Mail Forwarding Guide
How USPS forwarding works, why it matters for your mailing list, and how NCOA processing keeps your list clean.
How USPS Mail Forwarding Works
When someone moves and files a change of address with the USPS, their mail is forwarded to the new address for a limited time. The rules differ by mail class, and understanding them is critical for anyone who mails in volume.
Approximately 40 million Americans move every year. If you're mailing to even a few thousand addresses, a meaningful percentage of your list goes stale every month. That means wasted postage, wasted print costs, and missed opportunities.
Forwarding by Mail Class
First-Class Mail
First-Class mail is forwarded free of charge for 12 months after a move. After 12 months, it's returned to the sender with the new address attached (if available). This is the most forgiving class for address accuracy.
USPS Marketing Mail (Bulk / Standard)
Marketing Mail is not forwarded. If the address is undeliverable, the piece is discarded by the USPS. The mailer does not receive a return or notification unless they have paid for Address Service Requested (ACS) endorsement. This is why list hygiene is critical for Marketing Mail.
Periodicals
Periodicals (magazines, newspapers) are forwarded for 60 days at no extra charge. After that, the publisher receives an address correction notice. Publishers must keep their subscriber lists current to maintain eligibility for Periodicals rates.
EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail)
EDDM is addressed to "Postal Customer" — not to individuals. It's delivered to every active address on a carrier route regardless of who lives there. Forwarding is not applicable since there's no named recipient.
NCOA: The Solution to Stale Addresses
NCOA (National Change of Address) is a USPS database containing every permanent change-of-address filed in the last 48 months — roughly 160 million records. Processing your mailing list through NCOA matches your addresses against this database and updates any that have moved.
Why NCOA Processing Matters
All bulk mailings must be processed through a USPS-approved NCOA provider within 95 days of the mailing date.
Removing or updating undeliverable addresses means you're not paying postage to send mail that will never arrive.
Updated addresses mean more pieces reach actual recipients — improving your campaign response rate and ROI.
Every undeliverable piece wastes paper, ink, and postage. NCOA processing is the single biggest step toward a zero-waste mailing.
Address Service Endorsements
Mailers can print an endorsement line on their mail piece to tell the USPS how to handle undeliverable mail. Each endorsement has different rules and fees:
| Endorsement | First-Class | Marketing Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Address Service Requested | Forwarded; new address sent to mailer | Not forwarded; address correction sent; piece discarded |
| Return Service Requested | Not forwarded; returned with new address | Not forwarded; piece returned to sender |
| Change Service Requested | Not forwarded; electronic correction sent; piece discarded | Not forwarded; electronic correction sent; piece discarded |
| No endorsement | Forwarded; no notification | Not forwarded; discarded; no notification |
We Handle NCOA for Every Mailing
Every mailing list we process goes through NCOA, CASS, and DPV verification. We'll clean your list, update moved addresses, and flag undeliverables — included in our standard mailing service.
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