How to get an accurate print quote
A print price depends on a handful of facts. Supply them up front and the figure you get back is one you can plan around.
From a loose enquiry to a firm number.
| Vague | Priceable | Why it changes the price |
|---|---|---|
| A big banner | 3000mm x 1000mm PVC, hemmed with eyelets | Size and finishing set the cost |
| Some posters | 25 A2 posters on photo silk 190gsm | Quantity and weight of paper |
| A sign for outside | 5mm Foamex, or 3mm Dibond if it is to stay up long term | Board and thickness |
| Delivered to the venue | Name, postcode, access times, a contact on the day | Courier service and any timed slot |
| Artwork to follow | Print-ready PDF, or a design brief with a logo | Listed prices assume print-ready artwork |
Things that move the figure.
Size and material make up the base. After that, the same print can come in at quite different prices depending on these.
- Finishing. Hems, eyelets, wrapped edges, Velcro, struts and hanging bars are extras, and they are available on request.
- Mounting and laminating. These sit on top of the print, as separate lines.
- Artwork work. Resizing, correcting or creating a design takes time.
- Delivery. Prices exclude it. A rolled poster and a stack of boards travel very differently.
- Fitting. If needed, arrangements are agreed in your quote, so tell us about height and access.
- Quantity. Discounts are available on quantity, so give the true number.
How our list adds up
Our guide prices are built in layers. Take an A1 print on photo matt 190gsm, mounted on 3mm Foamex. The print is one line and the board is another.
| Line | Listed price |
|---|---|
| A1 print, photo matt 190gsm | £30 |
| A1 mounting, 3mm Foamex | £12 |
Guide prices from our price list. They exclude VAT and delivery and assume print-ready artwork.
A £35 minimum order applies to large format poster printing, and VAT and delivery are added to what you see on the list. Our price list has every size.
Comparing two quotes fairly.
Put them side by side, and check that each one answers these questions before you look at the bottom line.
- Is it the same material, weight and thickness? "Vinyl" and "board" are not specifications.
- Is the finishing included, or priced as an extra?
- Are VAT and delivery included in the figure?
- Does it assume print-ready files? If yours are not, what will that add?
- Is a proof included?
- Is the date confirmed, or simply hoped for?
A lower figure that leaves out eyelets, delivery and VAT is not really lower. If a quote is missing something, ask. A good supplier will be glad to fill the gaps, and what to ask a print supplier has more questions to use.
Send the file, if you have it
Sending artwork early lets us spot problems before they turn into extra charges. See how to brief a large format printer for a fuller description of what to tell us.
What goes into the price.
Your questions.
Why do you need the artwork to give a price?
We do not always, but seeing it helps. It shows whether the file is ready, and it may reveal size or finishing questions you have not thought about.
Will the price change after I order?
It should not if the specification stays the same. Changes to size, quantity, finishing or artwork can affect it, so check with us first.
Can I get a budget figure before I have the details?
Yes, using our price list as a guide. Treat it as a rough steer until the full specification has been confirmed.