GITNUXREPORT 2025

Direct Mail Marketing Statistics

Majority prefer, trust, personalize, and respond to effective direct mail marketing.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

44% of marketers plan to increase their direct mail budget in the next year

Statistic 2

75% of Fortune 500 companies use direct mail as part of their marketing mix

Statistic 3

55% of small businesses plan to expand their direct mail campaigns in the next year

Statistic 4

28% of small businesses use direct mail as their primary marketing method

Statistic 5

70% of consumers say they look forward to getting mail from brands they love

Statistic 6

56% of consumers report that they find mail to be more personal than digital communications

Statistic 7

72% of consumers prefer direct mail when making purchasing decisions

Statistic 8

54% of consumers say they conduct online research after receiving a direct mail piece

Statistic 9

The average households receive approximately 41 direct mail pieces per month

Statistic 10

48% of direct mail recipients read or browse their mail the day it arrives

Statistic 11

91% of consumers say they access their mail daily

Statistic 12

60% of consumers feel that direct mail is more trustworthy than digital ads

Statistic 13

80% of Millennials prefer direct mail over email for receiving promotional content

Statistic 14

Direct mail recipients spend on average 30 minutes engaging with their mail

Statistic 15

69% of consumers say they are more likely to pick up mail that has engaging visuals or offers

Statistic 16

85% of consumers appreciate receiving personalized content

Statistic 17

50% of consumers say direct mail makes them more aware of new brands or products

Statistic 18

45% of consumers say they are more likely to purchase from a brand that offers a memorable unboxing or presentation via direct mail

Statistic 19

33% of direct mail recipients use mobile devices to scan QR codes on mailed offers, leading to immediate online engagement

Statistic 20

78% of consumers say receiving an exclusive offer via direct mail makes them more loyal to a brand

Statistic 21

77% of people find direct mail to be a more trustworthy source than digital ads

Statistic 22

54% of consumers say they prefer receiving catalogs and brochures via direct mail over digital formats

Statistic 23

61% of consumers find direct mail more trustworthy than email

Statistic 24

46% of consumers are more likely to engage with direct mail campaigns that include augmented reality (AR) elements

Statistic 25

Direct mail has a 4.4% response rate compared to email’s 0.12%

Statistic 26

Businesses see an average ROI of 29% from direct mail campaigns

Statistic 27

78% of customers claim that receiving a personalized offer in the mail increases their purchase likelihood

Statistic 28

Millennials are 2 times more likely to convert via direct mail than via digital channels alone

Statistic 29

39% of consumers have purchased a product after receiving a direct mail offer

Statistic 30

The average cost per lead for direct mail is $58, compared to $120 for digital channels

Statistic 31

42% of consumers have made an online purchase in response to a direct mail piece

Statistic 32

70% of shoppers use coupons and discounts received via direct mail

Statistic 33

65% of consumers say they are more likely to respond to a personalized direct mail package

Statistic 34

65% of marketers say that integrating direct mail with digital marketing improves campaign performance

Statistic 35

The open rate for direct mail is approximately 90%, much higher than emails which typically have a 20-30% open rate

Statistic 36

66% of direct mail campaigns include a call-to-action, increasing response rates

Statistic 37

The response rate for targeted direct mail campaigns is 2-3%, compared to 0.5% for untargeted campaigns

Statistic 38

72% of marketers believe that direct mail delivers a stronger emotional connection than digital media

Statistic 39

80% of direct mail campaigns are acknowledged within the first week of receipt

Statistic 40

82% of consumers say they are likely to keep a piece of direct mail that includes a discount or special offer for future reference

Statistic 41

68% of marketers believe direct mail is more effective at driving foot traffic to physical stores than digital advertising

Statistic 42

40% of consumers have made an online purchase because of a piece of direct mail received

Statistic 43

The average ROI for direct mail campaigns is $12 for every dollar spent, making it one of the most cost-effective marketing channels

Statistic 44

45% of consumers say they respond to direct mail when it contains a personalized message

Statistic 45

58% of marketers say that integrating direct mail with digital campaigns increases overall campaign effectiveness

Statistic 46

74% of direct mail recipients have taken action within a week of receiving mail

Statistic 47

52% of consumers say that receiving a timely direct mail piece influences their purchase decision

Statistic 48

63% of marketers plan to include more personalization in their upcoming direct mail efforts

Statistic 49

67% of companies personalize their direct mail campaigns to improve response rates

Slide 1 of 49

Sources

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Key Highlights

70% of consumers say they look forward to getting mail from brands they love
Direct mail has a 4.4% response rate compared to email’s 0.12%
56% of consumers report that they find mail to be more personal than digital communications
72% of consumers prefer direct mail when making purchasing decisions
Businesses see an average ROI of 29% from direct mail campaigns
54% of consumers say they conduct online research after receiving a direct mail piece
78% of customers claim that receiving a personalized offer in the mail increases their purchase likelihood
44% of marketers plan to increase their direct mail budget in the next year
The average households receive approximately 41 direct mail pieces per month
48% of direct mail recipients read or browse their mail the day it arrives
Millennials are 2 times more likely to convert via direct mail than via digital channels alone
91% of consumers say they access their mail daily
39% of consumers have purchased a product after receiving a direct mail offer

Did you know that 70% of consumers look forward to receiving mail from their favorite brands, and direct mail boasts a staggering 4.4% response rate—far surpassing email’s 0.12%—making it a powerful, personal, and highly effective marketing tool that brands are increasingly investing in?

Business Adoption and Investment in Direct Mail

44% of marketers plan to increase their direct mail budget in the next year
75% of Fortune 500 companies use direct mail as part of their marketing mix
55% of small businesses plan to expand their direct mail campaigns in the next year
28% of small businesses use direct mail as their primary marketing method

Business Adoption and Investment in Direct Mail Interpretation

With nearly half of marketers boosting their direct mail budgets and three-quarters of Fortune 500 companies embracing it, there’s no mailing it in—direct mail continues to deliver a tangible edge in an increasingly digital world.

Consumer Preferences and Behavior

70% of consumers say they look forward to getting mail from brands they love
56% of consumers report that they find mail to be more personal than digital communications
72% of consumers prefer direct mail when making purchasing decisions
54% of consumers say they conduct online research after receiving a direct mail piece
The average households receive approximately 41 direct mail pieces per month
48% of direct mail recipients read or browse their mail the day it arrives
91% of consumers say they access their mail daily
60% of consumers feel that direct mail is more trustworthy than digital ads
80% of Millennials prefer direct mail over email for receiving promotional content
Direct mail recipients spend on average 30 minutes engaging with their mail
69% of consumers say they are more likely to pick up mail that has engaging visuals or offers
85% of consumers appreciate receiving personalized content
50% of consumers say direct mail makes them more aware of new brands or products
45% of consumers say they are more likely to purchase from a brand that offers a memorable unboxing or presentation via direct mail
33% of direct mail recipients use mobile devices to scan QR codes on mailed offers, leading to immediate online engagement
78% of consumers say receiving an exclusive offer via direct mail makes them more loyal to a brand
77% of people find direct mail to be a more trustworthy source than digital ads
54% of consumers say they prefer receiving catalogs and brochures via direct mail over digital formats
61% of consumers find direct mail more trustworthy than email
46% of consumers are more likely to engage with direct mail campaigns that include augmented reality (AR) elements

Consumer Preferences and Behavior Interpretation

With nearly three-quarters of consumers trusting and engaging more deeply with mail that’s personal, visual, and even augmented, it’s clear that in an era of digital overload, direct mail remains the most trustworthy and effective way for brands to turn a message into a memorable experience.

Direct Mail Effectiveness and Response Rates

Direct mail has a 4.4% response rate compared to email’s 0.12%
Businesses see an average ROI of 29% from direct mail campaigns
78% of customers claim that receiving a personalized offer in the mail increases their purchase likelihood
Millennials are 2 times more likely to convert via direct mail than via digital channels alone
39% of consumers have purchased a product after receiving a direct mail offer
The average cost per lead for direct mail is $58, compared to $120 for digital channels
42% of consumers have made an online purchase in response to a direct mail piece
70% of shoppers use coupons and discounts received via direct mail
65% of consumers say they are more likely to respond to a personalized direct mail package
65% of marketers say that integrating direct mail with digital marketing improves campaign performance
The open rate for direct mail is approximately 90%, much higher than emails which typically have a 20-30% open rate
66% of direct mail campaigns include a call-to-action, increasing response rates
The response rate for targeted direct mail campaigns is 2-3%, compared to 0.5% for untargeted campaigns
72% of marketers believe that direct mail delivers a stronger emotional connection than digital media
80% of direct mail campaigns are acknowledged within the first week of receipt
82% of consumers say they are likely to keep a piece of direct mail that includes a discount or special offer for future reference
68% of marketers believe direct mail is more effective at driving foot traffic to physical stores than digital advertising
40% of consumers have made an online purchase because of a piece of direct mail received
The average ROI for direct mail campaigns is $12 for every dollar spent, making it one of the most cost-effective marketing channels
45% of consumers say they respond to direct mail when it contains a personalized message
58% of marketers say that integrating direct mail with digital campaigns increases overall campaign effectiveness
74% of direct mail recipients have taken action within a week of receiving mail
52% of consumers say that receiving a timely direct mail piece influences their purchase decision

Direct Mail Effectiveness and Response Rates Interpretation

With a response rate nearly 37 times higher than email's and an ROI of $12 per dollar spent—plus a 90% open rate and a personal touch that fosters emotional connections—direct mail proves that sometimes, going old school is the most cutting-edge strategy in modern marketing.

Marketing Strategies and Campaign Personalization

63% of marketers plan to include more personalization in their upcoming direct mail efforts
67% of companies personalize their direct mail campaigns to improve response rates

Marketing Strategies and Campaign Personalization Interpretation

With over two-thirds of companies tailoring their direct mail to boost response rates, it's clear that in the race for consumer attention, one-size-fits-all is quickly becoming a thing of the past.