KA-BestPractices

U.S. Postal Endorsements* (continued)
Address services MUST INCLUDE return address!
ENDORSEMENT REQUIREMENTS
The exhibit below shows the options for placing
an endorsement. The endorsement shown
(ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED) is just one
of several options. See DMM 507.1.5 for a
complete list of endorsements, treatment, and fee
consequences according to the class of mail.
Address Service Placement
Options for placing an endorsement:
The endorsement must be placed in one of these
four positions:
• Directly below the return address.
• Directly above the delivery address area
(which includes the delivery address block
and any related nonaddress elements such as
a barcode, keyline, or optional endorsement
line).
• Directly to the left of the postage area and
below or to the left of any price marking.
• Directly below the postage area and below any
price marking.
Please keep in mind, when placing the
endorsement in the delivery area block, you must
allow enough space for the address, barcode
and the endorsement. The mail panel consists
of 5/8” for the barcode area (nothing should be
in this area), 1-1/2” for the address. If you wish
for the endorsement to be inside the mail panel,
another 3/4” will need to be added to allow for
the endorsement and the 1/4” clearance on all
sides. This makes the mail panel a minimum of
2-7/8” high. The mail panel must be a minimum
of 3-3/4” wide. If the endorsement isn’t used,
the size can be reduced by 3/4”, making the
minimum clearance for the mailing panel 2-1/8”
high. (See example below for common envelope
requirements).
Please remember that NOTHING can be inside this
area, including the Indicia or postage.
These rules also apply to window envelopes as far
as placement and background requirements.
Physical Standards for Endorsements:
The endorsement or, if combined, endorsements
must meet these physical standards:
• The type size of the endorsement must be at
least 8 points.
• The read direction of the endorsement and
return address must be the same as the read
direction of the delivery address.
• The color contrast between the endorsement
and the mailpiece background must be
kept at a reasonable degree. A brilliant
colored background or reverse printing is not
permitted.
• A clear space of at least 1/4 inch around
(above, below, and both sides) the total area
containing the endorsement(s) is required.
Postage Area
Mr. and Mrs. John Doe
1/2” 1/2”
2-1/8” 10 Elm Street
Anytown, WA 98765-4321
5/8”
Optical Character Reader
(OCR) Read Area