KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Some of this year’s USPS® postage discounts are increasing, helping to ease the pinch of hikes in postage rates and material costs
- Informed Delivery and Sustainability return as discount add-ons and upgrades
- The Mail Growth Incentive (MGI) program is still open for 2025 to help high-volume mailers reduce postage costs
While there’s still time to take advantage of the 2025 USPS postage discounts to both save on postage costs and create more engaging direct mailers, the Postal Service recently rolled out the details on the 2026 USPS Promotions and Incentives program. This year’s offerings include some interesting and exciting changes, along with the return of several core promotions that have helped marketers cut costs on creating innovative mailers that boost response rates.
This guide will help marketers better understand the nuances of this year’s USPS promotions and how to ensure your mailers are eligible for these meaningful postage discounts.
What’s new with the 2026 USPS promotions?
The first thing to know about this year’s USPS promotions is some postage discounts are increasing. The new discount rates will not only help marketers offset recent increases in postage, they will also help brands combat price hikes in the materials needed for direct mail — things like paper, ink, and special paper coatings or treatments.
Here’s a quick overview of which postage discounts are increasing in 2026:
- Integrated Technology will go from 3% to 5%
- Tactile, Sensory, and Interactive will increase from 4% to 5%
- Continuous Contact will jump from 3% to 5%
Another new element to this year’s postage discounts is the elimination of the Reply Mail IMbA promotion. With just five promotions slated for 2026, it’s important to start planning now for how to create mailers that can qualify for these discounts — and it’s equally as important to begin conversations with printers now to determine the right print service provider for your needs.
Quantum has a wealth of experience helping brands leverage Postal Service incentives to reduce mailing costs and produce more dynamic mailers that boost response rates. For example, we recently partnered with an insurance provider to help them save more than $1 million dollars on a high-volume mailing program that generated revenue and growth. Our ability to optimize direct mail campaigns for this caliber of savings is part of what we do.
Discount add-ons and upgrades are part of the 2026 promotions
The USPS will offer a couple of postage discount add-ons and upgrades in 2026 for marketers that think in more multi-channel or sustainable ways. The available upgrades for the coming year include:
- Informed Delivery® helps users better engage recipients via digital previews of incoming mail. This multi-channel approach creates an additional touchpoint to position personalized offers and gives recipients more incentive to engage with print mailers. The Informed Delivery add-on promotion comes with an additional 1% discount on postage.
- Sustainability offers an additional 1% postage discount on eco-friendly mailings, Mailers must use paper that is certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) or Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®).
These add-ons and upgrades can be stacked to help you further reduce mailing costs. These add-ons can also help you think about direct mail in ways that open new creative or strategic avenues to explore.
What postage discounts are available as part of the 2026 USPS promotions?
This quick breakdown of the 2026 USPS promotions — along with registration and promotion period dates — will help you be more thoughtful and strategic about the best promotion for your mailing needs.
Integrated Technology
This promotion offers a 5% discount on Marketing Mail® or First-Class Mail® letters & flats that incorporate digital technology like augmented reality, virtual reality, video in print, and near field communication.
Registration period: November 15, 2025 to December 31, 2026.
Promotion period: Any six-month period during 2026 calendar year.
Here’s a couple of ways to use digital integrations to create more dynamic mailers that better demonstrate ROI, and also ensure eligibility for this significant break on postage.
Tactile, Sensory, and Interactive
This program offers a 5% discount on Marketing Mail or First-Class letters & flats that use specialty inks, scented or textured papers, finishings, and other interactive components.
Registration period: October 15, 2025, to June 30, 2026.
Promotion period: January 1, 2026 to June 30, 2026.
Continuous Contact
This promotion provides a 5% discount on Marketing Mail letters & flats that follow up and build on the messaging of an initial mailing. This promotion is designed to help create an ongoing conversation with a targeted audience.
Registration period: February 15, 2026 to December 31, 2026.
Promotion period: April 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026.
First-Class Mail Advertising
This incentive offers a 5% discount on First-Class letters & flats that use sales and marketing messaging in transactional communications like invoices or account statements — these types of marketing messages can include personalized offers, event invitations, and QR codes or PURLs.
Registration period: July 15, 2026 to December 31, 2026.
Promotion period: September 1, 2026 to December 31, 2026.
Catalog Insights
This promotion offers a 10% discount on Marketing Mail or Bound Printed Matter that includes images, photographs or illustrations of the products or services, descriptive details, fulfillment information, and pricing information.
Registration period: August 15, 2025 to June 30, 2026.
Promotion period: October 1, 2026 to June 30, 2026.
Catalogs have recently re-emerged as a very effective sales and marketing tool, helping brands leverage the trust consumers place in print to increase customer acquisition and retention.
Don’t forget about the USPS Mail Growth Incentive
Ideal for regular high-volume mailers — brands in the insurance, healthcare, or even gaming industry — the Mail Growth Incentive (MGI) offers credits towards postage reductions as a reward for increasing the volume of mailers sent in a given year. MGI participants can earn up to 30% postage discounts on mailings above their previous baseline or the 1 million pieces mark.
This year’s incentive program runs through December 31, 2025 for marketers who:
- Increase their mail volume above that of the previous year, or exceed 1 million mail pieces during a calendar year.
- Use First-Class Mail® or Marketing Mail®
- Register and track volumes exclusively through the USPS Business Customer Gateway to maintain accurate, detailed mailing documentation.
The USPS promotions provide a pathway for marketers to cut postage costs, but an experienced, strategic print partner is key for navigating the pathway to more cost-effective direct mailers. Quantum’s print automation platform and years of experience as a data-driven print provider can help you optimize your next direct mail campaign for increased response rate and ROI. Tell us about your next direct mail campaign to get started.
Bob Quirk is Quantum Group’s Vice President of Manufacturing Operations.
