FedEx prints it wrong.
You find out at the permit counter.
FedEx prints what you upload — wrong scale, wrong orientation, no one checks. You find out at the permit counter. We catch it before anything prints.
Upload your plans — we'll catch what FedEx won't →Full comparison
FedEx Office vs Azul Prints — every factor that matters
| FedEx Office | Azul Prints | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per ARCH D 24×36 (B&W) | $4.99–$6.99 | $3.00 |
| 10-page permit set cost | $49.90–$69.90 | $30.00 + free shipping |
| Technician file review | ✗ None — prints as uploaded | ✓ Every order reviewed |
| Scale verification | ✗ Not included | ✓ Confirmed before printing |
| Nationwide shipping | ✗ Pickup only at most locations | ✓ All 50 states via UPS |
| Ships to job site | ✗ In-store pickup required | ✓ Direct to any address |
| Same-day shipping | Varies by location; not guaranteed | ✓ Guaranteed before 12 PM EST |
| Rush fees | Often applies | ✓ Never — same-day is standard |
| Account required | FedEx account helps for billing | ✓ No account needed |
| Minimum order | Varies | ✓ None — order 1 sheet |
| File confidentiality | Standard retail data policy | ✓ SSL encrypted · Deleted after 7 days |
| Job-site ready packaging | Flat sleeve or tube, varies | ✓ Rigid tube, labeled, field-ready |
FedEx Office pricing based on current online pricing for ARCH D 24×36 B&W bond at a typical US location. Prices vary by market. Last verified March 2026.
The problem most contractors don't catch until it's too late
FedEx prints what you give them.
Wrong scale means a reprint — on your dime.
Think about the actual cost of a wrong-scale permit set: the reprint at $50–$70, the scheduling delay waiting for the next inspection window, and the time a PM spent driving to FedEx in the first place. That's not a printing problem — that's a workflow problem that starts when a shop prints what you give them without looking at it.
FedEx Office's production workflow is automated. There is no human who opens your PDF. If your drawing exports at 50% scale because "fit to page" was left on, FedEx prints it at 50% and hands it to you. You find out standing at the building department counter when the inspector rejects the set — not before printing. And you don't find out until it's already printed, paid for, and in your hands. The "cheaper" trip to FedEx just cost you an inspection slot and two reprints.
FedEx's system is designed to print files, not verify them. Ours is designed to catch issues before printing. That's not a marketing claim — it's a structural difference in how the two services are built.
At Azul Prints, every file is opened by a real print technician — not an automated queue. They confirm the scale matches the ARCH or ANSI standard you selected. They check orientation. They verify line weights and resolution. If something's wrong, you get a message before a single sheet runs — not a receipt and an apology.
Not sure if your plans are ARCH or ANSI? That's where most scale issues start →
Permit set submitted at wrong scale
Building department requires 1:100. File exports at 1:50. FedEx prints it. Inspector rejects it. You reorder.
Plans rotated portrait instead of landscape
Architectural sheets default to landscape. Auto-print flips them. FedEx ships portrait. Title block is sideways on-site.
Multi-set job with inconsistent sizes
Structural drawings are ANSI D, architectural are ARCH D. FedEx prints a mixed set. Crew can't overlay them on-site.
Fair assessment
When does FedEx Office actually make sense?
We'll be honest: FedEx Office is a reasonable choice in two specific situations — when you need a single print in under two hours and you're already at a location with a nearby FedEx, or when you need something printed for a same-room meeting and can't wait for UPS delivery. For one-off, low-stakes prints where scale verification doesn't matter, walk-in convenience has value.
For everything else — permit sets, multi-set distribution, job-site delivery, or any print where scale accuracy matters — ordering blueprint printing online through Azul Prints saves 40–50% and eliminates the reprint risk. The file review alone pays for itself the first time it catches a scale error before submission.
Before you decide
When FedEx becomes the wrong choice
FedEx has a place. It's not every job. If any of these describe your order, you don't want this printed blindly.
If any of these apply — or if you're even slightly unsure your file is correct — this is not where you guess. Upload your plans — we'll catch issues before they get printed.
Upload plans & get instant price →See your exact savings
Calculate what you'd pay at Azul Prints
Use the instant cost calculator — enter your size, quantity, and sets. See the total before you commit. No account, no obligation.
Open Blueprint Cost Calculator →Common questions
FedEx vs Azul — FAQ
FedEx's system is built to print.
Ours is built to catch what goes wrong first.
Upload your plans — scale verified, issues caught before printing. D-size from $3/sheet. Ships to your job site the same day. No account. No pickup required.
Upload your plans — we'll catch what FedEx won't →