Shorter runs result in higher per-unit cost

Print longer runs to keep your per unit costs down

Below is an actual quote for a project with options to print 100 to 500 pieces.

Note that at a quantity of 100, the price is around $2.24 per piece, while at 500 the price per piece drops to just $0.51. For five times the number of pieces (500 vs. 100), the price increases just 13%.

Why? There are fixed costs associated with the startup and make-ready time at each step of the process. These costs vary depending upon the machines used to prepare and print your piece.

The bottom line is that small quantities tend to be quite pricey. The per-piece cost drops as the quantity goes up. Once the project is up and running, it runs very fast. The cost of the extra time is minimal and in some instances the additional paper costs are relatively small as well.

The best way to keep unit costs down is to design your pieces with staying power. For example, create a folder with inserts, where only one insert has to be frequently updated. This scenario allows you to print most pieces at longer runs, while updating the single insert that often changes more frequently at a lower quantity.

Want to brainstorm? Contact your salesperson and we can review your project and give you advice on controlling your communication per-unit costs.