GITNUXREPORT 2025

Direct Mail Response Statistics

Direct mail outperforms digital with higher response, ROI, and personalization benefits.

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

The response rate for direct mail is approximately 4.9%, compared to 0.6% for email

Statistic 2

Direct mail has a 29% higher response rate than digital channels

Statistic 3

About 49% of direct mail recipients act within 24 hours of receiving a mailing

Statistic 4

The average open rate for direct mail campaigns is 88%

Statistic 5

The average response rate for direct mail in B2B marketing is 2.9%

Statistic 6

The average conversion rate for direct mail is 4.4%

Statistic 7

The best performing direct mail campaigns have a response rate of over 8%

Statistic 8

67% of direct mail campaigns are delivered to new prospects

Statistic 9

When tested against digital, direct mail generates a 30% higher customer engagement rate

Statistic 10

Multi-channel campaigns including direct mail have on average 28% higher response rates

Statistic 11

53% of consumers have made purchases as a direct result of direct mail campaigns

Statistic 12

The average lifetime value of a customer acquired via direct mail is 13% higher than other channels

Statistic 13

83% of direct mail recipients are likely to read and respond if the offer is personalized

Statistic 14

72% of businesses say direct mail improves customer retention

Statistic 15

The use of variable data printing increases direct mail response rates by 40%

Statistic 16

49% of marketers report that their direct mail campaigns have a response rate over 5%

Statistic 17

84% of consumers say they are more likely to open a personalized piece of direct mail

Statistic 18

58% of direct mail campaigns include personalized offers or messages

Statistic 19

The open rate for postcards in direct mail is 97%, significantly higher than other formats

Statistic 20

80% of consumers recall the name of a company from their direct mail within two days

Statistic 21

The average lifespan of a direct mail piece is 17 days, increasing chances of engagement over digital ads

Statistic 22

The average response time for direct mail campaigns is 2.5 days, allowing quick conversion

Statistic 23

54% of consumers prefer direct mail for company communications

Statistic 24

70% of Millennials say they prefer direct mail over email for promos or offers

Statistic 25

80% of consumers bring in or use coupons received via direct mail

Statistic 26

77% of consumers want to receive mail from brands they love

Statistic 27

Consumers are 4.4 times more likely to share direct mail than digital

Statistic 28

70% of Americans say they find mail more personal than email

Statistic 29

59% of consumers say they prefer to receive offers via direct mail

Statistic 30

81% of recipients scan their mail immediately upon opening

Statistic 31

95% of adults receive postal mail, making it a universal marketing channel

Statistic 32

62% of millennials prefer direct mail for coupons and deals

Statistic 33

68% of consumers say direct mail is easier to understand than digital ads

Statistic 34

26% of Americans read or scan their mail right away

Statistic 35

61% of U.S. consumers say receiving mail influences brand awareness

Statistic 36

87% of consumers log into their mailboxes daily, facilitating prompt responses

Statistic 37

65% of people say they open their mail immediately, increasing the chances of engagement

Statistic 38

91% of consumers say they find direct mail useful for making purchase decisions

Statistic 39

66% of direct mail recipients use their mobile devices to respond or engage further

Statistic 40

57% of consumers prefer receiving direct mail over digital ads

Statistic 41

91% of marketers say direct mail provides a better emotional connection than digital channels

Statistic 42

91% of adults read or scan their direct mail regularly, making it an effective channel for message delivery

Statistic 43

The average ROI for direct mail is 13:1, meaning for every dollar spent, $13 is generated in return

Statistic 44

58% of marketers report that direct mail provides the highest ROI among marketing channels

Statistic 45

77% of organizations plan to increase their direct mail budgets in the next year

Statistic 46

The average cost per lead generated via direct mail is approximately $56, lower than many digital channels

Statistic 47

The average cost per thousand (CPM) for direct mail is approximately $150, making it cost-effective for targeted marketing

Statistic 48

The ROI on direct mail is highest among small-to-medium sized businesses, with an average of 14:1

Statistic 49

65% of direct mail campaigns include QR codes to measure response and engagement

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Sources

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Key Highlights

The response rate for direct mail is approximately 4.9%, compared to 0.6% for email
54% of consumers prefer direct mail for company communications
Direct mail has a 29% higher response rate than digital channels
70% of Millennials say they prefer direct mail over email for promos or offers
80% of consumers bring in or use coupons received via direct mail
The average ROI for direct mail is 13:1, meaning for every dollar spent, $13 is generated in return
77% of consumers want to receive mail from brands they love
Consumers are 4.4 times more likely to share direct mail than digital
About 49% of direct mail recipients act within 24 hours of receiving a mailing
70% of Americans say they find mail more personal than email
59% of consumers say they prefer to receive offers via direct mail
81% of recipients scan their mail immediately upon opening
The average open rate for direct mail campaigns is 88%

Did you know that despite the rise of digital marketing, direct mail boasts a staggering 4.9% response rate—nearly eight times higher than email—and delivers a remarkable 13:1 ROI, making it the most effective way to connect with consumers in today’s cluttered inboxes?

Campaign Effectiveness and Response Rates

The response rate for direct mail is approximately 4.9%, compared to 0.6% for email
Direct mail has a 29% higher response rate than digital channels
About 49% of direct mail recipients act within 24 hours of receiving a mailing
The average open rate for direct mail campaigns is 88%
The average response rate for direct mail in B2B marketing is 2.9%
The average conversion rate for direct mail is 4.4%
The best performing direct mail campaigns have a response rate of over 8%
67% of direct mail campaigns are delivered to new prospects
When tested against digital, direct mail generates a 30% higher customer engagement rate
Multi-channel campaigns including direct mail have on average 28% higher response rates
53% of consumers have made purchases as a direct result of direct mail campaigns
The average lifetime value of a customer acquired via direct mail is 13% higher than other channels
83% of direct mail recipients are likely to read and respond if the offer is personalized
72% of businesses say direct mail improves customer retention
The use of variable data printing increases direct mail response rates by 40%
49% of marketers report that their direct mail campaigns have a response rate over 5%
84% of consumers say they are more likely to open a personalized piece of direct mail
58% of direct mail campaigns include personalized offers or messages
The open rate for postcards in direct mail is 97%, significantly higher than other formats
80% of consumers recall the name of a company from their direct mail within two days
The average lifespan of a direct mail piece is 17 days, increasing chances of engagement over digital ads
The average response time for direct mail campaigns is 2.5 days, allowing quick conversion

Campaign Effectiveness and Response Rates Interpretation

While email may be the digital darling with its low-cost convenience, direct mail's impressive open rates, near-instantaneous responses, and a personalized touch that 83% of recipients respond to prove that in the race for engagement, tradition still delivers a personalized punch—making it clear that in marketing, sometimes the old letter still wins over the fleeting click.

Consumer Preferences and Engagement

54% of consumers prefer direct mail for company communications
70% of Millennials say they prefer direct mail over email for promos or offers
80% of consumers bring in or use coupons received via direct mail
77% of consumers want to receive mail from brands they love
Consumers are 4.4 times more likely to share direct mail than digital
70% of Americans say they find mail more personal than email
59% of consumers say they prefer to receive offers via direct mail
81% of recipients scan their mail immediately upon opening
95% of adults receive postal mail, making it a universal marketing channel
62% of millennials prefer direct mail for coupons and deals
68% of consumers say direct mail is easier to understand than digital ads
26% of Americans read or scan their mail right away
61% of U.S. consumers say receiving mail influences brand awareness
87% of consumers log into their mailboxes daily, facilitating prompt responses
65% of people say they open their mail immediately, increasing the chances of engagement
91% of consumers say they find direct mail useful for making purchase decisions
66% of direct mail recipients use their mobile devices to respond or engage further
57% of consumers prefer receiving direct mail over digital ads
91% of marketers say direct mail provides a better emotional connection than digital channels
91% of adults read or scan their direct mail regularly, making it an effective channel for message delivery

Consumer Preferences and Engagement Interpretation

With nearly universal reach and a proven knack for capturing attention and fostering personal, emotional connections, direct mail proves that in a digital age, fostering tactile trust and immediate engagement remains the most effective marketing strategy—so perhaps it's time to dust off those mailboxes and see what your audience really values.

Cost and ROI Metrics

The average ROI for direct mail is 13:1, meaning for every dollar spent, $13 is generated in return
58% of marketers report that direct mail provides the highest ROI among marketing channels
77% of organizations plan to increase their direct mail budgets in the next year
The average cost per lead generated via direct mail is approximately $56, lower than many digital channels
The average cost per thousand (CPM) for direct mail is approximately $150, making it cost-effective for targeted marketing
The ROI on direct mail is highest among small-to-medium sized businesses, with an average of 14:1

Cost and ROI Metrics Interpretation

With an eye-popping 13:1 ROI and a growing budget share, direct mail proves that sometimes, old-school tactics still deliver more bang for your buck—especially for small and medium-sized businesses eager to mail their way to success.

Technological Integration and Trends

65% of direct mail campaigns include QR codes to measure response and engagement

Technological Integration and Trends Interpretation

With 65% of campaigns embracing QR codes to track engagement, it’s clear marketers are QR-aced—merging tradition with tech to decode consumer interest in an increasingly digital world.