Resources · Free tool
Printing cost calculator.
Estimate the per-piece cost of labels, shrink sleeves and pouches. Pick your product, enter the job, and we'll email you the full cost breakdown by category.
Dedicated calculators:Label cost →Shrink sleeve cost →Pouch cost →
Indicative estimate · for guidance only
Your estimate
Cost breakdown
Where the cost goes
Indicative estimate · full breakdown emailed to you
Discuss this job with us →How it works
How the estimate is worked out
The calculator prices your job the way a print estimator would: it works out how much web the job uses, prices every cost line, then divides the total by the number of good pieces. It's an indicative estimate, and only as good as the numbers you enter.
- Material
- Film or label stock for the full printed web, including the gaps between pieces and the wastage you enter.
- Plates
- Plate origination by plate area and number of colours: a one-time cost spread over your order quantity.
- Ink
- Ink by number of colours, coverage and price.
- Converting and finishing
- For labels, die-cutting (an inline flexible die or an offline flat-bed pass, spread over the die's life) and optional lamination or cold foil. For pouches, converting when you choose it.
- Machine time
- Run time at your press speed plus set-up and changeover, charged for electricity, manpower and the press itself, with its price turned into an EMI at 10% a year over 7 years.
Ready to run the job yourself? See the Nova A8 multi-substrate flexo press.
FAQ
Printing cost calculator — questions
What can this printing cost calculator estimate?
It estimates the per-piece cost of three common jobs — self-adhesive labels, shrink sleeves and flexible-packaging pouches. Pick your product and enter the job; you'll get an indicative per-piece cost on screen and the full breakdown by email.
How does it work out the cost?
For each product it adds up the real cost components — material or film, plate origination spread over the run, ink by colour and coverage, die-cutting or converting where relevant, machine time and manpower, and waste — then divides by your order quantity.
Is the calculator free?
Yes, completely free. You'll see the per-piece cost on screen and receive the full category-by-category breakdown by email.
How accurate are the numbers?
They're indicative estimates for guidance, based on your inputs and typical rates. Your real cost depends on your material contracts and job specifics — share the details and we'll firm it up.
Do you also compare printing processes?
Yes — use Flexo vs Gravure or Flexo vs Offset to price the same job on two processes and see the break-even quantity.
Which calculator should I use?
Use the label calculator for self-adhesive labels on rolls, the shrink sleeve calculator for PVC, PETG, OPS or PET sleeves, and the pouch calculator for printed flexible packaging. All three run on this same tool, with your product picked for you.
What do I need to enter?
Your order quantity, the size of each piece, the material and its price, the number of colours and their coverage, and your press speed, wastage, set-up time and running costs. Sensible starting values are filled in where they apply.
Why does the calculator ask for a machine price?
So the cost of owning the press is counted. The price is turned into a monthly EMI, as a loan at 10% a year over 7 years, and charged for the hours your job runs. Enter the price of the press you run or are considering.