Postcard Size
The standard US postcard is 6 × 4 inches (152.4 × 101.6 mm) — the USPS standard postcard rate size. At 300 DPI it's 1800 × 1200 pixels. For direct mail, keeping dimensions within 6 × 4.25 in qualifies for postcard postage rates (significantly cheaper than letter rates in the US).
Specifications
| Pixels | 1800 × 1200 px (at 300 DPI) |
| Millimetres | 152.4 × 101.6 mm |
| Centimetres | 15.2 × 10.2 cm |
| Inches | 6 × 4 in |
| Aspect ratio | 3:2 |
| Colour mode | CMYK |
| Bleed | 3 mm (0.125 in) |
| Safe zone | 5 mm (0.25 in) from trim |
Postcard in Pixels at Different DPI
The pixel count changes with DPI setting — choose the right one for your output.
| DPI | Width (px) | Height (px) | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 72 | 432 | 288 | Screen preview, PDF viewers |
| 96 | 576 | 384 | Windows screen standard, digital documents |
| 150 | 900 | 600 | Medium-quality print, home printers |
| 300 | 1,800 | 1,200 | Professional print, commercial offset |
Design Tips
- →For USPS postcard rate (cheaper than letter rate), keep dimensions between 3.5–6 in long and 3.5–4.25 in tall with a thickness of 0.007–0.016 in.
- →Reserve the back of the postcard for addressing: a 3.5 in × 4 in address area on the right half, and a message area on the left half, following USPS layout standards.
- →For marketing postcards, the front face (6 × 4 in) should have one dominant image and one call-to-action — postcards are read in seconds, not studied.
- →Use 14–16 pt minimum text for any content you want to be readable after USPS handling — postcards can be printed slightly out of focus at high-speed inkjet production print.
How to Make Postcard Designs in Playyy
Three steps, no design software. Set the size once — from the size options or straight in your prompt — and every design comes out at 1,800 × 1,200 px.
- 1
Open Playyy
Playyy runs in your browser, so there's nothing to download. Sign in and you'll land on the Home page.
- 2
Type your prompt and set the Postcard size
Describe what you want in the input box on the Home page, then set the size whichever way is quicker. Pick Postcard from the size options right underneath — print, poster, and social formats are all in that list. Or just say it in your prompt, like "Postcard at 1,800 × 1,200 px", and Playyy matches it. Either way you get 1,800 × 1,200 px at 300 DPI, with no converting from millimetres or inches.
- 3
Create your Postcard design and export it for print
Playyy generates the design at the full 1,800 × 1,200 px — that's Postcard at 300 DPI, the resolution commercial print expects. Allow 3 mm (0.125 in) of bleed and export a print-ready PDF. Colour mode: CMYK.
Create Postcard designs with Playyy
Type a prompt, pick Postcard from the size options underneath it, and export at 1800 × 1200 px — no design software needed.
Start designing free →Frequently Asked Questions
What is standard postcard size?+
Standard US postcard size is 6 × 4 inches (152.4 × 101.6 mm). At 300 DPI, that's 1800 × 1200 pixels. For USPS postcard postage rates, cards must be between 3.5–6 in long and 3.5–4.25 in tall. The 4×6 size is the most common.
What is the difference between a postcard and an A6 card?+
A US standard postcard is 6 × 4 in (152.4 × 101.6 mm). An A6 card is 148 × 105 mm (5.83 × 4.13 in). The postcard is slightly larger. A6 is the international standard postcard size used outside North America. Both fit in standard postcard envelopes.
What is the standard postcard size?+
6 × 4 in (152.4 × 101.6 mm) is the most common US marketing postcard, printed at 1800 × 1200 px at 300 DPI. Postal services also price 5 × 7 in and 6 × 9 in at different rates, so confirm the tier before committing to a size.
What is the bleed for a postcard?+
3 mm (0.125 in) on all four sides. Keep addresses, indicia, and any text at least 5 mm inside the trim line — postcards are cut in large stacks and the trim can drift more than on smaller-format work.
How much space does the address side need?+
Postal services typically require the right-hand 2.5 in of the address side to be clear for the address block and barcode, plus a clear zone in the bottom 0.625 in for automated sorting. Design the message to the left of that area, not across it.