Digital is cheap for small quantities; offset only becomes economical at larger print runs. The question of offset or digital printing therefore mainly comes down to your print run. There is a tipping point above which offset is cheaper per copy, and that point can be calculated.
The tipping point
Because offset has set-up costs (printing plates), you first pay those back through a lower unit price. With a small number of copies those set-up costs weigh heavily; with a large number they fade into insignificance. The point at which offset becomes cheaper than digital is what we call the tipping point. You can read about the technique behind this trade-off in the explanation of offset printing.
What does it depend on?
- Page count and format: more paper shifts the point.
- Colour: full colour affects the set-up costs of offset.
- Paper and finishing: special choices count as well.
Have it calculated
You do not have to work this out yourself: we compare both techniques for your print run and choose the most economical one. Request prices for several quantities to see the tipping point for your book.
The rule of thumb
As a rule of thumb the tipping point for books often lies somewhere between 100 and 300 copies. For a thick book in colour, offset can be cheaper from about 100 copies; for a thin black-and-white booklet the point lies higher.
When in doubt, simply have it calculated twice. Ask for a price for the number you definitely need and a price for double that. If you see the price per copy drop considerably at the higher number, you are around the tipping point; if it stays flat, digital is still the logical choice for your book.
This really is a rule of thumb: the exact point differs per project. Hesitating between offset or digital printing for your run? Read our article on the difference between offset and digital printing as well for the technique behind it.
Why offset only pays off at higher print runs
The difference is in the set-up costs. With offset, printing plates have to be made and the press has to be set up before the first good sheet comes out. You incur those costs once, whether you print a hundred or five thousand copies. Digital printing has no such set-up: the first copy costs almost as much as the thousandth.
That is why the two lines cross at some point. Below the tipping point digital is cheaper because you pay no set-up; above it offset wins, because the cost per sheet is then lower and the set-up is spread over many more copies. Exactly where that point lies differs per book: for a slim booklet with many colour pages it sits somewhere else than for a thick black-and-white novel.
Costs that are easily forgotten
The price per copy is not the whole story. With a large print run you also buy storage: books that sit in a warehouse for a year cost space and run the risk of becoming outdated if something in the text changes. With a small digital run you pay more per copy, but you keep the freedom to reprint quickly and correct along the way.
Add the delivery time to that: offset requires more preparation, digital is ready sooner. Anyone with a launch date sometimes deliberately chooses digital even though offset would be cheaper on paper. Hesitating between the two? Then also read the article on the difference between offset and digital printing.
Frequently asked questions about offset or digital printing
From how many copies is offset cheaper?
As a rule of thumb somewhere between 100 and 300 copies, depending on page count, colour and finishing. For thick books in colour the point lies lower.
Is digital printing of lesser quality?
No. Modern digital printing is comparable in quality to offset. The difference is in the cost structure, not in the result.
Can I start small and order offset later?
You can, but bear in mind that with offset you pay set-up costs again. For small reorders digital often remains cheaper.