Setting Up Your Mailing Indicia

A mailing indicia is a pre-printed mark for postage prepayment and typically includes four lines of information: the class of mail, "U.S. Postage Paid," the city and state of the permit, and the permit number. It is a rectangle shape placed in the upper right corner of the mailpiece instead of a stamp.

Anatomy of a mailing indicia

• Line 1: Class marking. This indicates the type of mail service, such as "First-Class Mail" or "Non-Profit".

• Line 2: "U.S. Postage Paid." This phrase is a required part of the indicia.

• Line 3: City and state. This is the location where the mailing permit is held. Some special formats might use a zip code or company abbreviation instead.

• Line 4: Permit number. This includes the word "Permit" followed by the specific number assigned to the sender.

Placement and design guidelines

• Placement: The indicia must be placed in the upper right corner of the mailpiece, generally no more than

  1.5 inches from the top and right edges.

• Size: The indicia must be at least .5" high x .5" wide.

• Clarity: The font should be clear and legible, with a minimum font size of 6pt and in black ink only.
  

How to use an indicia

• You must have a permit to use an indicia.

• You typically need to mail a minimum of 200 pieces at a time.