Door Hangers vs. EDDM: Complete Comparison Guide
Compare cost, targeting, delivery speed, and response rates to choose the right marketing strategy for your business
When choosing between door hangers and EDDM (Every Door Direct Mail) for your local marketing campaign, understanding the key differences can save you thousands of dollars and dramatically improve your response rates. Both methods deliver physical marketing materials to residential doors, but they differ significantly in cost, targeting precision, delivery speed, and overall effectiveness.
Direct to Door Marketing has distributed over 500 million door hangers since 1995, giving us unique insight into how these two marketing channels perform across different industries and markets.
Whether you’re a restaurant owner targeting nearby neighborhoods, a home services company looking to dominate your service area, or a political campaign reaching voters efficiently, this guide provides the data-driven analysis you need.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Door Hangers | EDDM |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per piece | $0.08-$0.15 | $0.20-$0.40 |
| Targeting precision | Address-level | Carrier route only |
| Minimum quantity | No minimum | 200 pieces |
| Delivery timeframe | 5-10 days | 10-21 days |
| Tracking capability | GPS + AI verified | Limited |
| Visibility rate | 98%+ | 60-70% |
| Average response rate | 5-8% | 1-3% |
Cost Analysis: Door Hangers vs. EDDM
Understanding the complete cost breakdown is essential for calculating your marketing ROI. While EDDM might seem cheaper at first glance, hidden costs and inefficiencies quickly add up.
Door Hangers
- Distribution: $0.08-$0.15 per piece
- Printing: $0.03-$0.08 per piece
- Total for 10,000 pieces: $1,100-$2,300
- No special setup costs
EDDM
- Postage: $0.205 per piece
- Printing: 15-30% higher due to USPS requirements
- Total for 10,000 pieces: $2,550-$3,500
- Setup costs: $200-$500 for USPS compliance
Response Rate Comparison
Door hangers consistently outperform EDDM across all industries due to guaranteed visibility, precision targeting, and faster delivery.
Home Services
EDDM: 2-4% typical response rate
Restaurants & Food
EDDM: 2-5% for similar offers
Real Estate
EDDM: 1-3% for farming campaigns
Political Campaigns
EDDM: 4-8% for similar messaging
Industry-Specific Recommendations
Restaurants
Precise radius targeting, faster delivery, higher visibility
Home Services
Emergency services need speed; geographic precision crucial
Political Campaigns
Urgent messaging, targeted voter reach, verified delivery
Large Brand Awareness
Blanketing entire towns with generic messaging
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While EDDM postage alone ($0.205) may seem competitive, total costs including design restrictions, longer timelines, and wasted circulation make EDDM 25-40% more expensive per quality impression. Door hangers typically cost $0.11-$0.23 per piece total versus EDDM at $0.26-$0.35 per piece.
Door hanger campaigns typically complete in 5-10 days versus 10-21+ days for EDDM, making door hangers 2-3x faster for reaching customers.
Door hangers consistently generate 2-4x higher response rates across all industries. Typical door hanger response rates range from 5-8% compared to EDDM’s 1-3%, due to guaranteed visibility, precision targeting, and faster delivery.
No. EDDM requires selecting complete USPS carrier routes containing 500-1,000+ addresses with no ability to exclude specific homes. Door hangers provide address-level targeting precision, allowing you to target specific streets, neighborhoods, or custom geographic areas.
Make the Right Choice for Your Marketing Campaign
The data is clear: door hangers outperform EDDM in targeting precision, delivery speed, response rates, and cost-effectiveness for most local marketing campaigns.
Direct to Door Marketing has distributed over 500 million door hangers since 1995, with 15,370+ distributors covering 99% of U.S. cities.