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Business Reply Mail

Make it easy for customers to respond - at no cost to them.

Business Reply Mail envelope
  • Make it easy for customers to respond to your messages by paying their postage. Give them an easy and convenient way to reach you—at no expense to them.
  • No matter what your size or sector, our Business Reply Mail™ (BRM) service can help keep you connected with your customers. Learn how to make it work for you.

Learning the Basics

No need to find a stamp

Customers appreciate the convenience of Business Reply Mail, because all they have to do is drop it in the mail. For you, it means only paying postage for the responses you receive, which gives you better control of your campaign costs.

Choose from card, envelope, and label formats.

You can use Business Reply Mail service with customers in Canada, the United States, and more than 180 countries around the world to:

  • Receive payments.
  • Generate sales leads.
  • Request information.
  • Raise funds.
  • Conduct market research.
  • Develop a customer list.

5 tips to help get the most from your replies

Build your brand
Customize specific areas of your return mail with images and targeted messages to support your brand and promote your products and services.

Make tracking easier
Change the title or first line of the BRM address to easily track response rates by campaign or department.

Get the best price
Get the best price by making sure your items can be sorted by our machines (the price for each returned item varies depending on size and weight).

Improve convenience for your customers
Provide your customers with electronic access (web or email), so they can print their own postage-paid labels.

Increase flexibility
Commercial mailers can produce plastic envelopes (leak-proof) for their unique requirements. Available for returns within Canada, these envelopes can be used for items like ink cartridges, bio samples, CDs, DVDs, and much more.


Specifications

Your Business Reply Mail items must meet our size and weight requirements.

Size and weight for Business Reply Mail within Canada

Category Length Width Thickness Weight
Envelopes/Self-mailers*
(Machineable)
MIN 140 mm
(5.6 in)
90 mm
(3.6 in)
0.18 mm
(0.007 in)
3 g
(0.11 oz)
MAX 245 mm
(9.6 in)
156 mm
(6.1 in)
5 mm
(0.2 in)
50 g
(1.76 oz)
Cards
(Machineable)
MIN 140 mm
(5.6 in)
90 mm
(3.6 in)
0.18 mm
(0.007 in)
N/A
MAX 235 mm
(9.2 in)
120 mm
(4.7 in)
5 mm
(0.2 in)
50 g
(1.76 oz)
Other Business Reply Mail/
Self-mailers*
MIN 140 mm
(5.6 in)
90 mm
(3.6 in)
0.18 mm
(0.007 in)
10 g
(0.4 oz)
MAX 380 mm
(14.9 in)
270 mm
(10.6 in)
20 mm
(0.8 in)
500 g
(17.6 oz)

*Any item that does not have an outer cover, wrapping or envelope in addition to the paper or material on which the communication is placed.


Size and weight for Business Reply Mail for U.S.A. and International

Category Length Width Thickness Weight
Envelopes/Self-mailers*
(Machineable)
MIN 140 mm
(5.6 in)
90 mm
(3.6 in)
0.18 mm
(0.007 in)
3 g
(0.11 oz)
MAX 245 mm
(9.6 in)
156 mm
(6.1 in)
5 mm
(0.2 in)
50 g
(1.76 oz)
Cards
(Machineable)
MIN 140 mm
(5.6 in)
90 mm
(3.6 in)
0.18 mm
(0.007 in)
N/A
MAX 235 mm
(9.2 in)
120 mm
(4.7 in)
5 mm
(0.2 in)
50 g
(1.76 oz)

*Any item that does not have an outer cover, wrapping or envelope in addition to the paper or material on which the communication is placed.


Rates & prices

Annual fee
Pay an annual fee for each unique Canadian, U.S.A, or international Business Reply Mail return address. This fee is fixed and non-refundable, regardless of the number of returned items. We will invoice you annually.

This fee for general administration, product support and production of BRM artwork helps keep the per item price as low as possible.

Price per returned item
You also pay the applicable postage for each returned item. Postage cost varies based on size, weight, and where it's coming from. The price includes the cost of sorting, counting and billing, in addition to delivering the returned item to you. Mail that can be sorted by our machines costs less than items that need to be handled manually.

View Business Reply Mail pricing.


When to expect responses by mail

Delivery standards are estimates of how long it will take for you to receive your reply item. Delivery standards are not guaranteed but are generally:

Local 3 business days
Within a Province 4 business days
National 5 business days or more

You can start counting on the first business day after your customer drops the reply item in the mail.

Notes about delivery standards


Get started—it's as easy as 1-2-3.

  1. Set up an account.

    Contact your Canada Post representative, or call 1-866-757-5480. Please note: the non-refundable annual fee will apply for each unique return address.

  2. Create your BRM artwork online.

    Our fast, free, and secure online tool helps you create and send your artwork electronically. Step-by-step instructions will help you:
    1. Personalize your envelope, card or label artwork with your company or campaign name.
    2. Produce a return item that contains the essential elements you need to qualify for the best price.

    Check out our online tool, Business Reply Mail Artwork, or view the demo.

  3. Measure twice, cut once.

    Once you have imported your artwork into your final layout - and before you print a large quantity - you have 2 opportunities to verify that your BRM items qualify for the lowest price:

    1. Layout – confirm that your artwork has the proper positioning on your return mail. Send an electronic file of your BRM card, envelope or label to:
      cdmpublic@canadapost.ca

    2. Test - provide 50 samples of your physical BRM items to ensure that our machines can read your mail. Send to:
      CANADA POST
      MAIL STANDARDS AND TESTING
      NATIONAL EQUIPMENT ENGINEERING
      2701 RIVERSIDE DR, SUITE N0625
      OTTAWA ON K1A 0B1

Support

Need help? Contact us at 1-866-757-5480 and we'll answer your questions.


Need a hand?
Whether you need help with a specific task (from design to mail preparation) or the whole process, use our Partner Directory to connect with Mail Service Professionals in the Direct Mail industry. They can provide all the advice and expertise you need to set your campaign in motion.


Now You Can

Set up a commercial account. Find out how to apply.

Don't have access to our Business Reply Mail Artwork tool? Sign up now!

Sign in if you’re a registered Business Reply Mail Artwork user.


Notes about delivery standards

Once in the Canada Post mail stream:
  • Number of days excludes day of mailing, weekends and statutory holidays
  • Weekend and statutory holiday deposits are considered deposited on the next business day
  • These delivery standards apply to the original delivery address on the mail and not to redirected or returned pieces.

Read more about delivery standards