Question
How much does upgrading to premium paper add to a print job?
Answer
Paper upgrades are usually a modest add to total cost, and they are one of the easiest ways to raise perceived quality. As a rough guide, upgrading stock adds somewhere in the range of 10-30% to the print cost, depending on how far you jump and what finishes you add on top.
| Upgrade | Typical cost impact |
|---|---|
| 14pt to 32pt cardstock | Roughly doubles paper cost per piece |
| Soft touch lamination | About $0.02-$0.10 per unit |
| Spot UV / gloss accents | About $0.02-$0.10 per unit |
- Specialty finishes are priced per unit, so they scale with quantity, plan them into larger runs deliberately.
- Premium pieces tend to stay in circulation longer, stretching the value of each impression.
- If budget is tight, upgrade the one piece people handle most rather than the whole campaign.
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