Comparison · Online Blueprint Printing
ARC Document Solutions vs Azul Prints — what actually matters
ARC Document Solutions is one of the largest reprographics companies in the United States, with physical locations in most major metros. Azul Prints is fully online with nationwide UPS shipping. The comparison isn't just price — it's file review, color detection, and whether you need to drive somewhere to get your prints.
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You only pay for color where it exists. Per-page color detection — B&W sheets at B&W rates, color only where it's actually in the file.
Upload plans → get exact price in seconds →
ARCH D 24×36 from $3.00/sheet
Side-by-Side Comparison
Azul Prints vs ARC Document Solutions
Note: Competitor pricing and features are based on publicly available information and may change. Verify current details at their site before making a decision.
| Feature | ✓ Azul Prints | ARC Document Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH D 24×36 B&W price | $3.00/sheet — transparent, shown before checkout | Pricing varies by location and is rarely transparent before you order. Azul shows exact pricing instantly on upload — before you commit. |
| Ordering process | Fully online — upload, price, checkout, ships to you | Online upload available via SKYSITE; pickup or delivery depending on location |
| File review before printing | ✓ Technician reviews every file — scale, orientation, completeness | File review quality varies by location and operator — not a guaranteed standard process at every branch. |
| Color page auto-detection | ✓ Per-page — you only pay color rates on pages with color | Color is specified per order. Azul scans every page automatically — you pay color rates only on sheets that have color. |
| Same-day shipping | ✓ Same-day UPS if ordered before 12 PM EST — ships to you | Same-day available at some locations for pickup. Azul ships same-day via UPS nationwide to any address if ordered before 12 PM EST. |
| Physical locations | Nationwide UPS delivery — no physical pickup | 200+ locations in major US metros — local pickup available |
| Scale verification | ✓ Technician verifies scale before printing — standard on every order | Scale verification depends on the specific location and operator. Azul verifies scale on every order as a standard step. |
| Reprint guarantee | ✓ Reprint and overnight ship at no cost if our error | Check with your local branch. Azul reprints and overnight ships at no cost for any print error — no questions. |
| Minimum order | No minimum — 1 sheet or 100 sets | Varies by location. Azul has no minimum. |
| Price transparency | Instant price shown before checkout — no back-and-forth | Quote typically required for commercial orders. Azul shows exact pricing instantly on upload — no back-and-forth. |
What Actually Matters
Why contractors switch to Azul Prints
No driving, no pickup, no waiting
ARC's physical locations require either pickup or local delivery coordination. Azul prints your set, reviews every file, and ships direct to your job site, office, or home via UPS — same day if ordered before noon. You don't need to be in a major metro to get professional-grade printing.
Transparent pricing before you commit
ARC pricing varies by location and typically requires a quote for commercial orders. Azul shows you an exact price before checkout — upload your PDF, get the price, confirm the order. No back-and-forth.
File review on every order, not some
A technician reviewing your file before printing is standard at Azul — not dependent on which location you're working with or which operator is running the job. Scale is verified. Orientation is checked. Page count is confirmed. Every time.
Per-page color detection — not per-order
ARC's standard workflow requires you to specify color or B&W for the order. Azul detects color on a per-page basis — your architectural sheets print in B&W, your MEP coordination drawings print in color, and you pay accordingly. Mixed sets are handled automatically.
What most orders cost
No surprises. Exact price shown before checkout.
ARCH D 24×36 B&W
$3.00/sheet
Typical permit set
$36–$60
Color detection saves
20–40%
A 15-sheet permit set in B&W: $45. Mixed sets where civil drawings are color and architectural is B&W: our per-page detection means you pay B&W rates on the B&W sheets and color rates only on sheets that actually have color — typically 20–40% less than pricing the entire set at color rates.
Upload now → see your exact price in under 10 seconds. Order before 12 PM EST → ships today.
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ARC Document Solutions vs Azul Prints — Common Questions
Honest answers to the most common comparison questions.
Azul Prints charges $3.00/sheet for ARCH D 24×36 in black and white, shown transparently before checkout. ARC Document Solutions pricing varies by location — contact your local ARC for current rates. For mixed color/B&W sets, Azul's per-page color detection means you only pay color rates on sheets that actually have color, which can significantly reduce total cost compared to per-order color pricing.
ARC Document Solutions has physical locations in major US metros offering same-day pickup or local delivery. Nationwide UPS shipping — to any address, not just locations near an ARC office — is Azul's model. If you're not near an ARC location, or if you need prints delivered to a job site rather than picked up, Azul ships same-day via UPS on orders before 12 PM EST.
At Azul Prints, technician file review is standard on every order — scale verification, orientation check, page count review. At ARC Document Solutions, review quality can vary by location and operator. Azul's review is consistent because it's the same process on every order, not dependent on who's working the counter at a local branch.
Azul Prints is built for this. Order before 12 PM EST, and your prints are reviewed, printed, and handed to UPS the same day. UPS Next Day Air delivers by 10:30 AM the following morning to most US addresses. You don't need to be near a physical reprographics location to get same-day printing — you just need to order before noon.
Yes. Azul handles single-sheet orders and 100+ set orders with the same same-day turnaround and file review. Volume orders ship same day if placed before noon. For contractors with consistent high-volume needs, our Azul Pro trade account program offers additional benefits.
If you need prints delivered to you — not picked up — with transparent pricing, per-page color detection, and a file review on every order, yes. Azul is built for the contractor, architect, or engineer who wants professional reprographics without driving to a copy center. ARCH D 24×36 from $3.00/sheet. Same-day UPS. Technician review included.
More Comparisons & Resources
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Azul Prints. File reviewed. Ships today.
ARCH D 24×36 from $3.00/sheet. Technician reviews every file — scale verified, orientation confirmed. Same-day UPS nationwide. Reprint guarantee if we err. No rush fees. No minimums.
Upload plans → get exact price in seconds →
Order before 12 PM EST — ships today