Popular sizes for EDDM® include:
6.25″ x 9″ (Standard)
6.25″ x 11″ (Large)
8.5″ x 11″ (Jumbo)
11″ x 17″ (Oversized)
Each is USPS-approved and built to stand out in the mailbox.
Minimum: 500 postcards
Maximum: No limit. You can mail to tens of thousands of homes if needed.
Use Taradel’s free mapping tool to:
Choose ZIP codes, neighborhoods, or delivery routes
Filter by household income, age, and owner-occupied homes
View average home values and number of addresses per route
Pro tip: Focus on routes within 5–15 miles of your office for faster response and service calls.
Most home service businesses start by mailing to 3,000 to 5,000 households, which typically covers 5 to 10 local mail routes, depending on the area. This range strikes a smart balance between reach and budget—big enough to generate response, focused enough to stay targeted.
Start with your core service area, then expand based on performance, seasonality, and capacity.
Repeat mailings are critical. Aim for at least 3 mailings to the same audience over 90 days. Repetition builds trust, brand recall, and higher response rates.
Learn more about the power of the 3-mail drop here.
For home services, we recommend:
Location: Start with ZIP codes or neighborhoods within 5–15 miles of your business for better brand recall and faster service calls
Household income: Target homes with $75K–$150K+ household income
Homeowner age: Ages 35–64 respond best
Owner-occupied homes: Focus where long-term improvements are more likely
Home value or age: Older homes often need more repairs or upgrades
To get the best response, include:
A bold, benefit-driven headline
A limited-time offer or promotion
One clear call-to-action (visit site, call now, book service)
High-quality images of your work or team
A strong customer testimonial or review
Contact information and license/certification details
Need help with your postcard design?
You’ve got options. Choose from hundreds of free, professionally designed templates—ready for you to customize in just a few clicks.
Yes—and it’s one of the most effective marketing strategies available for local service businesses.
In a recent Taradel survey of construction and home services professionals, lead generation was ranked as the top marketing challenge and goal. EDDM® provides a direct path to solving that by helping you consistently reach real homeowners—right at their front doors.
Even more compelling: Direct mail ranked as the #1 offline channel for return on investment (ROI) in the home services industry, outperforming other traditional tactics like print ads, billboards, and events.
Use tools like:
QR codes
Call tracking numbers
Promo codes or booking links
Dedicated landing pages
Tracking helps you understand what’s working and improve your campaigns over time.
Yes, and we highly recommend it. Adding digital ads on Google, Facebook, Nextdoor, or Hulu helps you reach the same audience multiple times, boosting awareness, recall, and conversion.
Most campaigns—from design to delivery—take about 2 weeks. If you upload your own design or reuse a previous one, you can launch even faster.
EDDM® works well for both. Use it to stay visible, build brand recognition, and drive action with strong offers and clear calls-to-action.
"This process was so simple and easy to use. I chose the ZIP codes from their interactive map that gives numbers of residents and their average household incomes. This allowed me to select the target that best suited us. It could not have been any easier to use."
— Tim Lewis, Piedmont Home Services
Read more reviews like this one here.
Use Taradel’s EDDM® platform to:
Select your target areas with precision
Access free, professional postcard design
Launch multichannel campaigns in minutes
Reach thousands of homeowners—fast
Start now and get your business into every home that matters.