Marriage Mail

Marriage Mail is a form of direct mail that combines advertisements, such as coupons or sales notices, from several companies into one mailpiece.1Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 1“Marriage Mail is a form of direct mail in which marketing service companies combine or “marry” advertisements (e.g., coupons or sales notices) from multiple companies into one mail piece to reduce the cost of the mailing for individual advertisers.”USPS original Marketing service companies send it to cut the cost of the mailing for each advertiser.1Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 1“Marriage Mail is a form of direct mail in which marketing service companies combine or “marry” advertisements (e.g., coupons or sales notices) from multiple companies into one mail piece to reduce the cost of the mailing for individual advertisers.”USPS original It lets businesses reach targeted groups of customers.3Marriage Mail Incentive FAQspage 1“This type of direct mailing product allows businesses to reach targeted customer segments.”USPS original

For the incentive, the Mail Owner is the business or organization that combines its clients' advertisements into one mailpiece.1Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 1“A Mail Owner, for the purposes of the Marriage Mail Incentive, is a business or organization that consolidates advertisements from multiple clients (i.e., the “advertisers”) into one mail piece.”USPS original The Mail Owner claims the incentive price, meets its requirements and pays any Postage Adjustment for missing them.1Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 1“It is the Mail Owner who would (a) claim the Marriage Mail Incentive price, (b) be responsible for complying with the Incentive requirements listed above, and (c) be accountable for paying any Postage Adjustment amounts arising from non-compliance with Incentive requirements.”USPS original USPS tracks that compliance by the Mail Owner's own CRID.1Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 1“This Mail Owner’s unique CRID will be used for tracking compliance with frequency and other Incentive requirements listed above.”USPS original

In eDoc, Marriage Mail is a type of mail content, and the incentive applies automatically when the eDoc names that content.1Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 1“Note Marriage Mail is a type of content of mail and the incentive is applied automatically when Marriage Mail is identified as content.”USPS original

The Marriage Mail Incentive is a discounted price on Saturation and High Density Plus Marketing Mail letters and flats that meet its requirements.1Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 1“The Marriage Mail Incentive is a discounted (incentive) price offered on Saturation (including EDDM-Commercial) and High Density Plus Marketing Mail letters and flats which meet certain requirements including weight and advertiser content.”USPS original As of July 12, 2026, it is a 20% discount on qualifying pieces.1Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 1“As of July 12, 2026, the Incentive price will be a 20% discount on qualifying pieces.”USPS original USPS introduced it with the July 9, 2023 price change.6PostalPro: Marriage Mail Price Incentive“As part of the July 9, 2023 price change implementation, the US Postal Service will provide marriage mailers an incentive price on Saturation USPS Marketing Mail letters and flats including EDDM (not EDDM Retail) that weigh 2 ounces or less, if they meet certain requirements.”USPS original

A Mail Owner who claims it is registered in PostalOne!, submits eDoc, and has its own Mail Owner CRID and an Enterprise Payment Account.1Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 1“The customer must be an eDoc submitter using mail.dat, mail.XML or Postal Wizard, with a unique Mail Owner CRID, an Enterprise Payment Account and registered in PostalOne!”USPS original Each mailing qualifies when it meets these requirements:

• It is Saturation Marketing Mail, including Every Door Direct Mail but not EDDM Retail, or High Density Plus Marketing Mail.4Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 2“Applies only to Saturation Marketing Mail Letters or Flats (including EDDM-Commercial) and to High Density Plus Marketing Mail Letters or Flats.”USPS original6PostalPro: Marriage Mail Price Incentive“As part of the July 9, 2023 price change implementation, the US Postal Service will provide marriage mailers an incentive price on Saturation USPS Marketing Mail letters and flats including EDDM (not EDDM Retail) that weigh 2 ounces or less, if they meet certain requirements.”USPS original
• Each mailpiece carries at least 4 advertisers, on one sheet or several, bound or inserted.4Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 2“Minimum of 4 advertisers per mail piece (on one sheet or multiple sheets, bound or inserted).”USPS original
• Each mailpiece weighs no more than 2 oz.4Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 2“Mail piece weight not to exceed 2 oz.”USPS original
• Each postage statement names only one Mail Owner and its Mail Owner CRID.4Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 2“Each Postage Statement used to claim the Marriage Mail Incentive must contain only one Mail Owner (and Mail Owner CRID).”USPS original
• The Mail Owner sends at least 10 qualifying mailings under its Mail Owner CRID in each 12-month cycle.4Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 2“Minimum mailing frequency of 10 qualifying mailings per 12-month cycle commencing from the month of first claim of this Incentive price by a Mail Owner CRID.”USPS original

The 12-month cycle belongs to one Mail Owner CRID and starts in the calendar month that CRID first claims the price.7Marriage Mail Incentive FAQspage 5“The 12-month period for each unique Mail Owner CRID begins with the calendar month in which the marriage mail incentive price is first claimed using that CRID.”USPS original A CRID that first claims it in November 2023 has cycles from November 2023 through October 2024, then November 2024 through October 2025.7Marriage Mail Incentive FAQspage 5“For example, if a Mail Owner CRID is used to claim this incentive price for the first time in November 2023, then that specific Mail Owner CRID’s 12-month period will run from November 2023 through October 2024, and repeat again from November 2024 through October 2025, and so on.”USPS original Mailings under two CRIDs never add up, even when one company owns both.7Marriage Mail Incentive FAQspage 5“For meeting the frequency requirement, mailing counts cannot be combined over multiple Mail Owner CRIDs even if they belong to the same company, mailer or mail service provider.”USPS original

A Mail Owner that uses Postal Wizard without Seamless Acceptance sends a physical sample of the piece with the mailing.4Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 2“Mail owners using non-Seamless entry and Postal Wizard are required to submit a physical mail piece sample along with the mailing, to be used for content validation by Mail Acceptance staff.”USPS original One that uses Mail.dat or Mail.XML without Seamless Acceptance is recommended to send a sample too.4Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 2“Mail owners using non-Seamless entry and mail.dat or mail.XML are recommended to submit a physical mail piece sample along with the mailing.”USPS original Sending one is expected to make an audit less likely.4Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 2“Doing so is expected to reduce the likelihood of being audited.”USPS original A Mail Owner on Seamless Acceptance sends no sample.4Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 2“Mail owners using Seamless entry are not expected to submit a physical mail piece sample along with the mailing.”USPS original It is subject to a random audit at any time.4Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 2“However, they are subject to a random audit at any time (see below).”USPS original

The incentive combines with other USPS incentives and discounts, as long as the mailing meets each one's requirements.1Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 1“A Mail Owner who claims the Marriage Mail Incentive is not precluded from availing of other incentives or discounts, subject to meeting the requirements of each incentive and discount.”USPS original

Plus One is an advertising card mailed with a host Marriage Mail Saturation letter or flat.2Plus One FAQspage 1“The Plus One product is an advertising card which mailers can send accompanying a Host “Marriage Mail” USPS Marketing Mail Saturation Letter mailpiece or a Host “Marriage Mail” Marketing Mail Saturation Flat mailing.”USPS original The Postal Regulatory Commission approved it for launch on January 9, 2022.2Plus One FAQspage 1“The new Plus One product was approved by the Postal Regulatory Commission for launch on January 9, 2022.”USPS original USPS extended it to flat mailings in July 2025.2Plus One FAQspage 1“The Plus One product was extended to Flats mailings in July 2025.”USPS original

The company mailing the host piece can sell the card to advertisers who want more visibility for their message.8PostalPro: Plus One Product“The company mailing the Host Saturation marriage letter mailpiece could sell the Plus One mailpiece as a profitable new solution to advertisers to enhance visibility of their message to the consumer.”USPS original The card gives an advertiser more visibility than an advertisement inside the host piece.8PostalPro: Plus One Product“This will enable Plus One card advertisers to gain more visibility than the advertisements in the marriage mail piece.”USPS original An advertiser can test a stand-alone mailpiece with the controls of a shared mailing.8PostalPro: Plus One Product“With this additional visibility, these advertisers can test the value of a stand-alone mailpiece with the simplicity and controls of shared mailing and at an affordable price.”USPS original Plus One is not meant for turning solo mailings into Plus One mailings.8PostalPro: Plus One Product“The Plus One product is not intended to be used to convert solo mailings into Plus One mailings.”USPS original

Plus One comes only as a card, and the card meets these specifications:9Plus One FAQspage 3“The Plus One product is only available in card format – see specifications above.”USPS original

• It measures at least 3.5 by 5 inches and no more than 6 by 11 inches.10Plus One FAQspage 2“Dimensions: at least 3.5” x 5”, not to exceed 6” x 11””USPS original
• It is at least .009 inch thick.10Plus One FAQspage 2“Thickness: Must be a minimum of .009” thick”USPS original
• Its permit indicia area shows the words "Plus One" below "Postage Paid".10Plus One FAQspage 2“Markings: Permit indicia area must identify the card as a Plus One Card with the words “Plus One” below “Postage Paid””USPS original
• It meets all other USPS Marketing Mail letter design standards.10Plus One FAQspage 2“Meet all other USPS Marketing Mail Letter design standards”USPS original

The host mailing and its cards are entered under these conditions:

• A letter host goes to a Destination Sectional Center Facility.2Plus One FAQspage 1“The Host USPS Marketing Mail Saturation Marriage Mail Letter mailing must be entered at a destination SCF (DSCF)”USPS original
• A letter host is at least 90% Saturation, and the rest is High Density or High Density Plus.2Plus One FAQspage 1“The Host USPS Marketing Mail Saturation Marriage Mail Letter mailing must be at least 90% Saturation with the remainder being High Density or High Density Plus”USPS original
• A flat host is at least 90% Saturation and goes to a Destination Delivery Unit or a Destination Sectional Center Facility.2Plus One FAQspage 1“All Flat Plus One mailings (Flat Host) must be a minimum of 90 percent (90%) of the total mailing of the Host Saturation Marriage Marketing Mail Flat volume and must be entered at either the DDU or DSCF to qualify for use of the Plus One Card.”USPS original
• The cards are accepted with the host or within the following two business days.2Plus One FAQspage 1“A mailpiece that is accepted at the same time, or within the following two business days, as the associated Host USPS Marketing Mail Saturation Marriage Mail Letter or Flats mailing”USPS original
• The cards go to the same delivery points as the host.2Plus One FAQspage 1“Addressed and delivered to the same delivery points as the Host USPS Marketing Mail Saturation Marriage Mail Letter or Flats mailing”USPS original
• Cards never outnumber host pieces in a mailing, and not every host piece needs one.2Plus One FAQspage 1“The maximum number of Plus One Cards may not exceed the number Host USPS Marketing Mail Saturation Marriage Mail Letters or Flat pieces in each mailing. … Plus One pieces are not required for each Host USPS Marketing Mail Saturation Marriage Mail mailpiece”USPS original
• Cards travel in their own trays, and their pallets and trays are placarded as a Plus One mailing.10Plus One FAQspage 2“Plus One mailpieces must be presented in their own trays … Pallets and Trays of Plus One Cards must be identified on the Placard as a Plus One mailing”USPS original

The July 2025 postage rate for a Plus One card is $0.12 a piece.10Plus One FAQspage 2“The July 2025 Plus One Card postage rate is $0.12 per piece.”USPS original The current rate is in Notice 123.10Plus One FAQspage 2“The current rate can be found in the Notice 123 (Link)”USPS original Mail Service Providers can take part when they meet every Plus One requirement.10Plus One FAQspage 2“Yes, MSPs can participate as long as they conform to all of the Plus One product requirements.”USPS original Nonprofit mailers can take part too, but get no extra discount on the card.10Plus One FAQspage 2“Note, Non-Profit mailers are able to participate, but there is no additional discount for the Plus One piece.”USPS original Mailers use their own permits, and Mail Service Providers can use their own or the mail owners' permits.9Plus One FAQspage 3“No, mailers will use their own permits; MSPs can use their own permits or the mail owners’ permits.”USPS original

The host piece and the card both carry a full automation address with an Intelligent Mail barcode, in the eDoc and in print.2Plus One FAQspage 1“Full automation address with IMb must be generated in documentation for both pieces (Host Saturation Marriage Flat or Letter and Plus One Card) and must be printed on both pieces.”USPS original A flat host entered at a Destination Delivery Unit needs no printed barcode, but its card still does.2Plus One FAQspage 1“The only exception is when the Host Flat is entered at DDU and then no printed barcode is required on the Flat (still required on the Plus One Card).”USPS original

On the postage statement, card volume goes on its own line: Section C for a letter host and Section F for a flat host.9Plus One FAQspage 3“Postal mailing statements now contain a new line number, Section C for Letter host pieces and Section F for Flat host pieces, under Carrier Route Automation Letters where Plus One Card volume is entered.”USPS original A letter host and its cards use the same mailing statement at the same Destination Sectional Center Facility.10Plus One FAQspage 2“The Plus One mailing (Marriage Mail Letter and Plus One Card) must be entered using the same mailing statement at the same DSCF”USPS original A flat host is linked to the same PostalOne! postage statement as its card mailing.10Plus One FAQspage 2“The Plus One mailing for Flats (Marriage Mail Flat and Plus One Card) require the Flats to be linked to the same PostalOne! postage statement as the Plus One Card mailing”USPS original

In Mail.dat, a card's rate category is PO, and its job includes a piece barcode file.11Mail.dat Technical Specifications R65.0.0.0PDF page 412“When the .cqt Rate Category field is populated with PO = Plus One, then a .pdr or a .pbc file must be provided with the .pdr IM Barcode or .pbc Barcode field populated with a 20, 25, 29, or 31 character value.”USPS original A card job linked to a flat host names the host's job ID and user license code.11Mail.dat Technical Specifications R65.0.0.0PDF page 412“The .seg Plus One Host Job ID field and .seg Plus One Host User License Code field are required when the .seg Detached Mailing Label Indicator field is populated with C = Plus One with Flats.”USPS original A host in Mail.dat can't pair with cards in Mail.XML, or the reverse.10Plus One FAQspage 2“No, you cannot as Mail.dat asks for ULC and 8D job ID and does not support Mailing Group.”USPS original

Plus One cards earn no Mail Growth Incentives credit, because the host piece already qualifies and the card's price is already low.12Mail Growth Incentives FAQspage 4“No, Plus One Postcards, which are mailed along with a host Saturation Marriage Mail mailing, do not qualify because the host mailpiece already qualifies, and the Plus One Postcard already has a low price point.”USPS original

USPS audits Mail Owners, postage statements and mailings that used the incentive at random.13Marriage Mail Incentive FAQspage 3“The USPS will conduct random audits of Mail Owners, postage statements and mailing submissions that have availed of this Marriage Mail Incentive price.”USPS original A Mail Owner found out of compliance pays the full non-incentive price for every piece that didn't comply.4Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 2“In other words, this Mail Owner will be responsible for paying the full non-Incentive Price for all pieces not in compliance with the Incentive requirements.”USPS original A Mail Owner that doesn't send requested samples within 30 business days also pays the full non-incentive price.4Marriage Mail Incentive Fact SheetPDF page 2“A failure by a Mail Owner to provide this sample or image file within the stipulated time (30 business days) will constitute non-compliance with the requirements of this Incentive price and will require the mailer to pay a Postage Adjustment amount to cover the value of the Incentive claimed/received by the mailer, i.e., to pay the full non-Incentive price.”USPS original

A Mail Owner with fewer than 10 qualifying mailings in a cycle is charged the entire incentive claimed in that cycle.5Marriage Mail Incentive FAQspage 4“If a Mail Owner is found not to have submitted 10 or more qualifying mailings in the prior 12-month cycle, the USPS will up charge the Mail Owner for the entire Incentive amount claimed in that 12-month cycle.”USPS original A single mailing with fewer than 4 advertisers is adjusted on its own.7Marriage Mail Incentive FAQspage 5“Only the mailing with fewer than 4 advertisers will be subject to a manual adjustment in the situation described above.”USPS original The other mailings keep the price.7Marriage Mail Incentive FAQspage 5“The remaining mailings will not be adjusted.”USPS original The exception is a Mail Owner with exactly 10 mailings, where one short mailing leaves 9.7Marriage Mail Incentive FAQspage 5“The only way having one mailing with fewer than 4 advertisers could result in the disqualification of all mailings is if the mail owner sent exactly 10 mailings in the 12-month period and one was found to have an insufficient number of advertisers resulting in only 9 qualified mailings.”USPS original Then all 10 mailings are adjusted.7Marriage Mail Incentive FAQspage 5“This would result in an adjustment to all 10 mailings.”USPS original

USPS recovers an incorrectly claimed incentive through a manual consolidated Postage Adjustment.5Marriage Mail Incentive FAQspage 4“All Incentive amounts that have been incorrectly claimed by a Mail Owner (i.e., the total discount amount incorrectly availed of) will be recovered from them through a manual consolidated Postage Adjustment process.”USPS original The relevant Mail Acceptance unit, usually a Business Mail Entry Unit, starts it.5Marriage Mail Incentive FAQspage 4“The Postage Adjustment process will be initiated by the relevant Mail Acceptance unit (typically a Business Mail Entry Unit or BMEU).”USPS original

The Mail.dat Client rejects a Plus One job on validate and upload until the host mailing is finalized.9Plus One FAQspage 3“Yes, the Plus One mailing will be rejected on validate & upload by the Mail.dat Client until this has occurred”USPS original For a flat host, the Mail.dat Client rejects a card job with more pieces than the host's Saturation, High Density and High Density Plus flats.14Mail.dat Technical Specifications R65.0.0.0PDF page 413“When the .seg Detached Mailing Label Indicator field is populated with C = Plus One with Flats, then the total .cqt Number of Pieces cannot exceed the total on the host mailing that claimed pieces with .mpu Processing Category FL = Flat, .cqt Destination Entry S = DSCF or D = DDU, and .cqt Rate Category A = Saturation - ECR or C = High Density Plus - ECR or B = High Density - ECR.”USPS original A Plus One host can't be submitted in Mail.dat version 25-1 or earlier.14Mail.dat Technical Specifications R65.0.0.0PDF page 413“The Plus One Host submission cannot be submitted for Mail.DAT version 25-1 and earlier.”USPS original

A mailer with questions on the Marriage Mail Incentive can ask the manager or a supervisor at its local Business Mail Acceptance unit.26Marriage Mail Incentive FAQspage 6“A mailer having questions on the Marriage Mail Incentive can reach out to the Manager (MBME) or a Supervisor (SBME) at their local Business Mail Acceptance unit, or the Mailing & Shipping Solutions Center (MSSC), or their usual BSN/Sales/Business Support/Customer Support point of contact.”USPS original It can also ask the Mailing and Shipping Solutions Center or its usual USPS sales or support contact.26Marriage Mail Incentive FAQspage 6“A mailer having questions on the Marriage Mail Incentive can reach out to the Manager (MBME) or a Supervisor (SBME) at their local Business Mail Acceptance unit, or the Mailing & Shipping Solutions Center (MSSC), or their usual BSN/Sales/Business Support/Customer Support point of contact.”USPS original

Questions about Plus One go to the Plus One Program Office at plusone@usps.gov.8PostalPro: Plus One Product“Email: plusone@usps.gov”USPS original Its mailing address is Plus One Program Office, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW RM 2P924, Washington, DC 20260-0004.9Plus One FAQspage 3“475 L’Enfant Plaza SW RM 2P924 Washington, DC 20260-0004”USPS original