Pricing B2B Buying Quotation
Buyers email us “how much for 2000 labels?” and expect a number. The honest answer is that label pricing has no single rate — it is a build-up. As an independent supplier running both short-run digital (from 300 pieces) and high-volume flexo under one roof, we see the full price spectrum and can sanity-check any quote, ours or a competitor’s. The cost always comes down to four things: what it is made of, how big it is, what finishes you add, and how many you order.
The four levers that decide the price
- Material (face stock): Coated paper and standard PP are the cheap workhorses. BOPP film, PET, and textured specialty papers cost more per square metre. Metallic/foil films and destructible security stocks sit at the top.
- Size & shape: Price tracks area. A 30×30 mm label uses roughly a quarter of the material of a 60×60 mm one. Irregular die-cut shapes need a one-time tooling fee.
- Process & finish: Plain flexo or digital print is the baseline. Hot/cold foil, spot UV, embossing, epoxy dome and serialised security each add a step — and a cost.
- Volume: This is the biggest swing. Setup, plate and tooling are fixed, so spreading them over 20,000 pieces instead of 500 cuts the per-piece cost dramatically.
What the finishes actually add
The base print is cheap; the finish is where cost climbs. These are realistic per-piece add-ons on top of a plain label, based on our typical runs:
| Scenario | Typical build | Realistic per-piece range |
|---|---|---|
| Small craft run (soap, candles) | 500 pcs, coated paper, digital, die-cut | $0.04–0.09 |
| Standard product label | 3,000 pcs, PP/BOPP, flexo, plain | $0.02–0.04 |
| Premium wine / spirit | 5,000 pcs, textured paper, hot foil + emboss | $0.10–0.20 |
| Security / anti-counterfeit | VOID + serial QR, PET base | $0.08–0.18 |
| Epoxy dome badge | 2,000 pcs, dome resin + print | $0.15–0.30 |
One-time costs you should expect
These do not show up per piece but appear on the first order:
- Tooling / die-cut plate: $15–40 for a custom shape. Re-used on reorders, so it is a one-time hit.
- Printing plate (flexo): $20–60 per colour station for long runs; digital has no plate, which is why short runs favour digital.
- Sample / proof: $20–50, usually credited against your production order once it goes ahead.
Why two quotes can be 5× apart
When a quote comes back far below or above another, do not assume one shop is “ripping you off.” Check the hidden variables:
- MOQ: A $0.015 label at 50,000 pcs is a different job from a $0.06 label at 500. Compare at the same quantity.
- Material grade: “Waterproof” can mean cheap PP film or conformable BOPP with a freezer adhesive — not the same cost or performance (see our adhesion guide).
- Finish method: Cold foil is cheaper than hot foil but reads differently; spot UV is cheaper than a full epoxy dome.
- Lead time: A rushed 7-day turn often carries a premium over a standard 15–20 day schedule.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum order quantity?
For digital, we can run as low as 300–500 pieces economically because there is no plate to amortise. Flexo needs higher volume to pay off its tooling, so below ~2,000 pieces digital is usually cheaper per piece despite a higher base rate.
Is there a setup fee every time I reorder?
No. Tooling and approved artwork are kept on file. Reorders typically only pay for material and print — which is why your second and third orders cost less than the first.
Can I get an exact price without sending a file?
Close, but not exact. Material, size, quantity and finish get us to a tight range in minutes. The final number needs your artwork (for die lines and colour count) and substrate confirmation — that is what turns a range into a firm quote.
Does adding foil really cost that much more?
It adds a step: a foil roll, registration, and usually a slower press speed. On a short run the fixed setup dominates, so foil can look expensive per piece; on a large run the per-piece premium shrinks. Compare the two at your actual volume before cutting the finish.
DJB Print is an independent, manufacturing-trading integrated supplier of labels and custom packaging. Beyond labels, we source and coordinate cartons, bottles and pouches, and take responsibility for the quality, colour, finish and VI consistency of the whole pack. The figures above are reference ranges from typical jobs, not a binding quote; final pricing is confirmed against your actual order. Send us the artwork and quantity and we will return a firm number, usually within one business day.