How Much Does Document Printing Cost Per Page in a Print Shop?

Print-shop document printing costs pence per page for black and white, a little more for colour, with per-page rates dropping as volume rises — and for anything beyond a few dozen pages it undercuts home inkjet printing decisively once you count ink cartridges honestly. Exact per-page rates by volume are published on our document page.

Home printer vs print shop: the honest maths

Home inkjet ink is one of the most expensive liquids you can buy; a heavy document run can empty a cartridge that costs more than the print shop would charge for the whole job — and shop output is duplexed, collated and consistent. The home printer wins for one-page convenience; the shop wins for volume, quality and binding.

What affects document pricing

Factor	Effect
Mono vs colour	Colour costs more per page — mix modes: colour cover, mono body
Volume	Per-page rate drops in bands
Paper	Standard 80–100gsm cheapest; heavier stocks available
Single/double sided	Duplex halves paper cost
Finishing	Stapling cheap; wire binding and covers add per-document cost

Common jobs and how to order them

Dissertations and theses (student guide); training manuals and handbooks (wire-bound, tabbed); contracts and reports for client meetings (same-day friendly); CVs on decent 120gsm stock — a small upgrade interviewers notice.

How to send a document job

Email the PDF with page count, colour/mono split, sides, copies and binding in one line: "58pp, colour cover + mono body, double-sided, 6 copies, wire bound, tomorrow 10am." That's a complete order.

FAQ

Can you print from Word? Yes, but export PDF to lock fonts and layout (why). Scanning and copying too? Yes — including old and odd-sized documents. Collection time on same-day docs? Usually within hours; 1pm rule covers larger runs.