You’re standing in the middle of your living room, staring at a printer that’s decided to stage a protest. Maybe it’s out of ink—which, let’s be honest, costs more than the printer itself—or maybe it’s just jammed for the third time this morning. You have a presentation due, or maybe a set of blueprints, or even just some return labels that won’t print themselves. Naturally, you think of the big red sign down the street. But before you grab your USB drive, you’re probably wondering: what’s the damage going to be?
Honestly, Staples pricing can be a bit of a moving target. It’s not just "one price fits all." If you walk in and use the self-service kiosk, you’re looking at one rate. If you order online for a big professional project, it’s a whole different ballgame.
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The Quick Answer: Basic Document Costs
If you just need a standard stack of 8.5" x 11" papers, the math is pretty straightforward.
For a basic black-and-white page, you’re looking at $0.26 per page as a starting point for professional document printing. If you go the self-service route—where you’re basically the employee for ten minutes—it can be as low as $0.24 to $0.32 per page depending on your specific location and how the local machines are calibrated for the year.
Color is where things get pricey.
A single color page usually starts around $0.77. It sounds like pocket change until you have a 50-page report. Then you’re looking at nearly forty bucks just for one copy.
Why the Price Fluctates
It isn't just about the ink. Staples prices change based on:
- Paper Weight: That standard 20lb paper is the cheapest. If you want that thick, "I’m a serious professional" 32lb paper or cardstock, the price per sheet climbs fast.
- Quantity: This is the one time when "more is better" actually helps your wallet. Staples often gives price breaks if you're printing 100+ or 500+ copies.
- Turnaround Time: If you need it right now, you might pay a premium compared to a 3-5 day shipping order.
Big Projects: Blueprints, Posters, and Banners
Sometimes you aren't printing a resume. Sometimes you’re printing a 24" x 36" blueprint for a renovation or a giant "Happy 50th Birthday" banner for your aunt.
Blueprints (or technical prints, as the pros call them) are surprisingly affordable because they use very little ink—mostly just thin black lines. You can usually get these for about $2.10 to $2.25 per page.
Posters are a different story. Since they usually involve heavy ink coverage and specialized "photo-quality" paper, they start around $11.00 for a basic 12" x 18" and can easily go up to $16.50 or more for larger sizes or semi-gloss finishes. If you want it mounted on foam board so it stands up on an easel? Add another $15-$20 to that total.
Banners for outdoor events usually start around $17.95.
The Self-Service vs. Full-Service Divide
There is a distinct difference in how you pay depending on how much help you want.
- Self-Service Kiosks: You walk up, plug in your USB or access your Google Drive/Dropbox right on the screen. You pay with a credit card at the machine. It’s fast. It’s usually the cheapest way to do a few pages.
- Full-Service (Print & Marketing Desk): You talk to a human. They check your files for "bleed" and "margins." They do the cutting, folding, or binding. You pay more for the expertise and the labor.
If you’re doing something simple like a few copies of a lease agreement, just use the kiosk. If you’re doing a 100-page bound manual with tabs, let the professionals handle it.
Hidden Costs You Should Watch Out For
Nobody likes getting to the register and seeing a total that's $15 higher than they expected.
Binding and Finishing:
This is the "sneaky" part of the bill. A spiral binding (that plastic coil) usually costs around $5 to $7 per book. Want a clear cover on the front and a black vinyl back? That’s another couple of bucks.
Lamination:
Protecting a page from spills or wear is great, but it’ll usually run you about $2.00 to $3.00 per letter-sized sheet.
Hand-Feeding/Manual Labor:
If you bring in your own "special" paper that the employees have to manually load into the big machines, they might charge a "hand-feed" fee. Most Staples stores actually prefer you use their stock anyway to avoid jamming their $50,000 printers.
How to Actually Save Money at Staples
Look, I’ve spent way too much time in office supply stores. Here is the real way to keep the cost down.
Order Online First
Staples almost always has a "starting at" price online that is lower than the walk-in "emergency" price. If you upload your file to their website and select "in-store pickup," you lock in that lower rate. Plus, you can often find a promo code.
Check for Coupons
They frequently run deals like "$20 off a $70 print order" or "10% back in Easy Rewards points." Before you click "print," check their "Deals" page on the website.
The "Same-Day" Deadline
If you need same-day service, you usually have to get your order in by 12:00 PM. If you miss that window, you might be stuck paying for an "expedited" rush if the store is busy, or just waiting until tomorrow.
Join the Rewards Program
It’s free. It’s called Staples Easy Rewards now. You get points on every print job which eventually turns into "free money" for more printing or even just some pens.
Is It Worth It?
If you're printing two pages, Staples is a godsend. It's cheaper than buying an ink cartridge that will probably dry out before you use it again.
But if you are starting a side hustle and need to print 500 flyers every single week, you should probably do the math on buying a high-end eco-tank printer. For the occasional project, presentation, or "I need this legal document now" moment, the price of convenience at Staples is pretty fair.
Next Steps for Your Project:
Check your file format. Staples machines love PDFs. If you have a Word doc, save it as a PDF first to make sure the fonts don't go wonky when you open it on their machines. Then, head over to the Staples Print & Marketing website to upload your file and see the real-time price before you even leave your house.