Short answer: Every print price includes one-time setup and plates, so cost per copy is highest at low quantities and falls steadily as the run grows; for a standard 100-page book the per-copy price at 100,000 copies is roughly a third of the price at 1,000.
When people compare print quotes, a common surprise is how much the cost per copy changes with quantity. The reason is simple: some costs are fixed for the job, and others scale with each copy.
Fixed and variable costs
- Fixed: plate making, press setup, and prepress work. You pay these once whether you print 500 copies or 50,000.
- Variable: paper, ink, press run time, binding, and packing. These grow with the number of copies.
At small quantities the fixed share dominates, so each copy carries a lot of it. As the run grows, that fixed cost is spread across more copies and the per-copy price falls toward the variable cost.
Example
For a perfect-bound, 8.5 x 11", 100-page, full-color book with a 250gsm gloss cover and 100gsm gloss interior, the instant quote at the time of writing shows about $3,109 for 1,000 copies (roughly $3.11 each) and about $105,400 for 100,000 copies (roughly $1.05 each). The reference pricing page lists the intermediate quantities. Prices change, so treat these as an illustration of the curve, not a promise.
What this means for planning
- If you will realistically sell or distribute a larger quantity within a year or two, a larger print run is often cheaper per copy than repeated small runs.
- The reverse also matters. A big run only saves money if the books actually sell or get used, and storage has a cost.
- When you compare quotes, compare the same quantity and the same spec, and look at both total and cost per copy.
Where freight fits
Freight is separate from the print price and is charged by weight. A bigger run also means a bigger shipment, so ocean freight often makes sense for large runs. See the freight article for the tradeoffs.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the cost per copy so high at 100 copies?
Setup and plates are paid once per job, so at 100 copies they are divided among very few books.
Can I see prices for several quantities at once?
Yes. The instant quote lists prices for standard quantities side by side, and the pricing page shows a reference table for a standard perfect-bound book.
Related reading
- Offset vs. Digital Printing: Where the Break-Even Falls
- Air vs. Ocean Freight for Printed Books from Korea