At Vistaprint, you'll pay $15 for 500 standard business cards, which breaks down to just $0.03 per card. Your base price includes full-color printing on standard cardstock and a digital proof review. If you're looking to enhance your cards, premium options like linen texture ($5-7), ultra-thick paper ($12-15), or spot UV coating ($15-18) can be added to your order. During seasonal promotions like Black Friday or Small Business Week, you can save up to 60% off standard pricing. By exploring various paper stocks and design upgrades, you'll discover how to make your business cards truly stand out.
Key Takeaway
- Standard 500 business cards cost $15 with basic features including full-color printing and standard cardstock.
- Upgrading to linen texture adds $5-7, bringing the total to $20-22 for 500 cards.
- Premium options like Ultra-Thick paper increase cost by $12-15, making the total $27-30 for 500 cards.
- Adding Spot UV coating brings the price to $30-33 for 500 cards.
- First-time customers can save 20-25% off their initial order through welcome discounts.
Base Pricing for Standard Cards
Standard business cards from Vistaprint start at $17 for 100 cards, with prices dropping as low as $15 when you order 500 or more. You'll find these rates apply to their basic matte-finish cards printed on standard 14pt paper stock, which provides a professional look without breaking your budget.
Base Pricing Structure:
- 100 cards: $17 ($0.17 per card)
- 250 cards: $18 ($0.072 per card)
- 500 cards: $15 ($0.03 per card)
- 1000 cards: $20 ($0.02 per card)
When you're selecting your standard business cards, you'll need to take into account these included features:
- Full-color printing on one side
- Standard white cardstock
- Basic design templates
- Standard shipping options
- Digital proof review
Your base price includes access to Vistaprint's design studio, where you can customize your cards using their template library. While these prices reflect the most basic options, you'll have the flexibility to upgrade various elements like paper thickness, finish type, or adding second-side printing for an additional cost. The pricing structure rewards bulk ordering, making it cost-effective to stock up on larger quantities.
Premium Paper and Finish Options
While basic business cards meet many professional needs, Vistaprint offers several premium upgrades that can enhance your cards' look and feel. You'll find various options to elevate your card's professional appearance and tactile quality.
Premium Paper Options:
- Linen Texture ($5-7 additional per 500 cards)
- Premium Matte ($8-10 additional per 500 cards)
- Ultra-Thick ($12-15 additional per 500 cards)
- Recycled Matte ($6-8 additional per 500 cards)
Specialty Finishes:
- Spot UV Coating ($15-18 additional per 500 cards)
- Raised Print ($20-25 additional per 500 cards)
- Metallic Foil ($25-30 additional per 500 cards)
- Soft-Touch Coating ($10-12 additional per 500 cards)
When you're selecting premium options, consider combining complementary features for maximum impact. For instance, pairing Ultra-Thick paper with Spot UV coating creates a memorable, high-end presentation that's particularly effective for luxury brands or executive positions. You'll find that these upgrades, while increasing your base cost, can greatly enhance your card's perceived value and memorability in competitive business environments.
Remember to factor these additional costs into your overall budget when planning your business card order.
Popular Design Upgrades
Beyond basic layouts, Vistaprint's design upgrades can transform your business cards from simple contact tools into powerful branding statements.
Popular Design Enhancements:
- Spot UV coating: You'll get eye-catching shine on specific areas of your card, highlighting logos or text
- Foil accents: Choose from gold, silver, or holographic finishes to add metallic elements that catch the light
- Raised print: Your text gains dimension with thermography, creating a tactile experience
- Rounded corners: You can soften your card's appearance with smooth edges for a modern look
Advanced Design Features:
- Double-sided printing ($5-10 additional per 500 cards)
- Full-bleed backgrounds ($3-7 extra per order)
- Custom shapes ($15-25 premium for specialty cuts)
- Color edge painting ($12-18 upgrade fee)
When you're selecting upgrades, consider combining complementary features for maximum impact. For instance, pairing spot UV with foil accents creates a multi-sensory experience that's proven to increase card retention by up to 43%. Remember that each enhancement adds to your base price, but strategic choices can deliver significant returns on your branding investment.
Seasonal Deals and Promotions
Savvy business owners can save considerably on Vistaprint cards by timing their purchases around major sales events. You'll frequently find discounts ranging from 25% to 50% off during key shopping periods throughout the year.
Major Seasonal Promotions:
- Black Friday/Cyber Monday: Up to 60% off standard pricing
- End-of-Year Sales: 40-50% discounts in December
- Small Business Week: Special bundles with 30-40% savings
- Summer Clearance: 25-35% off with free shipping options
Promotional Code Opportunities:
- First-time customer discount: 20-25% off your initial order
- Bulk order savings: Additional 15% when ordering 1,000+ cards
- Email subscriber exclusives: Early access to flash sales
- Bundle deals: Save when combining cards with other marketing materials
You'll want to subscribe to Vistaprint's email newsletter to stay informed about upcoming promotions. Their promotional calendar typically aligns with major retail holidays, and you can stack some offers with their standard volume discounts. For maximum savings, consider planning your business card orders around these predictable sale periods, particularly during the fourth quarter's heavy promotional season.
Bulk Order Cost Savings
Ordering business cards in larger quantities from Vistaprint releases considerable cost reductions on a per-card basis. You'll notice considerable savings when comparing the per-card cost between small and large orders, with bulk purchases often reducing your cost by up to 60%.
Cost Breakdown by Quantity:
- 100 cards: $17-25 ($0.17-0.25 per card)
- 500 cards: $20-35 ($0.04-0.07 per card)
- 1000 cards: $25-45 ($0.025-0.045 per card)
- 5000 cards: $85-125 ($0.017-0.025 per card)
Strategic Bulk Ordering Benefits:
- Volume discounts trigger automatically at specific quantity thresholds
- Shipping costs per unit decrease considerably
- Long-term storage reduces reorder frequency
- Consistent print quality across all materials
To maximize your bulk savings, you'll want to reflect on your annual usage patterns and storage capabilities. If you're ordering for multiple team members or anticipate design changes, splitting your bulk order into smaller batches with different designs won't affect your volume discount, as long as you place them in the same order.
Conclusion
You'll find that Vistaprint's 500 business card pricing represents one of today's most cost-effective marketing investments, with standard cards starting around $20-25. What's particularly remarkable is that 72% of customers opt for premium upgrades, knowing that a well-designed business card generates 2.5x more customer connections. Whether you choose standard or premium options, you're investing in a proven networking tool that continues to deliver results.
