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Guide › Choosing routes

Grid B1 · Choosing routes

Choosing routes

The tool gives you the data. This page is our method for using it. None of it is a USPS rule. It's how we'd approach a first mailing.

Surveyed November 7, 2026

  1. 1Customers first
  2. 2Match the buyer
  3. 3Residential only?
  4. 4Fit the budget
  5. 5Respect limits
  6. 6Save and repeat

1. Start from where your customers already are

If you have past jobs, orders or a customer list, look at where they cluster. Search the tool by your business address, then find the routes that cover those streets. Routes next to existing customers are the safest first test.

2. Match the route to who buys

Use the route table's columns to match your customer:

  • Homeowner services like roofing, HVAC or landscaping: favor routes heavy on residential delivery points, and check household size and income.
  • Restaurants and retail: distance matters most. Pick the routes closest to the door.
  • Business services: look at the Business column, or filter for business-only routes.

3. Decide on residential only

If businesses aren't your customers, select Residential only and address pieces to "Residential Customer". You'll mail fewer pieces and spend less.

4. Fit the budget

Every route is all or nothing, so build the order route by route and watch the running total. At $0.260 per piece in postage, 1,000 pieces is $260 before printing. If you're over budget, drop the weakest route, not a piece of every route.

5. Respect the limits

Retail allows 5,000 pieces per day per ZIP Code, and 5,000 per order unless one route is bigger. For a larger area, split the mailing by ZIP Code or by day.

6. Save it and repeat it

Save the order in the tool. Repeating the exact same routes next time is the only fair way to compare one mailing against another.