The cheapest place to print flyers for 500+ full-color pieces is usually online commercial printing, not a walk-in counter. 500 full-page 8.5×11 flyers at 55printing cost $101.91 on 100lb gloss stock (live cart, July 2026). The same quantity at FedEx or Staples often runs $145 to $245.
- Under 50, same day: local counter still wins on speed.
- 100+ with 5+ days lead time: cheap flyer printing online usually beats online vs local flyers by half to two-thirds on price.
- Where to print flyers for less: start with quantity and deadline, not brand loyalty.
Cheapest place to print flyers: who wins by quantity
There is no single cheapest place to print flyers because the answer depends on how many copies you need, how fast you need them, and what paper quality matters for your use case.
The honest answer breaks down by three use cases:
- Under 25 copies, needed same day: Local copy shop wins. No online printer can match a same-hour production window. The per-copy price will be high ($0.29 to $0.49 at major chains) but the time value is real.
- 100 to 500 copies, standard paper: Online commercial printing wins on cost. 100 flyers at 55printing on 100lb gloss cost $43.92 ($0.44/copy). The same at Staples on copy paper runs $29 to $49 with less durable paper and no gloss finish. At 500 copies, 55printing charges $101.91 ($0.20/copy) while the counter runs $145 to $245.
- 500 to 5,000 copies, quality paper: Online printing wins decisively. At 1,000 copies, 55printing charges $110.42 ($0.11/copy). A retail copy shop would charge $290 to $490 for the same quantity. The gap only widens at 5,000 copies.
Counter vs online: a price table (2026)
The table below compares 55printing live cart prices (verified July 17, 2026) to typical retail counter prices at major chains. Counter prices are approximate ranges from publicly available posted rates at Staples and FedEx Office as of July 2026.
| Quantity | 55printing online (100lb gloss) | Copy shop counter (estimate) | Online savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | $43.92* | $14 to $25 | Counter wins at this qty |
| 100 | $43.92 | $29 to $49 | Comparable to counter |
| 250 | $84.47 | $72 to $123 | ~$0 to $39 saved |
| 500 | $101.91 | $145 to $245 | ~$43 to $143 saved |
| 1,000 | $110.42 | $290 to $490 | ~$180 to $380 saved |
| 5,000 | $289.82 | $1,450 to $2,450 | ~$1,160 to $2,160 saved |
*55printing minimum for 8.5×11 is 100 copies; 50-copy price reflects the 100-copy rate. Counter prices are estimates for standard color copy paper, not gloss coated stock. Live 55printing prices from cart, July 17, 2026. Counter prices from posted public rate cards, subject to change.
What the counter saves you (and when it matters)
The copy shop counter has one genuine advantage: speed. Walk in, upload your file, pick it up in 30 to 60 minutes. No waiting for a shipped package. No five-day production window. If you need 25 flyers for a neighborhood walk tomorrow morning and you just thought of it tonight, the counter is the right call.
Counter printing also makes sense for: last-minute changes to an event handout, one-off test prints to check how your design looks at actual size before a larger order, or a replacement for a handful of damaged pieces from a previous order. In all of these cases, the premium per-copy price is justified by the time savings.
The counter works against you when you are printing anything over 100 copies, when the paper quality matters (gloss-coated stock for a real estate flyer or a restaurant special is more durable and more legible than standard copy paper), or when you are trying to make the most of a limited marketing budget.
What online printing saves you (and when it matters)
Online commercial printing wins on price once quantity rises above about 100 copies. The reason is scale: an online printer runs your job alongside thousands of other jobs on high-volume digital presses with automated workflow. The per-unit cost of press time drops dramatically compared to a walk-in counter where a staff member manually sets up and runs each job.
Online also wins on paper quality for the same price. The 100lb gloss-coated stock that 55printing uses as a standard flyer substrate is a noticeably heavier, more professional-feeling sheet than the copy paper used by default at copy shop counters. A restaurant owner handing out a flyer on gloss stock projects more credibility than the same design on copy paper.
The tradeoff is time. Factor in the full lead time: production turnaround (5 to 7 business days at standard, 1 to 3 for rush) plus shipping (2 to 5 business days ground). The earliest you typically receive an online order is 3 to 5 business days from file upload. Plan for 7 to 10 days total for the first order until you learn how the specific turnaround times work for your address.
The real cost of ordering online: a worked example
Here is a full cost comparison for a local real estate agent who needs 500 flyers for an open house coming up in 9 days.
Option A · 55printing online
- Product: 500 flyers, 8.5×11, 100lb gloss, both sides
- Print cost: $101.91
- Shipping (ground, estimated): $12.00
- Total: $113.91
- Quality: Professional gloss-coated stock
- Estimated in-hand: 7-9 business days from file upload
Option B · FedEx or Staples
- Product: 500 color copies, 8.5×11, standard copy paper
- Print cost: $145 to $245 (counter estimate)
- Drive time/pickup: 1 hour
- Total: $145 to $245
- Quality: Copy paper (lighter, less durable, no gloss)
- Estimated in-hand: Same day
With 9 days of lead time, Option A saves $31 to $131 and delivers a better paper quality. With only 1 day of lead time, Option B is the only realistic path even at the higher cost. The 9-day scenario applies to most event and promotional flyer needs when you have a normal planning horizon.
How to get online prices without file headaches
The most common reason people pay counter prices for planned runs is anxiety about file preparation. If you have never ordered from an online printer before, the requirement for a “print-ready PDF” with “bleed” and “300 DPI” can feel like a barrier.
The practical path is simpler than it sounds. If you designed your flyer in Canva, export using “Print Bleed PDF” option. If you used PowerPoint or Word, export as PDF. Upload whatever you have to 55printing, and the prepress team will flag any issues in the free proof review before charging you for a print run with a problem.
The 55printing file prep guide walks through the exact export steps for Canva, Adobe programs, Microsoft Office, and Google Slides. Most files only need a one-time setup tweak; after that, reorders from the same file go straight to proof without adjustment.
Configure size, paper, and quantity on the live flyer form. Free proof before you pay.
Cheapest flyer printing FAQ
What is the cheapest place to print 500 flyers?
For 500 full-color 8.5×11 flyers on quality paper, 55printing is currently the cheapest verified option in 2026 at $101.91 for 100lb gloss coated stock, double-sided (live cart, July 2026), plus shipping. This compares to $145 to $245 at Staples or FedEx Office on standard copy paper. Online commercial printers beat walk-in copy shops on price for any quantity of 100 or more when you have at least 5 to 7 business days of production lead time. The counter is cheaper only for very small quantities (under 25 copies) or same-day emergency needs.
Is it cheaper to print flyers at Staples or online?
Online is cheaper for any quantity of 100 or more when you have at least a week of lead time. Staples color copies run roughly $0.29 per page as of 2026, which is $145 for 500 single-sided copies on standard copy paper. 55printing charges $101.91 for 500 double-sided flyers on 100lb gloss stock, which is both cheaper and better quality paper. At 1,000 copies the gap grows further: Staples would run $290 for one-sided standard copies vs $110.42 for two-sided gloss at 55printing. Staples beats online only for same-day or very small orders where the turnaround time has more value than the price difference.
How much does it cost to print 1,000 flyers?
At 55printing, 1,000 flyers on 8.5×11 100lb gloss stock (double-sided) costs $110.42, plus shipping (live cart, July 2026). For half-page 5.5×8.5 flyers, 1,000 copies cost $66.91. For a 4×6 flyer or postcard-size piece, 1,000 copies cost $36.59. The price per copy at 1,000 drops to $0.11 for full-page, $0.067 for half-page, and $0.037 for postcard-size. At Staples or FedEx Office, 1,000 color copies would cost $290 to $490 depending on the store and paper stock. Online commercial printing is approximately 70 percent cheaper per copy at 1,000 pieces.
Can I print flyers at Walgreens or CVS?
Walgreens and CVS photo centers do not typically offer full-color flyer printing on marketing paper stocks. Walgreens photo can print single photos and posters at photo quality, but the per-page cost for full-color document printing is generally higher than a copy shop counter, and the paper is photo paper rather than the coated marketing stock used for flyers. For flyer printing specifically, the most common options are FedEx Office, Staples, UPS Store, Office Depot for walk-in needs, or 55printing for online orders. For planned print runs, the online option is substantially cheaper and uses better paper.
How long does online flyer printing take?
At 55printing, the standard turnaround for flyers is 5 to 7 business days from proof approval to shipping. Add 2 to 5 business days for ground shipping to your address. The total time from file upload to in-hand delivery is typically 7 to 12 business days for standard orders. Rush turnarounds are available for 1 to 3 business day production at additional cost. For the fastest possible online order, a rush production combined with expedited shipping can deliver in 3 to 5 total days from file upload in many cases. Use the order page’s estimated ship date calculator to see the specific timeline for your turnaround and shipping combination.
What paper do online flyers use compared to copy shops?
55printing uses 100lb gloss-coated paper as the standard flyer stock. This is a heavier, stiffer paper than standard copy paper (20lb bond), with a glossy coating that makes colors appear more vivid and makes the piece more durable when handled. Copy shop counters at Staples and FedEx Office default to standard 20lb copy paper for color copies unless you specifically request and pay for a heavier stock. The 100lb gloss from 55printing is roughly equivalent to a premium paper upgrade at the counter, but included in the standard online price. When comparing prices, account for the fact that the copy shop quote is typically for a lighter paper stock.
Do online flyer printers offer same-day or next-day printing?
Some online printers offer same-day or next-day production options for customers who upload before a specific cutoff time (typically 10 AM or noon Eastern). 55printing offers rush turnarounds with production windows as fast as 1 business day, depending on the product and current production load. However, even a 1-day production turnaround still requires shipping time, so same-day delivery is not possible from an online printer regardless of how fast they print. For a true same-day need, a local copy shop is the only option. For a next-day or two-day in-hand date, call 55printing at (800) 683-4296 to confirm what rush options are available and whether they can meet your specific deadline before placing the order.
What is the minimum flyer order at 55printing?
For 8.5×11 flyers, the minimum is 100 copies. For 5.5×8.5 half-page flyers, the minimum is also 100 copies. For 4×6 postcard-sized pieces, the minimum starts at 50 to 100 copies depending on the paper stock selected. The live product page shows the minimum quantity available when you configure size and paper. Minimums are set because the setup cost for a commercial print job needs to be distributed across enough copies to make the per-unit price commercially viable. If you need fewer than 100 copies, a local copy shop or digital print service is more practical for that specific job.