Is It Cheaper to Print Your Own Business Cards?
On the face of it, printing your own business cards looks like an easy way to save money. You've already got a printer, you can buy card online, and there are plenty of free templates. So why pay a printer?
The honest answer is that once you add up the card, the ink, the wasted sheets and your time, printing your own business cards is rarely cheaper — and the results are rarely as good. In this guide we'll break down the real costs, look at the quality issues, and explain when DIY does make sense.
The real cost of printing your own business cards
Card sheets
You can't just print business cards on ordinary card and cut them out neatly. Most people buy pre-perforated business card sheets, typically sold in packs of around 10 business cards per A4 sheet. Branded packs can cost more than you'd expect for the number of cards you get.
Ink
This is the cost most people underestimate. Business cards often have solid areas of colour, dark backgrounds or full-colour logos, all of which use a lot of ink. Replacement cartridges are expensive, and colour-heavy designs can run through them faster than you'd think.
Wasted sheets
Getting the alignment right on perforated sheets usually takes a few attempts. Every misaligned test print is a wasted sheet of card and more ink.
Your time
Setting up the template, test printing, adjusting, printing the final run and separating or cutting every card takes time. For a business owner, that's time not spent on paying work.
Adding it up
Once you've bought a pack of card sheets and used a significant amount of ink, the total cost of 100 home-printed cards can easily approach — or exceed — the cost of having them professionally printed. And you'll still have lighter card and rougher edges.
For comparison, 100 professional single-sided business cards on heavyweight 400gsm card cost £40 + VAT with us, printed and trimmed the same day. See how much it costs to get 100 business cards made for the full breakdown.
The quality problem with DIY business cards
Even if the costs were equal, there are some things home printing simply can't match.
Card weight
Most home and office printers struggle with heavy card. Many are designed for paper and lighter card only, and heavier stock can jam or feed unevenly. That's why most DIY business card sheets are relatively light. Professional business cards are printed on much heavier stock — both of ours are 400gsm — which feels solid and doesn't bend in a wallet.
Edges
Perforated cards leave small, fuzzy "teeth" along the edges when you separate them. Hand-cut cards are rarely perfectly straight. Professional cards are trimmed on a guillotine, giving clean, sharp edges on every card.
Colour and consistency
Home inkjet printers can produce streaks, banding and slight colour shifts from one sheet to the next. Uncoated card can also absorb ink unevenly. A professional digital press like our Xerox Versant 2100 is calibrated for consistent colour across the whole run.
Full-bleed designs
If your design has colour or an image running right to the edge of the card, home printing makes that very difficult. Professional printers print with bleed and trim it off, so the colour runs cleanly to the edge.
Durability
Home inkjet ink can smudge if it gets damp. Professionally printed cards are much more robust.
Home vs professional: side-by-side
| Printing at home | Professional printing | |
|---|---|---|
| Card weight | Usually light | Heavyweight 400gsm |
| Edges | Perforated or hand-cut | Clean guillotine trim |
| Colour to the edge | Difficult | Yes, with bleed |
| Colour consistency | Can vary | Consistent |
| Time required | Your time | None — just order |
| Cost per 100 | Card + ink + waste | £40 + VAT |
When printing your own business cards makes sense
DIY isn't always the wrong choice. It can work when:
- You need just a handful of cards for tonight
- The cards are temporary, such as event name cards or placeholders
- You're testing layouts before sending a design to print
- Appearance genuinely doesn't matter for your purpose
The better alternative if you're in a hurry
Many people consider DIY because they need cards urgently. In London, same-day printing solves that problem. Order before 2 PM Monday to Friday and collect professionally printed cards the same day from our studio in Finchley. Read can I make business cards in one day? to see how it works.
The better alternative if you're on a budget
If cost is the main concern, remember that the price per card falls sharply as you order more. 500 single-sided cards cost £62 + VAT with us — just 12.4p per card. For bigger volumes, see our guide to 1,000 business cards for a low price.
You can still save money by designing your own card. Use a free Canva template, export as PDF Print with crop marks and bleed, and follow our artwork guidelines. That way you avoid design fees and still get a professional result.
Which professional card should you choose?
400gsm uncoated business cards — thick, rigid and matt, with a surface that's easy to write on.
Mayfair Ivory — a warm off-white, lightly textured 400gsm card with a classic feel.
Both are the same price, and both are available same day.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to print business cards at home?
Rarely. Once you add card sheets, ink, wasted prints and your time, home printing often costs close to — or more than — professional printing, with lower quality.
Can my home printer print on thick card?
Many home printers struggle with heavy card. Check your printer's maximum supported paper weight before buying card.
What's the cheapest way to get professional business cards?
Order a larger quantity, design your own card with a free template, supply a print-ready PDF and collect in person to avoid delivery charges.
Can I design my card myself and have it professionally printed?
Yes — that's what most of our customers do. Canva works well; just export a print-ready PDF with bleed.
Get professional cards for less than you think
Browse our professional business cards and see how affordable same-day printing can be.
