Standard 3.5 x 2 in business cards on 14pt card, printed in full color on both sides, cost about $22 to $33 for 250 and about $52 to $79 for 1,000 at typical market prices in October 2026. That is roughly 5 to 13 cents a card, and the price per card falls as the quantity rises. Premium cards cost more: about $77 for 500 with spot UV, and about $160 to $327 for 500 on 32pt thick stock.
The figures below are published prices from national retailers and online printers, not a quote from us. They are here so you can read any business card quote and see what you are paying for. Business card orders at Big Apple Press start at 250 cards.
How much do business cards cost by quantity?
The price per card drops sharply between 100 and 500 cards, because setup, trimming and handling cost about the same whatever the quantity.
| Quantity | Typical total | Per card | What the range covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | about $15 to $21 | 15 to 21 cents | Retail quick-print and online starting prices |
| 250 | about $22 to $33 | 9 to 13 cents | Retail starting prices to online defaults, 14pt, two sides |
| 500 | about $25 to $40 | 5 to 8 cents | Online, 14pt gloss, standard turnaround, shipping extra |
| 1,000 | about $52 to $79 | 5 to 8 cents | 14pt, two sides; the high end includes shipping |
Prices shown are typical market prices for standard options, based on published prices from national print retailers and online printers, checked October 2026. They are a guide, not a quote. Prices are subject to change and do change with quantity, paper, finishing and turnaround, so contact us for an updated quote.
These ranges are based on published prices at national retailers and online printers such as Staples, FedEx Office, Vistaprint and UPrinting, checked on October 29, 2026. Two of the sources are Vistaprint's business card cost guide and UPrinting's business card cost table. Online prices exclude shipping and assume about three business days. A broker that includes shipping listed about $68 for 500 two-sided cards, which is why the 500 range has a long tail.
What do premium business cards cost?
Thicker stock, laminates and special finishes add the most, because each one is extra material or an extra step after printing.
| Card | Quantity | Typical price | Per card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spot UV | 500 | about $77 | about 15 cents |
| Spot UV | 1,000 | about $90 | about 9 cents |
| Foil stamped | 100 | about $35 | about 35 cents |
| Ultra thick, 32pt and up | 50 | about $37 | about 73 cents |
| 32pt thick, plain or silk laminated | 500 | about $160 to $327 | 32 to 65 cents |
On standard cards, upgrades are often sold as add-ons. One large online printer listed about $14 to move to 16pt soft touch and about $17 to move to 32pt, on top of the base price. Letterpress, raised foil, painted edges and duplex cards rarely appear on published price lists, so get a quote. Our guide to business card stocks and finishes shows what each option looks and feels like, and specialty business cards covers plastic, metal and kraft.
What changes the price of business cards?
Quantity matters most, but five other things move a business card quote.
- Quantity: setup is the same for 250 cards or 1,000, so the cost per card falls as the run grows.
- Sides: some low advertised prices are for front-only cards. Check before you compare.
- Stock: 14pt is the standard. 16pt, 32pt, cotton and duplex stocks cost more per sheet.
- Finish: spot UV, foil and embossing each need an extra step after printing, and some need a die or plate.
- Shape: rounded corners, die-cut shapes, square and mini cards add a cutting step.
- Turnaround and delivery: rush costs extra almost everywhere, and online prices exclude shipping.
Why do chain store and print shop prices differ?
They price different things. Retail chains advertise starting prices for small runs, usually 100 to 250 cards on a base stock, and at those quantities the price per card is well above what an online printer charges for 500 or 1,000. Online printers show low per-card prices but add shipping and assume about three business days.
A print shop quotes the actual job: the stock you chose, both sides, finishing, a file check and delivery. So compare totals for the same card, delivered by the date you need, rather than starting prices. We check files free and deliver free anywhere in Manhattan. Our post on print shops vs Staples and FedEx Office covers when each one makes sense.
How many business cards should I order?
Order 250 if your title, phone number or address may change within a year, and 500 to 1,000 if you hand out cards every day. The price per card falls with quantity, but a box of cards with an old title on it is paper you paid for and cannot use.
- Count the cards you hand out in a normal month and multiply by the months before your details are likely to change.
- People in sales, real estate and hospitality go through cards fast. Office-based staff can take years to finish 500.
- Order a whole team at once, so every card matches in stock, color and trim.
How fast can business cards be printed in NYC?
Standard business cards take two to three business days after proof approval, and rush turns most cards around in 24 to 48 hours. Foil, embossed, die-cut and duplex cards take longer, because each needs a die, a plate or an extra layer. Once the cards are printed, a same-day courier can bring them to your office. Read what rush printing can and cannot do if the deadline is tight.
Should I switch to digital business cards or print some too?
Keep some printed cards even if you use a digital one. A paper card works without a phone, an app or a signal, and it is the polite reply when someone hands you theirs. A QR code on the back links the two: one scan saves your contact or opens your booking page.
Before you compare two business card quotes, check four lines: quantity, stock in points, sides printed, and whether shipping is included. A front-only 14pt card with shipping extra and a two-sided 16pt card delivered to your desk are different products, even when both are called standard. For spot UV or foil, send the effect as a separate layer in solid black, lined up exactly with the artwork. A flattened file with the shiny areas drawn in gray cannot become a UV or foil plate without rebuilding the art.
Business card cost questions
How much do 500 business cards cost?
About $25 to $40 for standard 14pt cards from an online printer, at typical market prices in October 2026, subject to change. Spot UV runs about $77 for 500 and 32pt thick cards about $160 to $327. Ask us for a current quote on your exact card.
How much do 1,000 business cards cost?
About $52 to $79 for standard 14pt cards printed on both sides, or 5 to 8 cents a card, at typical market prices in October 2026. These figures are subject to change; ask us for a current quote.
What is the minimum order for business cards?
Business card orders at Big Apple Press start at 250 cards. Smaller packs are sold elsewhere, but the price per card is much higher at 50 or 100.
Can I get business cards printed the same day in NYC?
Rush on most business cards is 24 to 48 hours after proof approval, and a same-day courier can deliver them once printed. Foil, embossed and die-cut cards take longer.
Why are some business cards so much more expensive?
Thick stock, laminates, foil and spot UV each add material or a production step. A spot UV card is about 15 cents at 500, against 5 to 8 cents for a plain card, at typical market prices that are subject to change.
See every stock and finish on our business card printing page, or send your file for a free check and a quote on the exact card you want. Planning a handout to go with it? Read what flyers cost to print.
Need this printed? We are at 40 Wall Street, and we deliver free anywhere in Manhattan.