How Much Does It Cost to Get Business Cards Printed

How Much Do Business Cards Cost?

Low: Sometimes Free

Medium: $0.05-$0.20 Per Card

Graphic Designer: $500-$2,000+

Business cards can vary from a simple black-and-white layout with basic details (name, phone number, etc.) to a custom-designed, multi-colored card.

Typical costs:

Some online printing companies offer a small batch (10-250) of free business cards to first-time customers, although these are usually on extremely inexpensive paper with the printing company's name across the back, and shipping costs are extra. For example, VistaPrint offers 250 free business cards with a limited selection of standard layouts, but standard shipping to California (14 business days) costs $7 or about $14 for priority (three business days). Eliminating the VistaPrint logo text on the back of the free business cards costs $2-$5 extra.
Create do-it-yourself business cards with a computer by using blank business card forms designed to be used in standard printers, at a cost (for the paper) of about $0.05-$0.10 per card. For example, the Avery[1] company sells packs of 100-400 blank business cards (usually 8-10 cards on an 8-1/2x11-inch sheet) for $6-$35, depending on the type of printer (inkjet or laser) used and the color and quality of the blank paper. BelightSoft.com provides an overview[2] for choosing ready-made business card blanks.
Plugging the text information into a standard online layout or customizing a design through an online printing service starts at about $10-$60 for 250-500 cards, or about $0.04-$0.20 per card; shipping adds $5-$20 or more to the total cost. Extras like premium paper, foil accent, printing both sides or adding an existing company logo can bring the total cost to $50-$100 or more. For example, PrintsMadeEasy.com[3] charges $2.99 for matte finish and $3.99 for glossy for 20 single-sided business cards (about $0.15-$0.20 per card); and $52.99 for a matte front and $56.99 for a glossy front for 500 double-sided cards (about $0.11-$0.12 each). At VistaPrint.com[4] , premium business cards vary from $14.99 for 250 matte-finish cards on standard paper to $66.48 for 2,000 cards on upgraded glossy stock (about $0.04-$0.06 each); with additional charges of $3.75-$5 to upload a logo or photo, or $7.50-$15 for a foil accent.
Copy stores or quick print companies often offer standardized fill-in-the-details business cards or the customer can provide a business card in a computer file; costs run $20-$75 or more for 250-500 cards, with the higher costs for options such as additional ink colors, specialized or premium papers. For a more custom card from scratch, most stores provide basic business card layout and design for $25-$120 or more depending on location, the complexity of the project and the number of revisions. For example, FedEx Office[5] offers color business cards starting at $20-$30 for 250.
Hiring a graphic designer to create a company logo including business card design can cost $500-$2,000 for just the design. Cards with custom colors , unusual cut edges, foil accents, full-color or special colors, or premium paper at a high-end print shop starts around $100-$300 for 250-500 cards, but can go quite a bit higher depending on the complexity of the design and printing process, and the quality of materials.

Related articles: Signage, Graphic Designer

What should be included:

A typical business card should include an individual and company name, address, website, email address and phone number(s); they can also include a slogan or tagline.
Dimensions vary elsewhere, but in the United States standard business card dimensions are 3-1/2x2-inches. Although some business experts suggest varying the size to make a business card stand out, others caution that an unusual size or shape might make a card not fit in a standard Rolodex or other storage system. BusinessKnowHow.com lists common business card blunders[6] .

Shopping for business cards:

Watch for business cards that look good and present the right look for the company and industry; ask the people with those cards where they got them printed.
Printing companies like VistaPrint[7] or FedEx Office[8] have online systems that lead customers step-by-step through the process of creating and ordering business cards, either by adapting a standard layout or submitting the customer's own design file.

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External Resources:

www.avery.com/avery/en_us/Products/Cards/Business-Cards/_/Ns=Rank%7C1%7C%7CProduct...
www.belightsoft.com/products/companion/paper/cards.php
www.printsmadeeasy.com/pricing.php
www.vistaprint.com/business-cards.aspx?txi=15627&xnid=TopNav_Premium+Business+Card...
www.fedex.com/us/office/designprint/index.html?lid=fo_dpc
www.businessknowhow.com/marketing/business-card.htm
www.vistaprint.com/category/business-cards.aspx?txi=15626&xnid=TopNav_Business+Car...
www.fedex.com/us/office/designprint/index.html?lid=fo_dpc