How Much Does It Cost to Print a Booklet?
Booklets are effective marketing, informational, and instructional tools. They come in all shapes and sizes, and you can customize them with full-color photos and other unique design extras. But, if you’re on a budget, you might ask yourself, how much does it cost to print a booklet? Booklet printing costs can vary depending on the quantity you need, page count, the binding you choose, and more. Keep reading because we’ll cover everything you need to know about booklet printing prices and how to get the best price for your next project.
Factors That Influence Booklet Printing Costs
From high-quality gloss stock to large page counts and durable binding, different factors like the look and assembly of your booklets can impact the price. Here’s a breakdown of each one.
Paper Type and Weight: How They Affect Booklet Printing Prices
If you’ve ever flipped through a booklet or catalog, then you know the pages can feel different. Some pages are heavier or lighter. While others come in thick, glossy stock or thinner, light-weight matte paper. The purpose of your booklet and the type of content it will contain will help you narrow down the selection.
Here are some of the most popular types of paper, finishes, and weights you’ll choose from:
Stock and Finishing
- Gloss finish (ideal for image-heavy, brightly-colored booklets)
- Matte finish (ideal for text-heavy booklets)
- Uncoated (aka, natural)
- Silk coated
- UV-Laminated coating (for covers only)
- House stock (exclusive to the printing company)
- Textured stock (linen, felt, etc.)
The weight of the paper for your booklet is measured in pounds (lbs) or grams per square meter (GSM) internationally. Generally speaking, the higher the number of pounds, the thicker/weightier the paper.
Weight
- 40 lb./150 GSM (excellent for lightweight booklets)
- 80 lb./216 GSM (a medium-weight paper for booklets)
- 100 lb./270 GSM (thicker and often used for more professional booklets and bound presentations or catalogs)
As for how the paper type can affect the booklet printing cost? Any combination of the above can impact the price of your booklet project. As a general rule of thumb, the thicker the paper and the more color images (and ink) you use, the more it can cost. So, it’s best to strike a balance between aesthetics and functionality.
The Impact of Page Count on Booklet Printing Costs
All other factors equal, the higher the page count could mean a higher-priced booklet. That’s because your booklet requires more stock to assemble and relatively more ink to print all those pages. Not to mention a higher number of binds and more labor to create your booklets, too!
Suppose you want to order one hundred, 6”x9” booklets with sixty, 80 lb. full-color pages and saddle stitch binding. Under this scenario, the cost per booklet will be $5.50. But what if we increase the number of pages to 92 yet leave the other design options the same? Now, each booklet will cost $11.88.
If you’re working with a limited budget, we recommend thinking through the content that must be in each booklet versus the content that would be nice to have but won’t matter in the end.
How Binding Methods Influence Printing Costs
Have you ever thought about what holds a booklet together? Binding plays a major role in your overall booklet printing cost. Whether you choose staples, adhesives, spiral rings, or other options, each has a different price point and serves a specific purpose, depending on how you plan to use the booklets.
Some of these materials are more durable and labor-intensive, contributing to the cost. For instance, if you’re trying to keep the cost low, then simple saddle stitching (staples) may work best. Or, if you need a more durable binding that can accommodate frequent use, then spiral or wire-O binding may fit the bill.
Here’s another scenario, like the page-count example above, where we compare a few different binding types to show how one over another can impact the price.
Saddle Stitching
- Page count: 72 pages (cover plus 68 inside pages)
- Paper type: 60 lb. uncoated
- Cover option: 80 lb. matte
- Size: 8.5” x 11”
- Ink: Inside and cover are full-color on both sides.
- Quantity: 250
Booklet printing cost: $8.74
Wire-O binding
- Page count: 72 pages
- Paper type: 60 lb. uncoated
- Cover option: 80 lb. matte
- Size: 8.5” x 11”
- Ink: Full color
- Quantity: 250
Booklet printing cost: $22.74
Remember, the binding you choose will affect usability and durability. While wire-O binding is more expensive than saddle stitching, it’s also super flexible, allowing for greater flexibility that stands the test of time.
Bulk Orders: How Quantity Lowers Your Booklet Printing Cost
Are you in need of 1000 booklets but worried about the cost? Unlike page count, the greater the quantity of booklets you need, the less the price you’ll shell out per booklet. The higher the number, the more efficient production, saving everyone money.
But what if, in the end, you only need 250 booklets? You can always go for a short-run printing for the booklets you need.
What might these price differences look like in practice? Consider the same quantities above – ordering 1000 booklets vs. 250 – and throw in a few more design features to see how an economy of scale (booklet printing costs edition) works!
1000 Booklets
- Page count: 80 pages
- Paper type: 60 lb. uncoated
- Cover option: 80 lb. matte, w/o cover finish
- Binding: Perfect bound
- Size: 5.5”x8.5”
- Ink: Full color
Booklet printing cost: $3.97 per unit
250 Booklets
- Page count: 80 pages
- Paper type: 60 lb. uncoated
- Cover option: 80 lb. matte, w/o cover finish
- Binding: Perfect bound
- Size: 5.5”x8.5”
- Ink: Full color
Booklet printing cost: $5.89 per unit
Customization Options and Their Effect on Booklet Prices
With the booklet design basics behind us, what if you’re after unique customization options for your booklet project? We all know content is king. So, customizing your booklets to reflect your brand is an ideal way to put your best face forward.
But at what cost?
That depends on how you want to customize your booklets. Embossing or foil stamping can add that brand-specific je ne sais quoi to your booklets. But if you’re working with a limited budget, these extras may not be at the top of your priority list because of the booklet printing costs.
Of course, not all customization options are purely aesthetic. Some will also add significant value to your booklets in other ways. For instance, choosing a UV high gloss or soft lamination cover will increase the lifespan of your booklets plus keep them stylish for years to come.
How to Estimate the Cost of Your Booklet Printing Project
Using a Cost Calculator
We’ve all heard about the viral girl math, but have you heard about booklet–printing-cost math? A top-tier online printing company will give you free access to a booklet cost calculator as you plan and design your booklet project.
A cost calculator will let you experiment and crunch numbers for a quick cost estimate of your booklets. You’ll be able to input the size, paper type, quantity, and more, giving you an accurate estimate per unit and overall cost with shipping.
When to Request a Custom Booklet Printing Quote
You know you want a customized and professional booklet at the end of the day. But, let’s face it – the last thing you’re feeling like is the Botticelli of booklet design. Creating a customized booklet isn’t everyone’s forté. Like anything else in our personal or professional lives, sometimes calling in a few reinforcements is best.
For a highly customized booklet project or one that requires a massive quantity, it’s best to request a custom booklet printing quote. This way, you’ll cross your design t’s and dot all your functional i’s, knowing you’ll get the booklets you envision.
How to Get the Best Price for Your Booklet Printing
From quantity to type of binding, page count, and paper type, you’ll need to consider all the factors that can impact your booklet printing cost. By optimizing your page count, choosing standard stock options, and ordering in bulk, you can easily stay within budget for your booklet printing costs.
Designing a booklet that looks how you want and at a price you can afford isn’t like asking for the moon, either. So long as you have a first-class online printing company in your corner.
Give PrintingCenterUSA’s booklet cost calculator a go, or consult with our team of design experts. We’re ready to help you create the best high-quality, customized booklets for your budget.