Blog
Direct Mail Volume & Trends Report: H1 2026
Direct marketers remained highly active through the first half of 2026, mailing more than 15.1 billion pieces of direct mail between January and June. While total volume was relatively stable compared to the first half of 2025, marketers continued to rely on mail as a primary channel for customer acquisition and retention.
Key Direct Mail Trends from H1 2026
Credit card marketers generated the highest volume during H1 2026, mailing more than 2.8 billion pieces and accounting for nearly one-fifth of all direct mail. Consumer services followed with approximately 2.45 billion pieces, while insurance marketers delivered 2.43 billion pieces. Mortgage and loan companies mailed more than 2.2 billion pieces, and retail brands rounded out the top five at 1.63 billion pieces.
Personalization continues to be a core component of direct mail strategy. More than 67% of mail pieces were personalized, and marketers overwhelmingly favored envelope formats, which represented nearly 72% of all direct mail packages. These trends suggest brands are balancing personalization with efficient production and mailing costs.
Many sectors experienced notable changes from H1 2025 to H1 2026. Travel and leisure volume increased 9.1%, making it one of the fastest-growing industries in the mailbox. Insurance volume rose 6.4%, while credit card mail remained essentially flat, increasing slightly by 0.8%. At the same time, automotive, nonprofit, and investment marketers reduced mail activity compared with the first half of 2025.
The infographic below shares additional information on H1 2026 direct mail performance.
*Volume projections are based on a stratified sampling scheme that ensures a balanced calculation, representative of the US Census across different age groups, geographical locations, income levels, and home ownership status.
You can find more direct marketing resources and industry insights on our blog, including the problem with direct mail automation, and our most recent direct mail report.
