Quick answer: For a single letter-size color page at rates checked in July 2026, Office Depot posts the lowest chain sticker (from 18 cents), Staples self-service runs 59 to 69 cents, the UPS Store commonly 50 to 75 cents, and FedEx Office 71 to 76 cents. For 500 or more pages, online production wins: 500 color copies cost $89.98 (18 cents each) at 55printing, as of July 2026.
Tomas manages a tutoring center and prices the same job every semester: 500 color worksheet pages. This July he called all four chains near him and got estimates from roughly $90 at the Office Depot base rate to $380 at a FedEx self-service machine. Then he priced it online: $89.98 plus $19.67 shipping at 55printing, with a PDF proof included. The spread on one identical job was more than $270, which is exactly why this page exists.
The master price table
All figures are July 2026 research on standard letter-size color pages. Chains price locally, so treat their columns as ranges to verify, not quotes. The online column is the live 55printing cart (28lb bond, single-sided, standard production), as of July 2026.
| Channel | 1 page | 100 pages | 500 pages | Notes (checked July 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office Depot | from $0.18 | from $18 | from $90 | Published starting rate; upgrades priced in configurator; same-day color capped at 1,000 |
| Staples (self-serve) | $0.59 – $0.69 | $59 – $69 | $295 – $345 | Full-service runs $0.89 – $1.09; bulk quotes can be lower |
| UPS Store | $0.50 – $0.75 | $50 – $75 | $250 – $375 | Franchises set their own rates; wide store-to-store variance |
| FedEx Office (self-serve) | $0.71 – $0.76 | $71 – $76 | $355 – $380 | Online document orders listed from $0.24 each |
| 55printing (online) | n/a (25 min.) | $29.99 + $9.98 ship | $89.98 + $19.67 ship | Live cart totals; PDF proof included; 3-5 day production |
Staples vs FedEx vs UPS vs Office Depot: where each one wins
Office Depot: the sticker-price leader
Its published 18-cent starting rate for standard copies, confirmed on the official copies page in 2026, is the lowest chain sticker in this table, and same-day pickup is real with a 2 PM local cutoff. The caveat: that rate is the floor for the simplest jobs, and finishing, paper upgrades, or size changes route you into a configurator where the number climbs. Same-day color is capped at 1,000 copies.
Staples: the most counters, decent machine rates
Staples wins on ubiquity and predictable self-service. Its 59 to 69 cent color range sits mid-pack, and the print department will quote volume runs. Full pricing detail lives in our Staples color copy price guide.
UPS Store: hit or miss, sometimes a bargain
Every UPS Store is a franchise that sets its own print rates, which is why researched July 2026 figures span 50 to 75 cents for color. If a well-priced store sits near you, it can beat both Staples and FedEx. Call first; two stores a mile apart can differ by 20 cents a page.
FedEx Office: the service depth pick
FedEx machines posted the highest self-service color rates we checked (71 to 76 cents), but its counters handle binding, odd formats, and after-hours access at many locations better than anyone. Numbers and quantity math live in our FedEx color copy price breakdown.
The math nobody does at the counter
Counter prices are linear: page 500 costs the same as page 1. Production printing is not. Online tiers reward quantity because many jobs share one press run, so the per-page rate falls as the count rises. The delivered totals for a 500-page color job, all checked July 2026:
- FedEx self-service: about $355 to $380, walk out same day.
- Staples self-service: about $295 to $345, walk out same day.
- UPS Store: about $250 to $375 depending on the franchise.
- Office Depot: from about $90 at the base rate if your job stays simple, same-day under the cap.
- 55printing online: $109.65 delivered ($89.98 print + $19.67 ground), 3-5 day production plus transit, proof included.
At 1,000 pages the online total is $156.94 delivered, 15.7 cents per page, while chain machine rates put the same job between $500 and $760. The one chain that stays competitive on paper is Office Depot’s base rate, and it is worth testing whether your real file, stock, and finishing hold that floor.
PDF printing runs: which chain handles files best
All four chains accept PDF uploads through their online portals for store pickup, and all four run walk-up machines that print from USB or cloud. The differences that matter: FedEx and Staples have the most mature upload-to-store flows, Office Depot enforces its 2 PM same-day cutoff, and UPS Store portals vary by franchise. For any PDF over 100 pages that does not need same-day pickup, uploading to an online printer instead means a human-checked proof before production, which is the step that catches the cropped margin or the RGB logo before 500 copies of it exist.
How to decide in 30 seconds
- Need it today: nearest counter wins. Under the caps, Office Depot’s base rate is the sticker to test first.
- This week, 100+ pages: order color copies online; the per-page rate drops to 13 to 30 cents.
- Recurring job: online, once. The file, proof, and reorder are saved for next time.
- One or two pages: any counter; the difference is pocket change and the trip is the real cost.
Color copy price comparison FAQ
What is the cheapest chain for a single color page?
By posted sticker price, Office Depot’s 18-cent starting rate for standard copies was the lowest we found among the four chains in July 2026. Staples and UPS Store typically land between 50 and 75 cents, and FedEx self-service machines listed 71 to 76 cents. For one page, pick whichever store is closest; the spread is under a dollar.
How much do color copies cost at the UPS Store?
There is no national rate because each UPS Store franchise prices independently. Research checked in July 2026 shows color commonly running 50 to 75 cents per letter page and black and white 10 to 17 cents. Calling two nearby stores takes five minutes and can genuinely save 20 cents per page on a large run.
Does Office Depot really print color copies for 18 cents?
Its official copies page lists $0.18 per copy as the starting rate for standard jobs on letter, legal, or ledger paper, confirmed in 2026 research. That is a floor, not a promise: paper upgrades, finishing, and complex files are priced through the configurator, and same-day color pickup is capped at 1,000 copies with a 2 PM cutoff.
When does online printing beat all four chains?
Once quantity passes about 100 pages and the deadline allows 3 to 6 days total, online tiers beat every checked chain rate. At 500 pages the delivered online total was $109.65 versus $250 to $380 at most counters in July 2026; at 1,000 pages it was $156.94 versus $500 or more.
Can I get same-day color copies at all four chains?
Generally yes, with limits. Self-service machines at Staples, FedEx, and many UPS Stores print immediately while you stand there. Office Depot offers same-day pickup on orders placed by 2 PM local time, capped at 1,000 color copies. For same-day quantities above those caps, call the print department before driving over.
Which channel is safest for brand-color accuracy?
The channel that shows you a proof. Walk-up machines print whatever the file contains, RGB shifts included. Online production at 55printing includes a PDF proof approval before printing, and repeat orders run from the same approved file, which keeps a rerun in March matching the original from January.
Deep dives per retailer: Staples color copy prices, FedEx (Kinkos) color copy prices, and the head-to-head Staples vs FedEx for color copies. Hunting the overall lowest cost? Start at the cheapest place to print color copies. All retail ranges checked July 2026; verify your store before a big run.