Business Card Printing Costs Explained: Board, Finish & Quantity
Business Card Printing Cost questions answered by the team that prints it every day. Platinum Digital Printing runs its own presses, embroidery machines and large-format printers in Randburg, Johannesburg — this guide shares what we tell our own clients, with no sales fog.
The Three Price Levers
Board weight (350gsm standard, 400gsm+ premium), finish (matt or gloss lamination standard; soft-touch, spot UV and foil premium) and quantity. 500 cards is the sweet spot for most professionals.
Unit prices drop sharply with volume because setup costs spread across the run. If your budget is tight, increasing quantity often costs less than you expect per unit.
Standard vs Premium
A standard laminated card projects competence. Soft-touch with spot UV projects luxury — and costs meaningfully more. Match the card to what a client should feel when they hold it.
Double-sided printing adds little — use the back for services, QR code or socials.
Design and Setup
Clean design matters more than expensive finishes. Our designers set up brand-true cards affordably with your print order, and your artwork stays on file for one-email reorders.
Supply a print-ready PDF with 3mm bleed at 300dpi where possible. Not sure? Send what you have — our prepress team checks every file free and flags problems before they cost you money.
Fast Turnaround
Standard cards print same-day with morning artwork; premium finishes add 1–3 working days for the extra processes.
Because production happens in-house at our Randburg centre, Gauteng clients can collect same-day on many products, and national orders courier within 1–3 working days.
Need Business Card Printing Cost Handled?
Exact quote within the hour — free artwork check, digital proof, same-day options in Gauteng.
Business Card Printing Cost — Frequently Asked Questions
How much do 500 business cards cost in South Africa?
Standard 350gsm laminated cards at 500 units are one of the cheapest marketing buys in print — request a quote for exact current pricing.
Is double-sided printing worth it?
Almost always — the extra cost is small and the back doubles your message space.
What is the most premium business card finish?
Soft-touch lamination with spot UV highlights, or foil on dark board — unmistakable in the hand.
Related Services
Further reading: business cards.
