How Much Are Color Copies at Staples? 2026 Prices Per Page
Staples charges roughly $0.59 to $0.69 per color page at the self-service machines, and $0.89 to $1.09 at the full-service counter, as of August 2026. On 100 copies that's $59 to $109 depending on which you use.
That's the short answer. Below is what sits behind those numbers, when Staples is genuinely the right choice, and what the same job costs if you can wait a couple of days.
Staples Copy and Print Prices Per Page
| What you're printing | Self-service | Full-service counter |
|---|---|---|
| Color, letter size | $0.59 – $0.69 | $0.89 – $1.09 |
| Black & white, letter size | Substantially less than color — confirm locally | |
| Legal and tabloid | Priced above letter; confirm locally | |
| Cardstock and specialty paper | Surcharge over standard 20lb stock | |
Figures are the ranges reported across Staples locations as of August 2026, on standard 20lb copy paper. Heavier stocks cost more. Staples does not publish a single national price, so your local store is the final word.
What 100 Color Copies Costs, Compared
| Where | Per page | 100 copies | Delivered total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staples full-service | $0.89 – $1.09 | $89 – $109 | $89 – $109 + the trip |
| FedEx Office self-service | $0.71 – $0.76 | $71 – $76 | $71 – $76 + the trip |
| Staples self-service | $0.59 – $0.69 | $59 – $69 | $59 – $69 + the trip |
| DocuCopies (online) | — | $42.26 | $62.58 incl. $20.32 shipping |
| My Color Copies | $0.36 | $36.00 | $46.00 incl. $10 shipping |
Self-Service or the Counter?
The gap between Staples' two options is roughly thirty cents a page — a bigger spread than most people expect, and worth thinking about before you walk in.
Self-service
You load the file from a USB drive or the cloud, choose settings on the machine, and pay at the terminal. Cheapest option at Staples, and fine for straightforward documents. The catch is that you own any mistakes — wrong scaling, wrong sides, unexpected color shifts.
Full-service counter
Staff take the file and run it. Roughly 30¢ more per page, but you get help with paper, sizing, and finishing, and someone checks the output before you pay. Worth it for anything a customer will see, or anything with folding or binding.
When Staples Makes Sense
We're an online printer, so treat this with appropriate suspicion — but there are real cases where the retail counter is the right answer, and pretending otherwise wouldn't help you.
Go to Staples when…
You need copies today. You're printing under about 25 pages, where shipping outweighs any per-page saving. You want to hold a proof before committing. Or you're already there and it's genuinely not worth a second errand.
Order online when…
Your deadline is more than three days out. You're printing 100 or more. You'll reorder the same piece. Or you want consistent color across the run — a commercial press holds color better than a self-service copier.
How to Spend Less at Staples
- Print black and white wherever color isn't doing work. The saving is large and most documents only need color on a few pages.
- Use self-service for simple jobs. Thirty cents a page adds up over a few hundred sheets.
- Bring a print-ready PDF. Fixing files at the counter costs time and, on full-service, money.
- Print double-sided. Cheaper than two sheets, and half the stack.
- Skip cardstock unless the piece needs it. Standard stock handles most jobs.
- Check the Staples rewards program if you print there regularly — it won't close a 50% gap, but it helps at the margins.
Staples Printing Questions
How much are color copies at Staples?
Roughly $0.59 to $0.69 per letter page self-service, and $0.89 to $1.09 at the full-service counter, as of August 2026. Staples doesn't publish a national rate, so prices vary by store, paper, and size. One hundred color copies works out to $59 to $109 depending which option you use.
How much does it cost to print in color at Staples?
Same rates as copying — $0.59 to $0.69 self-service, $0.89 to $1.09 full-service per letter page. Printing from a digital file and copying a physical original are priced the same; what changes the price is color versus black and white, size, paper, and which service you use.
Is Staples cheaper than FedEx for color copies?
Slightly, on self-service. Staples runs about $0.59 to $0.69 per color page against FedEx Office's $0.71 to $0.76 as of August 2026. On 100 copies that's a difference of roughly $7 to $12 — real, but not decisive, and both vary by location.
The bigger difference is retail versus online. See our FedEx Office and Kinko's pricing breakdown for the full comparison.
Can I print from my phone at Staples?
Yes. Staples self-service machines accept files from cloud storage and email, and Staples offers online ordering with in-store pickup. Exact options vary by store and change over time, so check before you rely on it for something urgent.
Does Staples print on cardstock?
Yes, along with other specialty stocks, at a surcharge over standard 20lb paper. Availability varies by location — call ahead if your job needs a specific weight or finish.
What's the cheapest place to get color copies?
For anything over about 100 pages, an online printer — there's no storefront in the price. For very small jobs, or when you need them within the hour, a retail counter usually wins once shipping is counted.
Our rates start at $0.36 per letter color copy and fall to $0.24 at 2,000, with $10 flat shipping and free delivery over $125. Full pricing is on our color copy pricing page.