By PLS Printer Editorial Team · 15 September 2026
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Discover how Staples printer services work, from same-day printing to custom design, pricing, phone ordering, and when to use alternatives. Browse all draws at
Printer services at Staples encompass in-store printing, online ordering, design assistance, copying, binding, laminating, and promotional product creation across over 300 locations. Whether you need same-day documents, professional marketing collateral, or custom finishing, this guide explains what Staples offers, how to submit orders, real pricing factors, and when alternatives make sense.
Contents:Staples printer services extend far beyond simple black-and-white document printing. The company offers a range of services including printing, copying, photo gifts, promotional products, binding, laminating, and more. From individual documents to business collateral, the service menu spans both walk-in and pre-ordered work.
Core printer services include:
The service portfolio differs slightly between regions and individual store locations. Visiting your local Staples for immediate in-store printing requires no appointment for many jobs, though larger orders benefit from advance notice.
Staples provides two primary ordering pathways: online submission for pickup or delivery, and in-store walk-in orders. Each method suits different timelines and job complexity.
Print documents easily online or in-store at Staples. The typical workflow is:
Orders placed by noon are available for same-day pickup by store closing, making online submission ideal when you need turnaround without the wait of in-store processing.
Walk-in printing at Staples requires no appointment. Staff assist with file setup, material selection, and finishing options on-site. You can bring files on USB, email ahead, or use a file already on the Staples system. For simple jobs (10–50 copies of a single document), walk-in service typically completes within 15–30 minutes. Larger orders or design-intensive projects may require a few hours.
When walking in, bring:
Same-day printing is one of Staples' core competitive advantages. Same-day prints are available through Staples' Print & Marketing Services, with delivery included on orders over [VERIFY BEFORE PUBLISH] $59.99 in eligible areas.
Turnaround variability depends on store location, current workload, material availability, and job complexity. In-store printing during peak hours (lunch, end-of-business) may extend timelines by 30–60 minutes. Advance orders and online submission reduce delays because staff can batch process and prepare files before customer arrival.
Staples printing pricing is higher per-unit than bulk online print shops but lower than independent print studios for small to mid-sized orders. Understanding the cost structure helps explain the price difference and why Staples isn't always the cheapest option.
1. Immediate Availability and Same-Day Turnaround — Printing the same day or within hours requires staff on-site, machine capacity reserved, and no batch optimization. Online-only print shops print in bulk batches, spreading fixed costs across thousands of units and lowering per-unit price. Staples' convenience premium ranges from 20–40% over budget online printers for identical jobs.
2. Material Selection and Customization — Staples stocks dozens of paper weights, finishes, cardstock colours, and binding options. Customers can inspect, touch, and request upgrades or changes in real-time. This flexibility and inventory cost is reflected in pricing; budget print shops force you to choose from 3–5 standard options.
3. Local Labour and Design Assistance — Staff help troubleshoot file errors, advise on material pairing, adjust layouts, and troubleshoot printer-specific issues. This expert time is priced into the order. Online print shops charge extra (or nothing) for design support because it's handled centrally at lower labour cost.
4. Small Quantity Minimum Pricing — Printing 10 copies is proportionally more expensive than 1,000 because setup, machine time, and handling labour don't scale down. Online shops often mandate minimums (500+ units) to amortize costs; Staples accepts any quantity, charging a per-job handling fee baked into pricing.
Prices fluctuate by location, material type, and current promotions. These are representative estimates:
| Job Type | Quantity | Est. Cost (AUD/CAD) | Cost Per Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| B&W Document (A4) | 10 | [VERIFY] | [VERIFY] |
| Colour Flyer (A5) | 50 | [VERIFY] | [VERIFY] |
| Bound Report (20 pp, colour) | 5 | [VERIFY] | [VERIFY] |
| Business Cards (500) | 500 | [VERIFY] | [VERIFY] |
For budget-conscious buyers, PLS Printer offers competitive online printing with flexible turnaround for bulk orders, often undercutting Staples on per-unit cost for runs over 100 units. However, Staples excels for emergency or small-batch work where turnaround and material flexibility matter more than unit price.
Yes, you can submit print orders from your phone via the Staples mobile app or web portal. You can provide printing services in colour and black-and-white, supporting various formats, and many modern phones can email files directly to a Staples store's submission address.
One common limitation: Staples prefers files in standard formats (PDF, DOCX, PPTX, JPG, PNG). Some proprietary formats (e.g., Canva exports, design-specific filetypes) may need conversion. Call your local Staples before submitting unusual formats to confirm compatibility and avoid rejection or re-upload delays.
Yes, you can bring your own paper, cardstock, envelopes, or specialty materials to Staples for printing. When printing in store, you can bring your own paper or use theirs, with access to cutting tools in-store and helpful staff guidance.
Material Compatibility: Staples printers support standard office papers (20–32 lb bond), cardstocks (65–110 lb), envelopes, and some specialty finishes. Do not bring:
Setup and Fees: Inform staff in advance that you're bringing custom material. There may be a setup fee (typically [VERIFY BEFORE PUBLISH] $5–15) for loading and calibrating the machine to non-standard stock. You pay only for labour and ink; material cost is yours.
Why Bring Your Own? Customers often bring pre-purchased specialty paper (textured, coloured, or eco-certified stock) to control material quality or cost. If you have a large supply of a specific cardstock, bringing it avoids Staples' markup on the same material.
Staples locations provide self-service printing stations for customers who prefer to handle the entire job independently, without staff assistance. This option is ideal for simple copying, urgent documents, or cost-sensitive bulk jobs where you're comfortable with basic file setup.
Self-service stations typically support B&W and colour printing but lack finishing options (binding, laminating, cutting). For those, you'd need to involve staff or choose the assisted order path. Self-service pricing is often 10–20% cheaper than assisted orders because labour costs are eliminated.
Staples also offers in-store photocopying, which is self-service or staff-assisted. Place your original document on the scanner/copier, adjust settings, and run off the number of copies needed. This is useful for contracts, forms, or emergency multi-copy jobs without file setup.
Australia Post does not offer traditional document printing or copy services. The postal service focuses on mail, parcels, and banking services. However, some Australia Post locations may partner with external print providers or offer basic printing through franchisees, but this is not standard and varies significantly by location.
For printing needs in Australia, Staples, PLS Printer, and local independent print shops are more reliable. Staples offers walk-in printing without appointment at over 300 Australian locations, making it a faster alternative to Australia Post for documents and marketing materials.
Staples accepts PDF, Microsoft Word (DOCX), PowerPoint (PPTX), JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and GIF files. For best results, submit PDFs because they preserve formatting and fonts exactly as you designed them. If you have a proprietary file format (Canva, Adobe InDesign, or design software exports), convert to PDF before uploading or emailing.
Document printing at Staples costs more than online bulk print shops but less than independent studios. Black-and-white documents cost roughly [VERIFY BEFORE PUBLISH] $0.15–$0.40 per page depending on volume and specifications; colour documents run [VERIFY BEFORE PUBLISH] $0.50–$2.00 per page. Setup or minimum order fees may apply for very small jobs.
Yes, you can use the Staples mobile app, email your file to a Staples store, or upload via the web portal from your phone. You can also print directly from your phone's photo library for photo-based orders. After submission, you can pick up your job in-store or arrange delivery.
Staples pricing reflects same-day or next-day service, material flexibility, design assistance, and no minimum order requirements. Online print shops batch large orders, reducing per-unit costs but requiring 500+ unit minimums and 5–10 business day turnaround. If you need 20 brochures tomorrow, Staples is cost-competitive; if you need 1,000 brochures in two weeks, online shops offer better per-unit pricing.
No appointment is required for walk-in printing at Staples. Simple jobs (single-document copies, small runs) are typically completed within 15–30 minutes. For large or custom orders, calling ahead allows staff to prepare and guarantees availability; advance notice also prevents surprises if your desired materials are out of stock.
Choose Staples if:
Choose online print shops (like PLS Printer) if:
Summary: Staples printer services provide immediate access to professional printing, copying, finishing, and design support across 300+ locations without appointment. Printer services staples excel for urgent, small-batch, or custom jobs where turnaround and material flexibility matter more than per-unit cost. For bulk orders, online alternatives offer better pricing; for same-day marketing collateral or emergency documents, Staples is a proven, reliable choice.