Let’s hit the topic no supplier wants to talk about! Cost, cost, cost.
Of course, the short answer is, “it depends”. But we want to give you some guidelines and understanding as to the factors that drive it:
Intended use
It makes sense that something that lasts longer, looks prettier and offers more functionality costs more. That’s general true. The more demanding the environment, the higher quality of raw materials required. The raw materials often encompass three areas:
- Base material
- Adhesive
- Ink
Each category merits its own post, and we’ll cover each of them. And more durability doesn’t always mean more cost. The intended use makes all the difference. or example, a boat engine may have different requirements on the same unit. Several pieces of art may go above water, one may be subject to submersion. What visually looks very similar may require different performance attributes. That’s why it’s so important to pick the right partner.
Base Material
In general, however, if your application is for a fairly non-performance sensitive graphic intended to be legible for a few years, we might find a mid-tier, versatile vinyl that fits that application quite well for reasonable cost. The same goes for other types of plastic (and btw, the majority of durable graphics use plastic as a base material) such as polyolefin, polyester and polycarbonate. Each offer a variety of classes (and thus costs) for intended use.
Adhesives
Adhesives depend on the surface in which the graphic is applied. And no, they aren’t remotely created equal. Decals go on glass, painted metal and all forms of plastic. The surface energy determines how well something will adhere to it (there are several other factors, we’ll stick to that for now). Traditional painted metal usually has a friendly adhesion surface (high surface energy), while powder coats impart a more difficult surface in which to apply a decal (lower surface energy). Even different paint lines from the same manufacturer make a difference. Not always, but it’s definitely worth testing before the products roll off the line with a different color.
Ink
Much of what we do can be summed up in one word- pigmentation. The proper pigmentation, and therefore ink, makes all the difference. But it doesn’t usually make a huge difference from a cost standpoint. If you need a durable graphic, you’re going to need a durable pigment. While there is a big difference between well pigmented inks and dyes, if you’re in the durable pigment area, unless it needs to be conductive, the specific variety of ink won’t impact the cost that much.
Average Price
To give you an idea of the average price, here’s pricing for vinyl decals, 3 colors and a protective coating:
4” x 5” 500 pieces $1.15 each
6” x 8” 500 pieces $1.45 each
Obviously, all of our decals are custom-made for each customer so price will vary. We pride ourselves on being an extension of our customer and believe the art on the outside says everything about the art on the inside.