How Much Does it Cost to Print 1,000/5,000/10,000 Postcards?

 

summerHow much does it cost to print 1,000 postcards, 5,000 postcards, 10,0000 postcards, etc.? is a common question and one that you hope to get a quick answer on.   And although getting pricing for postcards is not nearly as complicated as getting pricing for magazines, there are still some factors you should take into consideration.

So to get an accurate cost, you should know the following about your job:

Final Trim Size

The final size of your postcard (5 ½ x 8 ½, 6 x 9, 6 x 11, etc.) after it is cut or trimmed.

Single-sided or double-sided?

You should know if your postcard will be printed on just the front or on both the front and the back.   Some printers will have the same price for printing front/back or just one side, and other printers will have different pricing for 1-sided vs. 2-sided postcard runs.

Does it have a UV coat?

Many postcards you see have that extra shininess to them on either one or both sides.  Not all postcards have nor need this, but do pay attention to whether you want this or not and be sure to communicate this to your estimator.

Color

Do you want these full or four-color (they mean the same thing) on one or both sides, or do you just want black/white on one or both sides?   And to help you understand printer lingo, here is an explanation of printer shorthand for color:

4/4 means 4-color one side and 4-color on the other.

4/1 means 4-color one side and 1-color (1-color always means black) on the other.

1/1 means 1-color (black) on one side and 1-color (black) on the other.

* 2/1 means black + 1-color (must be a 100% Cyan, Magenta or Yellow) on one side and 1-color (black on the other).

Paper weight

Postcards are generally printed using cover weight stock (8 pt – 10 pt – 12 pt – 14 pt – 16 pt).   This will come down to  preference vs. cost, but one thing you must know is that postcards need to be printed using at least a 9 pt paper in order to go through the mail, so it is important to print using at least 10 pt just in case there is any variance from the paper mill.  You don’t want to get stuck having to reprint, so be sure to always use at least 10 pt paper.


Helpful Hints:

  • Again, always print using at least 10 pt paper for postcards if you intend to mail them.
  • Some of the most cost-effective price-breaks for postcard sizes are: 4 x 65 ½ x 8 ½ and 6 x 9.  But you can print at most any size, so it is always best to ask your printer for some options on the various sizes that you are interested in so you can make the best decision for yourself.

I hope that you’ve found this information helpful, and when you are ready to look for pricing, feel free to contact me or visit our website at shweiki.com/blog. We are a San Antonio Printer but service clients all over the country.  I’ll be happy to talk with you, answer any of your questions and send you samples so you can consider all of your options!

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