Printable postcards are one of the easiest ways to send something personal without a trip to the store. With the right paper and two printer settings, a home inkjet can turn out cards that look surprisingly polished. Here's how.
1. Pick the right paper
- Cardstock, not copy paper. Look for matte or satin cardstock in the 80–110 lb cover range. It feels sturdy in the hand and holds up in the mail.
- 4 × 6 in or letter size. Pre-cut 4 × 6 photo cardstock is the easiest. Letter-size (8.5 × 11 in) cardstock works too: you can usually fit two cards per sheet and trim.
- Check your printer's limit. Most home printers list a maximum paper weight in the manual. If heavy cardstock jams, step down to a lighter weight.
2. Use these printer settings
- Print at 100% / "Actual size." "Fit to page" or "Shrink to fit" will change the size and can crop the design.
- Set paper type to cardstock or matte photo paper so the printer lays down the right amount of ink.
- Choose the highest quality setting. It's slower, but colors look richer and edges stay sharp.
- Borderless printing (optional). If your printer supports it on 4 × 6 paper, use it for edge-to-edge color. If not, print on larger paper and trim.
3. Print the back (if you'll mail them)
If your design comes with a postcard back (stamp box and address lines), print the front first, let the ink dry for a few minutes, then flip the sheet and print the back. Do a test on plain paper first so you know which way to reinsert the sheet.
4. Trim cleanly
- A paper trimmer or a craft knife with a metal ruler gives straighter edges than scissors.
- Trim a hair inside any crop marks so no white edge shows.
- A corner rounder punch is a nice optional finishing touch.
5. Mailing tips
A 4 × 6 in card on sturdy cardstock is a standard postcard size in the US. Write the address clearly on the right half of the back, add a postcard stamp, and you're set. Postage rates change, so check usps.com for current pricing and size rules.
Don't want to print at home?
Any local print or copy shop can print 4 × 6 cards from a high-resolution file. Bring the file on a USB drive or email it to them and ask for cardstock.
Easy ways to use printable fall postcards
- Thanksgiving place cards or a "grateful for you" note at each plate
- Thank-you notes for teachers, neighbors and hosts
- A mini seasonal gallery on a mantel, shelf or fridge
- Tucked into a gift or care package
Our printable fall postcards
Every design in our Fall Postcards collection is a print-ready 4 × 6 in file at 300 dpi with a matching postcard back, delivered as an instant download. Want them all? The Fall Postcard Bundle includes all four designs for less than buying them one by one. Browse everything in Printables & Digital Downloads.
Colors can vary slightly between screens and printers, so print one test card before running a full batch.