Free Print Quote Calculator

How the quote is calculated

The calculator adds up three things: materials (quantity × sheets per item × sheet cost plus ink or click cost per sheet), labour (minutes ÷ 60 × your hourly rate) and then your markup on top of that total cost.

Markup is not the same as margin. A 50% markup on a $65 job gives a $97.50 price and $32.50 profit, which is a 33% margin. If you think in margin, use a higher markup.

Worked example: 100 flyers

100 flyers, one per sheet, at $0.40 per sheet and $0.10 click cost is $50 in materials. Thirty minutes of labour at $30/hour adds $15, so the job costs $65. With a 50% markup the selling price is $97.50, or $0.975 per flyer, leaving $32.50 profit before overhead.

What to include so you don't underprice

• Waste and setup sheets — add them to sheets per item or the quantity.
• Double-sided printing — include both sides in the click cost per sheet.
• Finishing — cutting, folding and laminating time belongs in labour minutes.
• Overhead — rent, equipment and software are covered by your markup, so don't set it too low.

Build the estimate in the units your shop uses

Start with a billable quantity and the number of physical sheets you expect to use for each finished item. If several pieces fit on a large press sheet, convert the stock and printing charges to a per-finished-piece amount before using the simple form. For precise layouts, count whole sheets first and include the unused spots on the final sheet. A 501-piece run at four up needs 126 sheets even before setup waste.

Check whether the click cost applies to a physical sheet or to each printed side. A two-sided job uses two impressions on each physical sheet if the contract bills by side. If the print provider includes paper in its impression cost, avoid counting that same material again. Confirm which charges belong to labor and which belong to the machine or outside vendor.

Save enough context to compare the quote with the finished job

Record the finished size, paper, sides, count, and date alongside the quoted price. Write down what each cost figure assumed. For example, if you allowed 30 minutes for a repeat design and the new job requires approval and file repair, price those tasks or quote them separately. If stock costs vary by purchase date, keep the supplier quote or invoice beside the job estimate.

After production, compare the original estimate with the sheets, impressions, and time actually used. Check whether a difference is a one-off issue, a recurring machine allowance, or a change in the requested job. If three similar orders each use more labor for trimming, update the finishing assumption rather than increasing all quotes by guesswork. The job-cost tracking guide shows a worked estimate-to-actual comparison.

When presenting a quote to a customer, identify separately billed artwork, proofing, special packaging or delivery. A price per finished piece is useful only when it refers to the same material and terms. Document the paid quantity, especially if the customer asks for an extra set or multiple versions after the estimate.