The US Postal Service is specific about the placement of the clear mailing labels. For example if you have a single sheet folded edge top to bottom on a 75lb basis weight paper there is only 1 tab needed on the top center. This is considered a double postcard. If there is a 20lb basis weight paper then 2 are required starting from 1 inch in on either side along the top.

Clear labels are usually used when the marketing piece has color and print where the tap is placed. This prevents the marketing piece from losing its appeal to the customer and allows the customer to read through the clear mailing label. A frost mailing label is used most often due to cost and if the tab goes in a spot that does not block text on the mail piece.

Hand applied or machine applied these will provide the correct seal for sending product through the mail system. Mail houses will apply up to 3 of these mailing tabs to a catalog to hold the integrity of the media and prevent it from getting ripped or stuck in the mail sort machines. Both frost and clear are made of a material that can be easily torn, so opening the mail piece is never a problem.

Finally they come in a variety of sizes. The most common for mail houses are the frost 1.5” size and if you look at the mail items you receive on a daily basis, that is the size you will most likely find. This style of label is also used in that size to preserve the artistic design of the mail piece.