Foil Stamping Cost Calculator

Foil stamping cost breaks down into four genuinely separate line items, and this calculator prices each one before summing them. The die is treated as a square matching your entered die size, so its area (size squared) is multiplied by a per-square-inch rate that varies by foil type — roughly $10/sq in for metallic, $14 for holographic, and $12 for matte, reflecting that more intricate or specialty dies typically cost more to fabricate in brass. Foil material cost scales with total coverage across the whole run: design area times quantity times a per-square-inch foil rate, with holographic foil priced highest (about $0.012/sq in) because the material itself costs more than metallic or matte stock. Setup cost is a flat $75 per press setup, and you'll need more than one setup if your job uses multiple colors or die positions.

Run cost captures labor and press time per impression, and it specifically runs higher for holographic foil (12 cents versus 8 cents per piece) because holographic stamping requires slower press speeds to achieve a clean transfer. All four costs are added for the total, and total divided by quantity gives cost per piece, shown to four decimal places since foil stamping economics often hinge on fractions of a cent at high volumes. Keep in mind these are industry-typical rates, not a live quote from any specific foil stamper — actual die shops and foil suppliers price differently, and complex multi-position dies or oversized coverage areas can push real costs well beyond this estimate.