Holiday cards are one of the easiest ways to reconnect with friends, family, clients, and neighbours. If you want to get organized and send everything out on time this year, here’s a straightforward guide to make the process smooth — and yes, QuikPrint in Oakville can handle all your printing needs.
Why Send Holiday Mail?
A physical card or letter stands out in a way digital messages don’t. People open it, smile, and feel remembered. There’s no pressure for them to respond. It’s a small gesture that makes a big impact during a busy season.
1. Choose What You Want to Send
Start by checking how much time you have and who’s on your list.
A few options:
• Printed holiday cards
Design your card digitally or bring your artwork to QuikPrint. We print high-quality cards in-house with fast turnaround.
• Hand-made cards
If you’re crafting your own, we can print the inserts or the final design for you.
• A holiday letter
If you want to give everyone a quick update, write one letter for all recipients and print multiple copies. Many people type their letter, but some hand-write it, scan it, and then print it as a clean reproduction.
2. Gather Addresses
Create one list with all names and mailing addresses.
It helps you track who you’re sending to and ensures you print the right number of cards or letters.
3. Pick Up Your Envelopes
Choose the envelope size that fits your cards or letters.
• Standard letters fit perfectly in #10 envelopes
• Folded greeting cards fit best in A7 or A9 envelopes
Grab at least 20–25% extra envelopes to cover mistakes or last-minute additions.
QuikPrint carries common envelope sizes, and we can order specialty ones for you.
4. Address the Envelopes
You can handwrite the addresses, print labels, or bring your list to us — we can print the addresses directly onto the envelopes for a clean, professional finish.
If you’re only sending a few, adding a bit of decorative lettering or colour makes them feel special.
5. Add Stamps
Double-check the address before you add postage.
If you want a more creative look, you can use a mix of stamps as long as the total equals the correct mailing rate.
6. Mail Everything on Time
Holiday mail slows down every year, so plan ahead.
• For international mail: send by mid-November
• For Canadian mail: aim for early December
Drop everything in a mailbox, a Canada Post outlet, or leave it for your carrier if you’re only sending a few.
How to address mail accurately
Send business and addressed marketing mail without processing delays and surcharges
Help your business by following address guidelines on your mailings — you’ll avoid delays and surcharges caused by extra processing.
In this article you’ll find:
- Address placement guidelines.
- Graphic placement guidelines.
- Correct address formats for mail to Canadian, U.S. and international destinations.
Address placement guidelines
Use these addressing guidelines for standard, large and image-printed envelopes so that your mail can be scanned by our processing equipment.
Final Tip
If you want your holiday mail to look polished, QuikPrint can help with:
• Greeting card printing
• Photo printing
• Envelope printing
• Return-address printing
• Folded letters and inserts
• Last-minute print runs
Bring your design or let us help you create one. A small amount of preparation now makes mailing season much easier.
To send a postcard with Canada Post,
it must meet specific dimensions: between 140mm and 235 mm in length, and 90 mm and 120 mm in width, with a thickness between 0.180 and 555 mm. It needs a stamp, a complete Canadian return address, and correct addressing information. Standard Lettermail postage applies, but non-standard sizes will cost more.
Size and weight
- Length: Minimum
140140140 mm (
5.55.55.5 inches), maximum
235235235 mm (
9.29.29.2 inches).
- Width: Minimum
909090 mm (
3.63.63.6 inches), maximum
120120120 mm (
4.74.74.7 inches).
- Thickness: Minimum
0.180.180.18 mm (
0.0070.0070.007 inches), maximum
555 mm (
0.20.20.2 inches).
- Weight: Must not exceed
505050 g (
1.761.761.76 ounces) for standard pricing.
Addressing and postage
- Addressing: Write in uppercase block letters and include a full Canadian return address.
- Postage: Use a single stamp for standard items. If you are unsure, check the postage calculator on the Canada Post website to confirm the correct rate.
Other rules
- Format: The postcard must be rectangular and sealed. If it is irregularly shaped, it must be sent in a sealed envelope.
- Materials: Avoid using very thick paper, glossy finishes, or reflective surfaces.
- Design: Do not place any text or graphics in the “quiet zones,” which are areas Canada Post uses for their own machines.
- Delivery: If a postcard cannot be delivered, it will be returned to the sender if the return address is Canadian and the “return to sender” option was selected.
Happy holidays!
