Confirm both counters before you leave: Staples Print Services and FedEx Office publish the desks; your store board is the final number.
Staples vs FedEx: the 2026 price verdict
If your only question is the walk-in color copy price, Staples usually has the lower counter number. That matters for same-day school packets, last-minute business handouts, or a small batch of pages where shipping would erase any online savings. FedEx Office is still a strong choice when the job needs more help: spiral binding, mounted boards, late-night pickup, wide-format prints, or a staff member who can troubleshoot a difficult file.
The real split is not only Staples vs FedEx. It is same-day retail vs planned online production. Counter rates are linear: 500 pages cost 500 times the per-page rate. Online production is also linear at 55printing, a flat 14.9 cents a page, but that rate is roughly a fifth of the counter rate. That is why the same 499-page color copy job that can cost $294 to $379 at a counter lands at $74.11 before shipping at 55printing.
Same job, three prices
| Job | Staples self-service | FedEx self-service | 55printing online |
|---|---|---|---|
| 99 color pages | $58 – $68 | $70 – $75 | $14.71 before shipping |
| 249 color pages | $147 – $172 | $177 – $189 | $36.98 before shipping |
| 499 color pages | $294.41 – $344.31 | $354.29 – $379.24 | $74.11 before shipping |
| 999 color pages | $589.41 – $689.31 | $709.29 – $759.24 | $148.36 before shipping |
Retail ranges are 2026 research and vary by store. 55printing figures are live cart print totals for 8.5×11 color copies on 24 lb bond, single-sided, standard production, checked October 14, 2026, with a temporary high-demand minimum of 50 total prints. Use the table as a decision shortcut, not as a promise from a retail chain counter.
Where Staples wins
Staples is the practical pick for small same-day color copy jobs. If you need 12 pages before a meeting, the trip and the machine matter more than the price. Staples also has many locations, straightforward self-service machines, and an online pickup flow that works well for simple PDFs.
The drawback is price at volume. A teacher printing 500 color pages, a nonprofit printing event packets, or a real estate team preparing listing sheets will hit the retail machine rate fast. The counter is convenient, but it is not built for low per-page pricing on hundreds of color sheets.
Where FedEx wins
FedEx Office earns its higher rate when the job is more complicated. Many stores have longer hours, strong binding and finishing support, and better handling for file questions. If your PDF has mixed sizes, tabs, binding, or presentation finishing, FedEx may save time even if the page rate is higher.
FedEx is not the lowest-cost path for ordinary color copies. It is the service-depth path. That is useful when the document has a deadline and you need a staff member to solve a production detail in person.
When neither counter is the smart price
Once the job reaches 100 pages and you do not need it today, order online. At 55printing, 99 color copies cost $14.71, 499 cost $74.11, and 999 cost $148.36 before shipping, a flat 14.9 cents a page at any quantity. Each order gets a proof review before production. That step catches cropped margins, soft logos, or a document that was exported at the wrong size.
The honest limitation is time. Online ordering works when you have several business days for production and transit. If your event is tonight, go to the nearest counter. If the event is next week, online production usually saves enough money to justify planning ahead.
For a broader chain comparison, see our color copy price comparison. To price your own job, start with cheap color copies or rush color copies.
Compare both counters with one file
A Staples vs FedEx comparison falls apart when each quote starts from a different page count. A 9-page handout counted as 9 sheets at one counter and as 18 pages at the other is not a comparison, it is two different jobs. Pick one PDF and let that file set the count for every number you compare.
Take an office coordinator with a 9-page onboarding handout and 11 sets to hand out: 99 prints. From the table above, 99 color pages run $58 to $68 at Staples self-service and $70 to $75 at FedEx self-service. The same 99 prints in the 55printing cart were $14.71 before shipping on October 14, 2026. The count only matches across all three because it came from one file. On the 55printing color copies form you can type a page count to see a price first. When you attach the PDF, the form reads the page count from the file and locks it, so you do not retype it. Sets is still how many complete copies you want.
Before you take the file to any counter, run it through Color Profile Check to see whether it is RGB or CMYK, and Print Clear to check the effective PPI at the finished size. FedEx binding jobs add one more check: PDF Duplex Readiness flags an odd page count before the last sheet prints with a blank back. Rotate Files fixes a page that came out sideways. These tools are free with a 55printing account.
2026 Color & B&W Copy Price Comparison Sheet (PDF)
Staples vs FedEx printing FAQ
Is Staples or FedEx cheaper for color copies?
Staples is usually cheaper for self-service letter-size color copies in 2026, with common checked ranges around 59 to 69 cents per page. FedEx Office self-service commonly runs 71 to 76 cents per color page. Prices vary by store and job settings, so the store counter remains the final quote. For planned runs of 100 or more pages, 55printing is usually cheaper than both because the same page is a flat 14.9 cents: 499 color copies cost $74.11 before shipping, verified October 14, 2026.
When should I choose FedEx instead of Staples?
Choose FedEx when the job needs more than ordinary color copies: binding, mounting, mixed sizes, file help, or extended store hours. FedEx can cost more per page, but staff help and finishing options can be worth it when a presentation has to look right today. For basic PDFs where price matters more than service, Staples usually has the better retail counter price.
How much do 500 color copies cost at Staples vs FedEx?
Using July 2026 researched ranges, 500 letter color copies at Staples self-service would run about $295 to $345 before tax. FedEx Office self-service would run about $355 to $380. The same quantity at 55printing is $74.11 for 499 pages before shipping, 14.9 cents a page. If you can wait for production and shipping, online ordering is dramatically cheaper at that quantity.
Is online printing always cheaper?
No. Online printing is cheaper for planned volume, not for every job. If you need 10 pages today, a local counter is cheaper once shipping and wait time are included. If you need 100, 500, or 1,000 pages and can wait a few business days, online production usually wins because the per-page rate is a fraction of the counter rate and shipping becomes a small share of the total. The cheapest option depends on quantity and deadline.
Does 55printing offer same-day pickup like Staples or FedEx?
No. 55printing is an online printer, so orders are produced and shipped rather than picked up at a local retail counter. That is why it can beat retail counter prices on volume jobs. Use Staples or FedEx for true same-day pickup. Use 55printing for planned color copy jobs where the lower per-page cost and proof review matter more than walking out of a store today.
Which is better for business presentations?
FedEx is often better for presentation finishing because many locations offer binding, tabs, covers, and staff help. Staples can also handle presentation jobs, but FedEx tends to be the stronger service-depth pick. If the presentation is just loose color pages and you have a few business days, 55printing is usually cheaper for the printed pages themselves.
Which is better for school packets or nonprofit handouts?
For a handful of packets needed today, Staples usually wins because it is cheaper than FedEx and convenient. For 100 or more packet pages needed next week, 55printing usually wins because the per-page rate is about a fifth of the counter rate. A 499-page color job costs $74.11 before shipping at 55printing, verified October 14, 2026.
Should I ask Staples or FedEx for a bulk quote?
Yes, if you must pick up locally. Machine rates are not always the lowest rate a print department can quote for a larger job. Ask the counter for a bulk color copy quote and compare it against the 55printing online total. If the counter quote is close and you need same-day pickup, local can make sense. If the quote is several hundred dollars higher, order online.
Should I use the same PDF to compare Staples, FedEx, and online?
Yes. Count the pages once from the file, then multiply that same number by each price. Quoting 99 prints at one counter and a different total at another gives you a gap that has nothing to do with price. On the 55printing form the page count is read from the uploaded PDF and locked, so the online quote uses the document, not a guess.
Does the online form really read my page count?
On the color copies form you can type a count to price the job first. After you attach the PDF, the form reads the page count from that file and locks the number. Sets stays editable because it is the number of complete copies. Checked on the live form October 16, 2026.