Send a PDF in the mail

PDF stands for Portable Document Format, and the name describes its key benefit: portability. A PDF looks the same on any device, any operating system, any printer. The layout is fixed at creation time and preserved through every step of the journey.

When you create a document in Word, Google Docs, or any other word processor, the layout depends on factors outside your control: which fonts are installed, what the default margins are, how the application interprets formatting. Open the same document on a different computer and it might look different. Print it on a different printer and the pages might break differently.

A PDF eliminates this variability. When you export to PDF, you are essentially creating a snapshot of exactly how the document looks. Fonts are embedded. Margins are fixed. Page breaks are locked in. Whether the PDF is opened on a Mac, a PC, a phone, or sent to a professional printer, it will look the same.

This consistency is why legal documents, contracts, invoices, and formal correspondence often use PDF format. You create the document once, format it exactly how you want, and know that every recipient sees exactly what you intended.

A well-prepared PDF produces a well-printed letter. Before uploading, take a moment to check your document for common issues that can affect print quality.

Page size matters. Standard US letter size is 8.5 by 11 inches. If your PDF uses a different page size, like A4 or legal, it may be scaled or cropped to fit standard paper. For best results, create or export your document at letter size.

Margins should be generous enough that content is not cut off during printing and envelope handling. A minimum of half inch margins on all sides is safe. Important content should not go to the edge of the page.

Check your page breaks, especially for multi-page documents. Content that flows across pages can break awkwardly if you are not careful. Preview the PDF and make sure each page stands alone sensibly.

For documents with images or graphics, consider file size. Very large images can bloat PDF size. MappyMail accepts PDFs up to 5MB, which is plenty for most documents, but extremely image-heavy files might need optimization.

Contracts and agreements are natural candidates for PDF mailing. You draft the contract in your preferred word processor, format it professionally, and need to get a physical copy to the other party. Maybe they need to sign and return it. Maybe you want a formal paper record of what was sent.

Invoices and billing statements work well as PDFs. You generate the invoice in your accounting software, export it as a PDF, and need to mail it to a client who prefers paper or does not respond to email. The formatting stays crisp and professional.

Legal notices and formal correspondence benefit from PDF precision. When wording and formatting matter, when the document might be referenced later, when you want the physical letter to look as professional as possible, PDF is the right choice.

Personal documents that you have already created, like letters of recommendation, reference letters, or formal personal correspondence, can be mailed as PDFs rather than recreated in an online editor. If you have the document, upload it and mail it.

Multi-page documents are much easier to handle as PDFs than to retype. A ten-page report, a lengthy legal filing, a comprehensive proposal: upload the PDF and let MappyMail handle the printing rather than copying everything into an online form.

When you upload a PDF to MappyMail, the service processes it for printing. Your document is printed as-is, with your formatting preserved, on standard letter paper.

Because MappyMail uses windowed envelopes to display the recipient address, uploaded PDFs receive a cover sheet. This cover sheet contains the formatted recipient address and your return address if you include one, positioned to appear in the envelope window. Your PDF pages follow the cover sheet.

This approach means your carefully formatted document is not altered with address information printed over your content. The cover sheet handles the envelope addressing, and your PDF prints exactly as you created it.

You can preview the result before paying. The preview shows how the cover sheet looks and confirms that your PDF uploaded correctly. This is your chance to verify everything looks right before committing.

MappyMail offers both color and black and white printing. The choice affects both appearance and cost.

Black and white printing is appropriate for most text-based documents: contracts, letters, notices, correspondence. If your document is primarily text with no color graphics, black and white prints cleanly and costs less.

Color printing is useful when your document includes color graphics, charts, photographs, or branded elements where color matters. Marketing materials, illustrated documents, or anything where visual presentation is important benefits from color.

Consider your audience and purpose. A legal notice does not need color. A business proposal with your company branding might look more professional in color. An invoice with a color logo works either way but looks polished in color.

If you are unsure, preview both options if available, or default to the choice that matches your document content. Documents that were created in black and white obviously do not benefit from color printing.

MappyMail accepts PDF files up to 5MB in size with a maximum of 60 pages. These limits accommodate the vast majority of documents people need to mail.

Most text-based documents, even multi-page contracts and reports, are well under 5MB. File size mainly becomes an issue with image-heavy documents like photo collections or heavily illustrated materials.

If your PDF exceeds 5MB, you can often reduce it by optimizing images or using PDF compression tools available online. Many PDF creators also offer options to reduce file size during export.

If your document exceeds 60 pages, consider whether it needs to be sent as a single mailing or could be split into multiple letters. For very long documents, physical mail might not be the most practical delivery method.

Mailing a PDF the traditional way means printing it at home or at a copy shop, buying an appropriately sized envelope, addressing the envelope by hand or with a printed label, affixing the correct postage, and physically mailing it.

If you have a working printer with paper loaded and ink available, this is straightforward. But many people do not print regularly. Printers sit unused until ink dries out. Paper runs out and is not restocked. The nearest copy shop might require a trip.

MappyMail eliminates all of that. Upload the PDF, confirm the address, pay. The service prints on professional equipment, envelopes the result, applies correct postage, and mails it. You never touch paper, never buy an envelope, never figure out postage.

The tradeoff is cost versus convenience. DIY printing is cheaper if you already have working supplies. MappyMail is faster and more convenient if you do not. For occasional senders without reliable printing setups, the online option often makes more sense.

The workflow is designed to be fast and intuitive. Start by preparing your PDF document. Make sure it is formatted correctly, sized appropriately, and saved on your device.

Open MappyMail and search for the recipient address using the map. Confirm the location visually and verify the formatted address looks correct.

Upload your PDF file. The service processes it and shows a preview of how the cover sheet and your document will look when printed.

Choose your print options: color or black and white. Add a return address if you want one, or leave it blank for anonymous sending.

Review the total price, which is shown before payment. Pay using your preferred method. After payment, MappyMail handles printing and mailing, and your PDF is on its way as a physical letter.