1. Get access
You need a USPS.com account. In the account, find the EDDM listing and choose Get Access, then Go To Service to open the tool. If you don't have an account, the sign-in page has a Sign Up Now option.
Field note: an account with a USPS Marketing Mail permit attached is treated as a BMEU account. For a normal Retail mailing, you don't need a permit.
2. Enter a starting location
Type a full address, a city and state, or a ZIP Code. A business address works well because the tool marks it on the map and shows the routes around it.
3. Open the route table
The tool lists the routes it found, with the total number of routes and the total possible deliveries. Select Show Table to see each route's numbers. Reading route data explains every column.
4. Narrow the results
Two filters change what's counted:
- Route type: City, Rural/Highway and PO Box. Untick PO Box if you only want doors.
- Delivery type: Business & Residential, or Residential only.
Select Apply to refresh the table.
5. Select routes
Click routes in the table or on the map. Each one you add appears in the Order Summary with a running count of routes, Post Office drop-offs, delivery addresses and approximate cost.
You can't add part of a route. Each route goes in whole.
6. Choose Retail and continue
Pick Retail Entry and select Continue to see Retail options and pricing. Here you'll see:
- the drop-off Post Office, with its hours, address and contact details
- the scheduled drop-off date
- an optional By/For field
7. Pay or save
Choose Pay Online or pay at the Post Office when you drop off. If you have a coupon code, there's a place to enter it. Save keeps the order so you can finish later.
Field note: if you choose to pay at the Post Office and then change your mind, cancel the order in Order History. USPS says an order that's never dropped off can still count against that ZIP Code's daily limit.
8. Print the forms
The confirmation page lists, for each Post Office, how many pieces to bring and the approximate cost there. Select Print Forms Now to print PS Form 3587 and one facing slip for every route. Each slip shows the ZIP Code, route number and number of pieces.
After the order
Saved orders stay in the tool. You can reprint forms, repeat an order for the next mailing, cancel one, or request a refund for a Retail order you paid online.
Is the EDDM Online Tool free?
Yes. You pay postage for the mailing, not for the tool.
Do I need a business account?
A USPS.com account with EDDM access is enough for Retail. BMEU mailing needs a USPS Marketing Mail permit attached to the account.
Can I save an order and come back?
Yes. The Save button keeps it, and saved orders can be repeated later.
Can I use it for addresses outside the U.S.?
No. Orders can only be created for the United States and its territories.