Printing Cost & Rates in India: Complete Price Guide for Businesses [2026]

One of the most common questions we receive at Hira Print Solutions is: "How much does printing cost?" The answer depends on many factors — printing method, paper type, quantity, colours, finishing, and turnaround time. This comprehensive printing cost guide breaks down pricing for every major print product in India.

Whether you're printing brochures, packaging boxes, books, labels, or marketing materials, this guide provides realistic 2026 pricing benchmarks to help you budget accurately and compare quotes effectively.

Factors That Determine Printing Cost

1. Printing Method

• Offset Printing: Lower per-unit cost for high volumes (2,000+). Fixed plate cost (₹500–1,500 per plate × 4 colours = ₹2,000–6,000 setup)
• Digital Printing (HP Indigo): No plate cost, ideal for short runs. Higher per-unit cost but economical under 1,000 pieces
• Large Format: Printed per sq.ft. for banners, standees, posters
• Screen Printing: Per-colour setup cost, best for specialty substrates

2. Paper / Substrate

Paper accounts for 40–60% of total printing cost. Key variables:

• GSM (weight): Higher GSM = more expensive. 130 GSM art paper costs ~₹65/kg; 300 GSM art card costs ~₹85/kg
• Type: Art paper (cheapest) → Matte art → Textured → Speciality (most expensive)
• Size: Standard sizes (A4, A3, SRA2) are most economical
• FSC-Certified: 3–8% premium over standard paper

3. Number of Colours

• 1-colour (B&W or Pantone): Cheapest — single plate
• 4-colour (CMYK): Standard full-colour — 4 plates
• 5-6 colour (CMYK + Pantone): Premium — additional plates for brand colours
• UV inks: 15–25% premium for UV-cured printing

4. Finishing & Post-Press

Finishing can add 20–60% to the base printing cost:

• Lamination (gloss/matte): ₹1.50–3.00 per sq.ft.
• Spot UV: ₹2–4 per sq.ft. (plate cost: ₹1,500–3,000)
• Hot foil stamping: ₹2–5 per impression (die cost: ₹2,000–8,000)
• Embossing/debossing: ₹1.50–4 per impression (die cost: ₹3,000–10,000)
• Die-cutting: ₹0.50–2 per piece (die cost: ₹2,000–15,000)

5. Quantity

The biggest pricing lever. Offset printing economics:

• 500 copies: Highest per-unit cost (plate cost spread over few units)
• 2,000 copies: Sweet spot where offset becomes economical
• 5,000+ copies: 30–40% cheaper per unit than 1,000 copies
• 10,000+ copies: Most economical — per-unit cost drops 50–60% vs 1,000

Printing Cost by Product (2026 Prices)

Brochures & Flyers

Product	Spec	1,000 pcs	5,000 pcs
A4 Flyer (single side)	130 GSM art, 4-colour	₹3–5/pc	₹1.50–2.50/pc
A4 Brochure (4-page)	170 GSM art, laminated	₹8–12/pc	₹4–7/pc
A4 Brochure (8-page)	170 GSM, saddle-stitch	₹15–22/pc	₹8–13/pc
A4 Catalogue (24-page)	170 GSM, perfect bind	₹45–70/pc	₹25–40/pc

Business Stationery

Product	Spec	500 pcs	2,000 pcs
Business Cards	350 GSM, laminated, both sides	₹2–4/pc	₹1–2/pc
Letterhead	100 GSM bond, 2-colour	₹3–5/pc	₹1.50–3/pc
Envelope (DL)	100 GSM, printed flap	₹4–7/pc	₹2–4/pc
Presentation Folder	350 GSM, laminated, pocket	₹25–40/pc	₹15–25/pc

Packaging Printing Costs

Product	Spec	Price Range
Mono Carton (pharma)	300 GSM, 4-colour, 10K qty	₹2.50–5/pc
Mono Carton (FMCG)	350 GSM, 6-colour + lamination	₹4–8/pc
Rigid Box (cosmetic)	1500 GSM, wrapped, foil	₹80–200/pc
Corrugated Box (e-comm)	3-ply, printed, medium	₹18–35/pc
Product Labels	Sticker paper, full colour, die-cut	₹0.50–3/pc

Book Printing Costs

Book Type	Spec	500 copies	2,000 copies
Novel (200 pages)	B&W, 80 GSM, perfect bind	₹80–120/pc	₹50–80/pc
Coffee Table Book	100 pages, full-colour, hardcover	₹400–700/pc	₹250–450/pc
Annual Report	60 pages, colour, perfect bind	₹150–250/pc	₹80–150/pc
Children's Book	32 pages, full-colour, board book	₹100–180/pc	₹60–100/pc

How to Read a Printing Quote

A professional printing quote should include these line items:

Pre-Press Costs

• Design charges: If the printer provides design services (₹2,000–15,000 per design)
• Plate-making: CTP plates for offset (₹500–1,500 per plate × number of colours)
• Colour proofing: Digital proof (₹500–1,500) or wet proof (₹3,000–8,000)

Printing Costs

• Paper cost: Based on weight, GSM, and quantity + 5–10% wastage allowance
• Printing charges: Per impression or per sheet, based on size and colours
• Ink charges: Usually included in printing charges; Pantone inks may be extra

Post-Press & Finishing Costs

• Lamination: Per sq.ft. or per sheet
• Die-cutting: Per piece + one-time die cost
• Finishing: Folding, scoring, binding, gluing, foiling, embossing
• Packing: Shrink-wrapping, cartoning, palletising

Delivery & GST

• Delivery charges: Local (usually free) or outstation freight
• GST: Printing services: 18% GST; Printed books: 0% (exempt)

Tips to Reduce Printing Costs

1. Optimise Print Size

Design to standard sheet sizes (SRA2: 640×450mm, SRA1: 900×640mm) to minimise paper wastage. Even 5mm of trim adjustment can save 10% paper.

2. Print Higher Quantities

If storage isn't an issue, printing 5,000 instead of 2,000 can reduce per-unit cost by 30–40%. The marginal cost of additional copies in offset is very low.

3. Reduce Colours Strategically

Use 4-colour CMYK for photos but consider 2-colour process for text-heavy pages. Duotone printing can look premium while saving plate and ink costs.

4. Choose Paper Wisely

130 GSM art paper is 20% cheaper than 170 GSM and often sufficient for brochure inner pages. Reserve higher GSM for covers.

5. Plan Finishing Carefully

Lamination costs less than spot UV for overall coverage. Foil stamping on small logos costs much less than large-area foiling. Consider where finishes add real value.

6. Combine Print Runs (Gang Printing)

Print multiple items together on the same sheet if they share paper type and size. Business cards, labels, and tags can be gang-printed to share setup costs.

Online vs. Offset Printing: Price Comparison

Online print shops (Vistaprint, PrintStop, etc.) vs. professional offset printers:

• Small quantities (50–500): Online shops are cheaper and faster
• Medium quantities (500–2,000): Competitive — compare both options
• Large quantities (2,000+): Offset printers are 40–60% cheaper
• Custom packaging: Always use a professional printer — online shops don't offer custom die-cutting
• Premium finishes: Professional printers offer foil, embossing, Scodix — unavailable online

Why Choose Hira Print Solutions?

Hira Print Solutions offers competitive B2B pricing with transparent quoting:

• No hidden costs: Detailed line-item quotes with paper, printing, finishing, and delivery breakdowns
• Instant online quote: Use our Instant Quote Calculator for immediate estimates
• Volume discounts: Aggressive pricing for 5,000+ quantity orders
• Offset + Digital: Manroland 700 for bulk, HP Indigo for short runs — best rate for every quantity
• ISO 9001 certified: Consistent quality reduces reprint costs

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does printing cost per page in India?

Printing cost per page in India varies by method. B&W laser: ₹0.50–1.50/page, Colour laser: ₹3–8/page, Offset (5000+ copies): ₹0.30–2/page, Digital (HP Indigo): ₹5–15/page. Costs decrease significantly with higher quantities for offset printing.

What factors affect printing cost?

Key factors include: quantity (higher volume = lower per-unit cost), paper type and GSM, number of colours, print size, finishing (lamination, UV, foil), printing method (offset vs digital), and turnaround time. Rush orders may cost 20–30% more.

Is offset printing cheaper than digital?

Offset printing is cheaper per piece for quantities above 1,000–2,000 units due to fixed plate cost being spread across more copies. Digital (HP Indigo) is more economical under 1,000 pieces. The crossover point typically occurs between 500–2,000 units.