Direct mail still plays an important part in marketing and branding. Even though businesses use a mix of physical and digital strategies to connect with their audience, many still trust physical mail to reach customers. Companies often plan their marketing with direct mail and EDDM, sending billions of postcards, flyers, and brochures each year to promote their products and services.
With so much mail circulating, it’s worth looking at the other side of the mailbox. How much direct mail does the average person receive each year?
How Many Direct Mail Do Customers Get?
A U.S. household receives around 454 marketing mail pieces annually, about one or two per day. Meanwhile, a person can get up to 800 marketing emails a week, or about 113 daily. [1] Even though it looks like email has the upper hand, the higher volume means people are less likely to open them, especially with so many emails being marked spam. On the other hand, physical mail sent to someone’s home is personally received and can make a stronger first impression.
Marketers capitalize on this by sending various types of promotional mail. The most sent types are promotional letters (58%), postcards (56%), brochures (53%), catalogs (52%), and promotional mailers (50%), with brands often overlapping the types of mail they send during holiday sales and special promotions. [2]
The results also show how effective direct mail is for marketing:
- Direct mail achieves an average engagement rate of 95% among recipients. [3]
- Over 91% of promotional mail pieces are opened by households. [3]
- 71% of recipients read postcards and other promotional materials. [3]
- 60% of people recall promotions better when they receive them by mail. [3]
- Direct mail generates an average return on investment of 30%. [4]
- Statistics also show higher conversion rates when businesses integrate direct mail campaigns with digital marketing efforts. [1]
Why Is This the Case?
1. The Rise of Gen-Z Consumers
The younger generation who grew up on mobile devices now sees digital marketing as the norm. They receive daily emails, social media ads, and other online promotions. And while they can multitask and appreciate digital marketing, they are more inclined toward “traditional mail”.
- 57% of young professionals find direct mail marketing useful.
- 63% of Gen-Z consumers get excited when they receive mail.
- 86% would gladly sort through their mailboxes for promotions.
2. Physical Mail Accessibility
There’s also a unique accessibility element that most direct mail has. Imagine a person receiving a creative promotional postcard at home and sticking it on the fridge. Now, every family member can see that postcard and will be informed of upcoming promotions or sales mentioned in that mail. No phone or internet is needed.
Simply put, most people can see digital ads and online promotions anytime, anywhere on their devices, but they can see direct mail marketing where it matters—in their home. [6]
3. Tactile Personalization
Nothing will ever beat the feeling of receiving direct mail, whether it’s a letter or a postcard, that is personalized and made creatively. This sense of personalization is often touted as the reason “direct mail will never die”.
People simply appreciate the effort that goes into designing, printing, and sending creative postcards, brochures, and merchandise that make them feel special. [3]
Direct Mail Marketing is Here to Stay
The amount of direct mail pieces a household gets each year shows how much businesses still value print and physical mail in their marketing. Most companies are projected to double their direct mail initiatives year on year, with households expecting to get more physical mail in the upcoming years. [7] Meanwhile, other groups are combining direct and digital strategies, using postcards, brochures, and flyers to share offers and including QR codes to guide customers online. Creativity is important too, so people often keep these mailers as reminders for future purchases. As brands work to get the most from their direct mail, they can design mail-ready materials with confidence and count on UPrinting to print and deliver them to their customers.
References:
- https://www.modernpostcard.com/blog/direct-mail-stats
- https://www.postalytics.com/direct-mail-statistics/
- https://www.uprinting.com/direct-mail-statistics.html
- https://www.postalytics.com/direct-mail-statistics/
- https://www.rocketprint.com/blog/gen-z-direct-mail-marketing/
- https://www.121directmail.co.uk/new-research-reveals-the-life-of-mail-in-the-home/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/2026-state-direct-mail-marketing-from-comeback-0dhvf/
