Pricing & Quotes
Use the estimator to get a ballpark for common book and journal configurations — enough to sanity-check a budget, or compare two directions before you commit to anything.
It covers the most popular options, but we produce far more than it shows — custom sizes, specialty papers, premium finishes (foil stamping, embossing, UV coating, sprayed edges), unusual bindings. If you want something outside these presets, just describe it in your quote request.
One honest note: treat these figures as a planning guide rather than a quote. Paper and freight prices move, and small specification changes matter more than people expect — a page count that fits the press sheet, or a slightly different trim size, can shift the total noticeably. Send us the project and we'll come back with current pricing, usually within one business day.
A planning figure, not a quote
Paper and freight prices move, and small spec changes matter more than people expect — trimming a page count to fit the press sheet, or nudging a size, can shift the total noticeably. Send us the project and we'll price it against today's costs, usually within one business day.
Professional Design Services Available
Complete design, layout, and typesetting by our experienced team. Add your design needs to the quote request below.
Pricing Questions
How accurate is the price estimator?
The price estimator gives you a rough idea based on standard options. It's great for getting a sense of costs and comparing different configurations.
However, we offer far more options than what's shown in the estimator. We have hundreds of special paper options, various cover materials (cloth, leather, etc.), different end sheet papers, and countless finishing techniques. The estimator only covers the most common choices.
For accurate pricing on your specific project—especially if you need custom sizes, specialty papers, or special finishes—please use the quote form to contact us. We'll review your requirements and provide a detailed quote within 24 hours.
Can I get a quote for custom sizes or special finishes?
Absolutely! The price estimator covers standard options, but we handle extensive custom projects. Here's what we can do:
- Non-standard sizes
- Different paper weights for interior pages (beyond what's in the estimator), including special art papers and chipboard for children's books
- Various cover thicknesses and materials (cloth, leather, and more)
- Different end sheet paper options
- Slipcase
- Bookmark ribbon
- Head and tail band
- Dust jacket
- Foil stamping in gold, silver, white, black, red, or holographic
- Embossing and debossing
- Soft-touch lamination
- Spot UV coating
- Die cutting
- Sprayed edges
- Custom printed paper bags (recycled or FSC-certified materials)
- Paper packaging boxes
- Learning/game cards
We have hundreds of special paper options and other materials available. Use the "Request Detailed Quote" form to describe your project, and we'll provide a custom quote within 24 hours.
What factors affect the final price?
Several key factors influence your final price:
- Quantity: The more you print, the lower the per-unit cost. This is offset printing's biggest advantage—volume discounts are built into the pricing structure.
- Page count: More pages mean more paper, binding costs, and printing fees (plate making, ink, etc.).
- Paper choice: Premium papers and specialty papers can cost more than standard options. Some specialty papers (including certain lightweight art papers) may be more expensive than heavier standard papers. The estimator doesn't include all specialty paper options.
- Binding type: Case binding (hardcover) costs more than perfect binding or saddle stitch.
- Special finishes: Foil stamping, embossing, UV coating, sprayed edges, and other premium finishes add to the cost.
- Size: Cost depends on how efficiently your book size uses the standard printing paper sheets. Some sizes fit perfectly and minimize waste, while others may result in more paper waste during cutting, which affects the price. A larger book isn't necessarily more expensive—it depends on the paper utilization efficiency.
Our estimator accounts for the basics, but we'll provide a detailed breakdown in your custom quote.
What's included in the quoted price?
Once we receive your specific requirements and provide a quote (via email), it includes:
- Printing: Offset printing with all your chosen specifications
- Binding: Your selected binding type (perfect bound, saddle stitch, case bound, etc.)
- Cover finish: All cover treatments you've specified (lamination, foil, embossing, etc.)
- Plastic wrapping: To protect books during shipping
- Shipping: Estimated shipping cost to your location in North America (may be adjusted slightly based on actual printed weight and dimensions)
Design services are quoted separately and require a separate discussion about your design needs.
We'll clearly break down what's included and what's optional in your detailed quote. No hidden fees.
How long is a quote valid?
Once you receive the quote in email, it's typically valid for 30 days. After that, material costs and shipping rates may change, so we'll refresh the quote if needed.
If you're planning ahead (especially for yearbooks or time-sensitive projects), we recommend getting a quote early and confirming closer to your production date. We understand that planning takes time, and we're here to work with your timeline.