Per-page printing looks cheap until finishing and rush fees land. The bigger the run, the lower the unit cost - here's how the pricing actually breaks down.
Staples Print & Marketing is the in-store and online printing arm of Staples Canada, covering everything from single document pages to posters, banners, business cards and bound presentations. Its pricing is driven by quantity, paper choice and finishing: per-page rates fall as the run grows, while options like colour, heavier stock, lamination, binding and rush turnaround each add to the total. The cheap per-page figure in the ads applies to plain black-and-white at volume, not a finished, short-run job.
| What you're buying | Typical price | How Staples Print & Marketing compares |
|---|---|---|
| Black-and-white document pages | Cents per page, dropping with volume | Cheapest at high quantity; small runs cost more per page. |
| Colour document pages | Several times the B&W per-page rate | Colour carries a clear premium; volume still lowers the unit cost. |
| Business cards (per pack/box) | Roughly C$20 - C$60+ per order | Per-card cost falls sharply on larger quantities and standard stock. |
| Posters / engineering prints | Priced by size and stock | Large-format pricing scales with dimensions and paper weight. |
| Binding / lamination / finishing | A per-item add-on | Coil binding, lamination and covers each add to the base print cost. |
| Rush / same-day turnaround | A surcharge over standard timing | Faster deadlines cost more; standard turnaround is cheapest. |
The base of any print job is the per-page or per-item rate, and that rate falls as the quantity rises - a few copies cost more per page than a few hundred. On top of the base, the variables that move the total are colour versus black-and-white, paper stock and weight, and finishing options like binding, lamination, folding and covers. Each finishing choice is a separate add-on, so a 'simple' job can grow once it's assembled.
Turnaround is the other lever. Standard timing is the cheapest; same-day or rush jobs carry a surcharge. Ordering online for in-store pickup, and giving the store more lead time, both keep the price closer to the base rate rather than the rushed one.
On high-volume, plain black-and-white printing and standard business cards, Staples is competitively priced, especially with lead time. Quantity is your friend - the per-unit cost on a large run is far lower than on a handful of copies.
It's less cheap on short colour runs, heavy finishing and rush deadlines, where the add-ons and surcharges stack quickly. For specialty or large recurring jobs, a dedicated online print shop sometimes undercuts Staples, so it's worth comparing the finished-job total rather than just the per-page rate.
Batch jobs to hit higher quantity tiers, print black-and-white wherever colour isn't essential, and give the store standard lead time to avoid rush fees. Trim finishing to what the job genuinely needs, and upload files online ahead of time for in-store pickup to lock in the base pricing.
Because the finished-job total can vary a lot between print providers - and the per-page figure hides the finishing costs - it pays to compare the full quote before ordering. FindPrices can help you weigh the equivalent job across providers so a long or recurring run isn't costing more than it should.
FindPrices compares the exact product across retailers while you shop, so you only pay full price when it really is the best price.
Compare Pricing Now - It's FreePrice-match practice can vary, so it's worth asking when you get a quote. Regardless, batching to higher quantities, choosing black-and-white and avoiding rush fees are reliable ways to lower a Staples print job.
Black-and-white document pages run a few cents each, dropping with volume, while colour costs several times more per page. Business cards, posters and finishing are priced separately, so the total depends heavily on quantity and options.
Yes - colour typically costs several times the black-and-white per-page rate. Volume still lowers the unit cost, but printing in black-and-white wherever possible is one of the easiest ways to cut the bill.
Yes, same-day and rush turnaround carry a surcharge over standard timing. Giving the store normal lead time keeps the job at the cheaper standard rate.
Uploading online for in-store pickup with lead time usually gets you the base pricing and avoids last-minute fees. The bigger cost drivers are quantity, colour and finishing rather than the ordering channel itself.
Batch to hit higher quantity tiers, stick to black-and-white and standard stock where you can, trim finishing, and allow standard turnaround. For large recurring runs, compare the finished-job total against a dedicated print shop.
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