Printing, Labels & Industrial Converting worked example

Print Run Cost at 99% good-copy yield: a worked example

This scenario runs the print run cost calculation on the strong side: 99% good-copy yield, with every other input held at its documented default. A commercial printer uses this to price a run and see how makeready spreads across the impression count.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Sheets or impressions: 25,000 impressions (unchanged)
  • Paper and ink per impression: 0.05 $/impression (unchanged)
  • Good-copy yield: 99 % (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 95)
  • Makeready and plate charge: 650 $ (unchanged)

Working through the calculation

  • Applying the documented formula (Total run cost = impressions x paper+ink/impression x good-copy yield% + makeready charge) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 1,764 $ for total print run cost, the number this scenario is built around.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 0.07 $ / piece for print run cost per unit.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 1,114 $ for variable print run cost.
  • At this operating point the engine returns 650 $ for fixed print run cost adder.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where good-copy yield sits at 95% and the headline result is 1,719 $, this scenario comes in 2.62% above the baseline at 1,764 $.
  • Use it when estimating an offset or sheet-fed job, evaluating run-length breakpoints, or checking how makeready loads onto a quote. Treat this as a target state: the delta against the baseline quantifies what the improvement is worth before you commit to chasing it.

Results at a glance

  • Total print run cost: 1,764 $ (headline result)
  • Print run cost per unit: 0.07 $ / piece
  • Variable print run cost: 1,114 $
  • Fixed print run cost adder: 650 $

Run it with your numbers

  • Every input above is editable in the live Print Run Cost calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.