Black Postcards

What are black postcards?

A black postcard is a postcard printed on stock that is black all the way through, not white card with black ink laid on top. At 4OVER4 black postcards print on 32pt to 80pt Midnite Black uncoated paper in 14 sizes, using white ink or CMYK plus white so the design shows up bright against the dark surface.

Most postcards start life white. A black postcard starts black, right down to the core of the paper, so the surface, the back and the cut edge all read as a deep matte black. That is why the printing works in reverse. Instead of dark ink on light paper, you lay bright white ink, or CMYK boosted with a white base, onto a black sheet, and the artwork glows against it. The result feels less like a mailer and more like a luxury invitation or announcement. If you want a lighter, everyday postcard instead, the Standard Postcards cover that, and the black version sits right beside it as the one that stands out in a stack.

What sizes do black postcards come in?

4OVER4 black postcards come in 14 set sizes, from a 2.5 by 2.5 inch square up to a 6 by 11 inch panel, and you can also set a custom size. Classic mailer sizes like 4 by 6, 5 by 7 and 6 by 9 inch are all here, alongside square and jumbo formats.

Fourteen sizes cover a lot of ground. The compact 2.5 by 2.5 and 3 by 3 inch squares work as luxe mini cards or gift enclosures. The classic mailer sizes are here too, including 4 by 6, 4.25 by 6.25, 5 by 7 and 5.5 by 8.5 inch. And when you want the black to dominate a table or a mailbox, step up to 6 by 8, 6 by 9 or the full 6 by 11 inch. Need something in between? Set a custom size and the price follows the dimensions you pick. All 14 sizes, both ink coverages and the full stock list are grouped below exactly the way the live configurator presents them, so you know what you can change before you change it.

Already have your artwork? Skip the editor and download a press-ready blank instead. Each blank postcard template is built at the real trim size with the bleed and safe margin already drawn in, so your design never crowds the cut. Grab the size that matches your order below, drop your art in, and upload.

How much do black postcards cost?

Black postcards start at $25.60 for 50 at 4OVER4. The price scales across 15 quantity tiers up to 5,000, so a larger run lowers the per-card cost. A heavier stock, painted edges, a hardcopy proof or a rush turnaround adjust the total, and the configurator shows the exact number before you order.

The entry price is $25.60 for 50 black postcards. Scale up and the math improves fast: 100 run $42.51, 300 run $93.37, 500 run $143.12, and 1,000 land at $269.87. There are 15 tiers in all, climbing to 5,000 for a full campaign. So how many do you actually need? Drag the slider below to set your count and watch both the set total and the true per-card cost update live, and find the point where one more step up barely moves the budget.

What stock and ink do black postcards use?

4OVER4 prints black postcards on Midnite Black uncoated stock in 4 weights: 32pt, 48pt, 64pt and 80pt, all black through the core. Ink prints as 1/0 white front, 1/1 white both sides, 5/0 CMYK plus white front, or 5/5 CMYK plus white on both sides, so color stays vivid on the dark sheet.

The paper is the point here. Every weight is Midnite Black uncoated, a sheet that is black to the core, so the thicker you go the more substantial the card feels in the hand. The default 32pt is already a solid postcard, and stepping through 48pt and 64pt to the 80pt gives you a card that reads almost like a black chip. For ink, white is your workhorse: 1/0 prints white on the front with a blank back, and 1/1 puts white on both sides. When you want real color, 5/0 and 5/5 add full CMYK over a white base, so photos and bright brand colors pop instead of sinking into the black. For a softer premium hand in a lighter color, the Soft Touch Postcards and the natural Kraft Postcards print the same way on their own colored stocks.

Can you add painted edges to a black postcard?

Yes. 4OVER4 black postcards offer optional edge painting in more than 20 colors, from cyan, magenta and yellow to metallic gold, metallic silver, fluorescent pink and a custom color mix. Edge painting is a flat $150 add-on that lines the cut edge of the card with a band of color and adds a small amount of production time.

This is the detail that turns a black postcard into a keepsake. Because the stock is thick and black straight through, the cut edge is a visible black band, and painting it adds a stripe of color that frames the whole card. Choose a bright fluorescent pink or sky blue for a modern pop, a metallic gold or copper for a luxury feel, or a custom color mix to match a brand exactly. It is a flat $150 add-on no matter the quantity, so the more cards you order the less the painted edge costs per card. Want the effect on other stocks too? The Edge Painted Postcards range carries the same finish across lighter papers.

How do black postcards compare to other postcards?

Black postcards are the pick when you want the paper itself to carry the drama, but they are not your only move. If you are weighing a natural kraft, a soft touch coating or a heavier stock, it helps to see the trade-off in plain numbers. The chart below lines up black postcards against their closest siblings so you can compare the starting price on each before you choose.

See finished black postcards

Words only go so far. Want to see how the stock, the white ink and a painted edge come together on a real card? The gallery below collects work our own customers printed in house, across different sizes and finishes, so you can borrow ideas and see how a design actually reads on a black sheet. Tap any print to see it larger.

How fast can you get black postcards printed?

4OVER4 prints black postcards on a standard 6 business day turnaround, with paid rush options at 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 business days. For proofing you can go straight to production, request a free online proof, or add a next day hardcopy proof. You pick both the speed and the proof in the configurator.

The standard turnaround is 6 business days, and it keeps the price lowest. When a date is closing in, five rush steps buy back time for a set fee each, from $15 for 5 business days up to $35 for 1 business day. On proofing, most orders run straight to production to save time, but a free online proof lets you sign off on the layout before it prints, and a next day hardcopy proof adds $75 to ship a physical sample so you can hold the real black stock first. 99.8% of 4OVER4 orders arrive on time and 82% ship early, so the date you pick is one you can plan around.

See the rest of our postcards

Black postcards are one stop in a much larger lineup, and you can scan the full postcards printing range any time. If a natural kraft, a soft touch coating or a heavier stock would serve you better, the rest of the family is one tap away. Each option shows its own starting price and links straight to its product page, so finding the right fit takes seconds.

Print your black postcards today

At 4OVER4.COM, quality comes first, and it's backed by a satisfaction guarantee and 25+ years of printing since 1999. Whatever size, stock weight or ink coverage you pick, these black postcards are built to feel substantial in a hand and stand out in any stack. Add a painted edge for a keepsake finish, and when a deadline is close, rush production keeps you covered. Print your black postcards today.