VistaPrint Postcard Mailing in Canada: What Are Your Options?

If you order postcards from VistaPrint's Canadian site, they are printed and shipped to you; you then need to mail them yourself or through Canada Post. VistaPrint's done-for-you mailing service is built around the US Postal Service, and at the time of writing we couldn't find a self-serve mailing option on vistaprint.ca. In Canada, your realistic options are to stamp and post the cards yourself, use Canada Post's Neighbourhood Mail or Personalized Mail, or use a service that prints and mails the cards for you.

This guide compares those four routes on cost, effort and the kind of campaign each one suits. Prices were checked at the time of writing and change often, so confirm them before you order.

What VistaPrint does for Canadian customers

VistaPrint is a well-known online printer, and its Canadian site offers postcards in eight sizes, from 4" × 4" to 6" × 11", on a range of paper stocks, with a minimum order of 25 cards. Printing is inexpensive: when we checked, 500 standard 4" × 6" glossy cards were listed at $70 CAD before shipping and tax.

What arrives is a box of identical printed cards. Addressing, postage and getting them to Canada Post are left to you. On the US site, VistaPrint sells a separate Direct Mail Postcards service that prints, addresses and mails cards through USPS. We cover that service in Does VistaPrint mail postcards for you?.

Your four options at a glance

Option 1: Stamp and mail the cards yourself

This is the simplest route for a small list. Postcards travel as Lettermail, so each card needs a stamp. At the time of writing, Canada Post lists domestic stamps at $1.24 each when bought in booklets and $1.44 as a single stamp. A standard-size card must be between 140 × 90 mm and 245 × 156 mm, which covers 4" × 6" and 6" × 9" cards; larger formats cost more to mail.

What you'll need to do:

1. Leave room on the back of your design for the address and stamp.
2. Print address labels or address each card by hand, in Canada Post's format.
3. Apply a stamp to every card.
4. Drop the cards at a post office or mailbox.

For 100 cards this is an afternoon's work. For 500, it's a real time commitment, and postage alone is $620 CAD with booklet stamps. We break down the full numbers in the total cost of mailing 500 VistaPrint postcards.

Option 2: Canada Post Neighbourhood Mail

Neighbourhood Mail delivers your cards to every address in the areas you choose, without names or addresses on the cards. Canada Post's targeting tools let you pick cities, neighbourhoods or postal codes and filter by things like building type and household income. Small businesses can also use Canada Post's Snap Admail tool to design, print and send a campaign online.

It's a good fit for local consumer offers, like a restaurant opening or a seasonal service. It's a poor fit when you want to reach specific people, such as the office manager at 40 particular companies, because you can't choose individual recipients or personalize the card.

Option 3: Canada Post Personalized Mail

Personalized Mail is Canada Post's addressed marketing mail service, with lower postage than stamps in exchange for meeting its requirements. According to Canada Post, a mailing must go to more than 100 Canadian addresses and have a promotional purpose, and the pieces don't need to be identical. Canada Post recommends submitting a sample for review before printing.

In practice, you'll need a business account, an accurate address list and mail prepared to Canada Post's specifications. That's manageable for a business that mails regularly, but it's a learning curve for a one-off campaign of a few hundred cards.

Option 4: A service that prints and mails for you

A print-and-mail service takes your design and list, prints each card with the recipient's address, pays the postage and hands the cards to Canada Post. Some, like Yotru, also personalize each card's message, give every recipient a unique QR code and tell you who scanned. You pay more per card than printing alone, but you skip the labels, stamps and trip to the post office. Our guide to VistaPrint alternatives for business direct mail compares the different types of service.

Which option should you choose?

If the goal is B2B leads or meetings, the list and follow-up matter more than the printing price. See how to generate leads with postcards and how to build a targeted mailing list.

Tips if you print with VistaPrint and mail yourself

• Keep the right half of the back clear for the address and stamp.
• Choose a standard size such as 4" × 6" or 6" × 9" to avoid oversize postage.
• Add a QR code so people can respond easily, ideally with a tracked link. How to track leads and sales from postcards explains the options.
• Format addresses the way Canada Post expects; see how to address a B2B postcard in Canada.
• Order a few spare cards for misprints and your own records.

How Yotru handles Canadian mailings

Yotru prints and mails personalized postcards across Canada, and postage is included in the price. We can build the list of businesses and contacts for you or work from your own, personalize each card, and give every recipient a unique QR code and landing page with a scan alert. At the time of writing, 500 cards mailed within Canada cost $995 CAD, or $1.99 per card, excluding tax. See how VistaPrint and Yotru compare for a side-by-side view.

Frequently asked questions

Does VistaPrint mail postcards in Canada?

At the time of writing, vistaprint.ca printed postcards and shipped them to the customer, and we couldn't find a self-serve mailing service on the Canadian site. Check with VistaPrint if you need cards mailed for you.

How much does it cost to mail a postcard in Canada?

At the time of writing, Canada Post lists domestic stamps at $1.24 each in booklets and $1.44 as a single stamp for standard-size mail. Commercial services like Personalized Mail can cost less if you meet their requirements.

Can I use VistaPrint's US mailing service for Canadian addresses?

VistaPrint's Direct Mail Postcards service is built around USPS and US addresses. For Canadian recipients, plan to use Canada Post or a service that mails within Canada.

What is the difference between Neighbourhood Mail and Personalized Mail?

Neighbourhood Mail goes to every address in chosen areas without names. Personalized Mail is addressed to specific recipients from your list and must meet Canada Post's requirements, including a minimum volume.

What postcard size is cheapest to mail in Canada?

Any card within Canada Post's standard size range, between 140 × 90 mm and 245 × 156 mm, mails at the standard rate. 4" × 6" and 6" × 9" cards both fit.

Is there a service that prints and mails postcards in Canada?

Yes. Canada Post offers Snap Admail for neighbourhood campaigns, and services like Yotru print, address and mail personalized postcards to specific businesses or customers, with postage included.

How long does it take to mail postcards in Canada?

It depends on the route. If you print first and mail yourself, add printing and shipping time to Canada Post delivery. With Yotru, mailing usually starts two to three days after the order is finalized and delivery usually takes about a week, sometimes two to three weeks.

Prices are in CAD and exclude tax, as listed by each company at the time of writing. VistaPrint is a trademark of its owner; Yotru is not affiliated with VistaPrint.

References

• Canada Post: Personalized Mail qualifications
• Wikipedia: Canada Post
• Yotru Knowledge Base: How much does it cost to send 100 targeted B2B postcards in Canada?