Color blueprint printing
For sets where color carries meaning: site plans, color-coded MEP sheets, elevations and renderings. On a color order every page is scanned, and pages with little or no color are charged at the black & white rate.
- $7.50 per ARCH D color sheet at 1–24 sheets
- $3.00 for pages with little or no color
- 20 lb bond, all ARCH and ANSI sizes
- Weekday orders by 12 PM Eastern ship the same day
How a color order is priced
You do not have to split a set into color and black & white files. Upload the whole set, choose color, and each page is priced by what is on it.
-
You choose the print mode
Black & white or color, for the whole order, when you upload. The choice stays editable until you pay.
-
On a color order, every page is scanned
The quote tool measures the color coverage of each page. Pages that carry color are priced at the color rate; pages with little or no color are charged at the black & white rate.
-
The volume tier applies to the whole order
The tier is set by the total sheet count across every file and set, and the same percentages apply to color pages and black & white pages alike.
-
A technician reviews the file before printing
If a page you expected in color reads as black & white, or the file looks off, we contact you before anything prints. If we print it wrong, we reprint it at no cost.
Example. A 24-page ARCH D set ordered in color, where 6 pages carry color: 6 × $7.50 + 18 × $3.00 = $99.00 print subtotal at the 1–24 rate. Shipping is chosen at checkout; UPS Ground is free on orders of $29 or more.
Color prices
Color on 20 lb bond is $1.25 per square foot at 1–24 sheets; black & white is $0.50. Prices per sheet, before the volume tier.
By size, at 1–24 sheets
| Size | Dimensions | Black & white | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARCH B | 12 × 18 in | $0.75 | $1.88 |
| ARCH C | 18 × 24 in | $1.50 | $3.75 |
| ARCH D | 24 × 36 in | $3.00 | $7.50 |
| ARCH E | 36 × 48 in | $6.00 | $15.00 |
| ANSI C | 17 × 22 in | $1.30 | $3.25 |
| ANSI D | 22 × 34 in | $2.60 | $6.49 |
| ANSI E | 34 × 44 in | $5.19 | $12.99 |
ARCH A and ANSI A and B are also available; see the full size table. Color on mylar is $22.50 per ARCH D sheet at 1–24; see mylar printing.
| Sheets on the order | Per color sheet |
|---|---|
| 1–24 | $7.50 |
| 25–99 | $6.30 |
| 100–249 | $5.25 |
| 250–499 | $4.50 |
| 500 or more | $4.20 |
Pages with little or no color on the same order follow the black & white ladder, $3.00 down to $1.68. Upload your files for the exact price.
Color or black & white?
Choose color when black & white would lose information. If only a few sheets need it, a color order still charges the rest at the black & white rate.
Order color when
- Color separates systems or zones: MEP coordination, zoning overlays, utility easements
- Site, grading or drainage plans use color-coded contours or flow paths
- Landscape plans key plant schedules or paving by color
- Elevations and renderings go to a client or planning board
- A permit submittal asks for color sheets. Confirm requirements with your building department
Black & white is enough when
- Standard construction documents for field use
- Permit sets with no color requirement
- Subcontractor distribution and bid sets
- RFI and change-order reference prints
- Drawings rely on line weight, not color, for clarity
Color printing FAQs
How much does color blueprint printing cost?
Color on 20 lb bond is $1.25 per square foot at 1–24 sheets, so an ARCH D 24 × 36 color sheet is $7.50. ARCH C 18 × 24 is $3.75, ARCH E 36 × 48 is $15.00 and ANSI D 22 × 34 is $6.49. The rate drops with the total sheet count on the order, down to $4.20 per ARCH D color sheet at 500 sheets or more. Pages with little or no color are charged at the black & white rate.
Can I mix color and black & white sheets in one order?
Yes, without splitting the file. Choose color for the order; the quote tool scans each page and charges pages with little or no color at the black & white rate. A permit set where only the site plan and elevations carry color pays the color rate on those pages only.
What file format do you need?
PDF only. A PDF keeps the colors, line weights and page size your drawing software set. Export from AutoCAD, Revit or Bluebeam as PDF at the sheet size you drew on. A print technician reviews the file before printing. File preparation guide.
Is color available on mylar?
Yes. Color on 4-mil polyester film is $22.50 per ARCH D sheet at 1–24 sheets, at ARCH C, D and E. Mylar has its own volume pricing. Mylar printing.
When does a color order ship?
The same as any order: weekday orders placed by 12 PM Eastern ship the same day via UPS, and arrival depends on the service you choose at checkout. There is no rush processing fee. Same-day dispatch.
More in the full FAQ, or contact us.
Related pages
Price your set in a few minutes.
No account required. Review your total before paying.