Blog | Integra Graphics Synergy

Why Co-Mailing Makes Sense (Especially Now)

Written by Kerry Lodish | Nov 18, 2025 9:26:13 PM

Why Co-Mailing Makes Sense (Especially Now)

If you depend on catalogs, publications, or large-volume direct mail, the rapid rise in postage costs can feel like a tightening vise. Budgets are harder to predict, mailing schedules are less forgiving, and every small inefficiency shows up in your bottom line.

At Integra Print & Promo, we work with several organizations navigating these exact pressures. One question keeps coming up: Is there a smart way to reduce postage costs without adding days to delivery?

Co-mailing is often the answer. In this guide, you’ll learn what co-mailing is, how it works, when it’s a fit, and how much you can realistically save—so you can make an informed, numbers-driven mailing decision.

What Is Co-Mailing? 

Co-mailing is a process that combines multiple catalog or magazine titles into one larger, more efficient mail stream.


By pooling mailings, the combined volume qualifies for deeper USPS presort and automation discounts—savings most organizations can’t unlock on their own.

Why co-mailing matters

  • Achieves higher qualification for carrier-route and automation discounts

  • Enables drop-ship entry at NDC, SCF, and ADC levels

  • Provides economies of scale typically unavailable to individual mailers

  • Reduces postage spend without sacrificing consistency or quality

In plain English: Co-mailing gets your mail deeper into the USPS system at a lower cost—without slowing your delivery.

How Co-Mailing Works

Co-mailing is straightforward, but it relies on coordination and volume. Here’s the simplified breakdown.

Regular mail pools keep schedules predictable

Most co-mail pools run twice per week, making it easy for catalogers and publishers to align production schedules without disrupting campaigns.

The larger the pool, the bigger the savings

More combined volume means more pieces qualify for the highest USPS discount tiers.

Your only incremental cost is inbound freight

Your mail must be delivered to the co-mail facility.
The good news?

  • Freight is typically modest.

  • Integra negotiates competitive inbound rates.

  • In most cases, postage savings far outweigh freight costs.

To learn how freight and forwarding work across your campaigns, explore our Mailing Services page.

Does Co-Mailing Slow Down Delivery?

No—co-mailing usually maintains or improves in-home dates.

Because co-mailed jobs are delivered deeper into the postal network (NDC/SCF entry), USPS handling time decreases.

Most clients see:

  • Equal or better in-home consistency

  • Shorter variability windows

  • More predictable delivery around promotions and launches

For organizations tracking performance through tools like our SynergyMail address validation and tracking solution, the improved consistency is noticeable.

Is Co-Mailing Right for You?

Co-mailing works best for organizations with consistent mail volumes and predictable campaign windows. Here’s how to decide.

A great fit for:

  • Catalogers (monthly, quarterly, or seasonal)

  • Membership publications

  • Magazines and recurring content

  • Regional or national mailers

  • Campaigns with flexible in-home windows

A possible fit:

  • Seasonal promotional mailings

  • Event-driven mailers that can align with weekly pools

  • Companies evaluating alternatives to full truckload drop-shipping

Not ideal for:

  • Mailers with rigid, non-negotiable in-home dates

  • Ultra-short production cycles

  • One-off mailings needing same-week entry

If your deadlines are tight but not immovable, co-mailing may still be viable—our team can help evaluate the timing.

What Integra Evaluates Before Recommending Co-Mailing

Before we recommend a co-mailing approach, we conduct a full technical and financial review of your mailing. This includes:

  • Trim size, page count, paper stock, ink, and binding method

  • Print quantities and mail frequency

  • Your current entry strategy (NDC, SCF, ADC)

  • Target in-home windows

  • Current postage vs. projected co-mail savings using multiple scenarios

This evaluation allows you to see—in real numbers—whether co-mailing is the right move.

Examples of Real Co-Mailing Outcomes

Mid-size cataloger: Double-digit postage savings

A retailer mailing 150,000–250,000 catalogs per drop shifted to co-mail. Results:

  • Double-digit postage reduction

  • Improved in-home consistency

  • More predictable production scheduling

Quarterly publication: Predictable pools = stable budgets

A nonprofit with quarterly publications joined twice-weekly pools. The outcome:

  • Smoother editorial cycles

  • Lower postage variability

  • Better long-term forecasting

These results are common because volume drives postal efficiency—and co-mailing gives smaller mailers access to big-mailer savings.

How Integra Simplifies Co-Mailing

Working with Integra means you get a partner who handles the details for you. Our team:

  • Scopes your project specifications

  • Matches you to the right co-mail pool

  • Coordinates inbound freight to the consolidation facility

  • Manages presort, drop-ship, and USPS documentation

  • Provides clear postage-savings estimates upfront

  • Delivers post-drop performance reports for tracking and ROI

For organizations juggling multiple campaigns or suppliers, this coordination removes operational friction and reduces hidden costs.

Your Next Steps

If you want to understand exactly how much you can save, we can run a quick estimate using your most recent mailing.

Conclusion (4 R's)

Resolution

Co-mailing is one of the most reliable, cost-efficient ways to reduce postage while maintaining or improving delivery speed.

Remind

With postage costs rising and lead times tightening, continuing to mail the same way can put your budget and campaign performance at risk.

Relevant Next Step

Your most logical next move is to compare your current postage strategy to a co-mailing scenario. A quick estimate will show whether co-mailing aligns with your formats, budgets, and timing.

Reintroduction

At Integra Print & Promo, we help organizations like yours evaluate mailing options based on data—not guesswork. If you want clarity on your savings and scheduling, we’re here to help you run the numbers.