29 Free or Cheap Places to Get Copies Made (Near Me)

Copies Near Me is a popular Google Search! You never know when you might need to make a Black & White or Color copy. And finding a place to do that inexpensively, especially if you don’t have your own printer can be challenging!

Even though the world is increasingly paperless, there are going to be times when you’ll need a crisp, clean paper document in your hands.

If you find yourself in need of a copier, then browse this list of 29 different places (in 4 categories) for the best free or cheap copies that will make your life easier!

1. Places to Get Copies For Free (5 places)

If you look around there may be some good options for you to get copies made for free. Here are some easy options to check if you want to get copies at no cost. 

We’ve got 5 options for you to get copies for free

a. Friends or Family

Sometimes you just need to copy a few pages, in that case, you can likely ask to borrow a friend’s copier. A lot of people have copiers in their homes and will likely not have a problem with you making a copy or two. Try not to overuse this option though. And if you need to make a lot of copies, bring your own paper.

A ream of paper at the office supply stores costs about $7 for 500 sheets.

b. Work

Another available option is your printer at work. Obviously, you’ll need to check with your boss about obtaining permission, but if it’s only a few sheets this will likely not be a problem. This is probably one of the easiest ways to satisfy your copy dilemma.

c. Your Apartment Complex

If you live in a condo or apartment complex, then it is possible there will be a printer in the business center. Some places do have a dedicated room for the residents to make copies and access a computer.

d. Hotels

Hotels also sometimes have a business center for their guests. This can be a really good place to make free copies on the road if you are traveling for either work or pleasure.

e. University or Community College Campus

Many colleges offer free printing services to their students. If you are a student, then you definitely want to take advantage of this resource.

f. Public Libraries – Covid Changes (reconfirmed April 2022)

Due to the covid pandemic, many public libraries are temporarily offering free printing. Check out your public library by Googling “Public Library free printing near me.”

Here are a few examples of libraries that offer totally free or limited free printing.

Phoenix Public Library Printing Prices – Free Scanning

Atlanta Public Library Free Printing (10-page limit)

Los Angeles Public Library Free Printing (10-page limit)

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2. Places to Make Copies Cheaply (20 places)

If you are not able to find a free place to make copies, then you will want to check out this list of 20 places you can make copies inexpensively.

Getting copies made near you may not always be free, but at least you have many options to save money.

The average cost of a black and white copy is between 10 and 25 cents. The average cost of a color copy is higher at a rate between 10 and 60 cents. It is possible that the price per page will drop depending on the number of copies you make.

a. Buy your own copier

Cost: about 1 cent per copy (including paper and toner)

If you invest a few dollars, you can buy a small printer/copier that will make your life easier because you’ll never have to worry about finding a copier again.

A good option is the Brother Multifunction Copier laser printer line. This is what Steve & Annette from MoneySmartFamily. have been using for more than 10 years.

These printers are inexpensive to buy and easy to maintain. They can make copies, scan documents and also act as a wireless laser printer. They come in many different configurations, some with duplex capabilities (printing both sides of a sheet of paper), document feeders, multiple paper trays, and more.

They only print black and white, but you can run colored paper through them.

And because they are laser printers, the cost of toner is much less than what you would pay for inkjet cartridges. So copies near me could be solved by purchasing your own copier.

Buying a Used Copier

It will cost you around 160 dollars to buy a new basic unit, but it is likely you could find a better deal on a used version through either Craigslist or Offer Up. A Brother copier will last you for many years and the price of toner is not too expensive (about $40 to do approximately 5000 copies – less than $.01 per copy).

If you end up having to make copies at 10 cents apiece, then you would recoup the cost of the copier in just 3 reams of paper (1500 copies).

This is a great option for anyone who makes many copies. Plus it will save you the hassle of driving to a store or somewhere else to make a copy.

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b. Local Library

Cost: about 10 cents per copy

It is likely that your town has a public library because almost every town and city seems to have one. Usually, they will have a copier available that you can use at a small cost. If you aren’t sure whether your town has a library, then just google “Your town’s name Library.”  It will appear if your town does have one.

If you’re not sure where the library closest to you is, use this public library database.

c. Religious Institution

Cost: Unknow – but probably less than 10 cents

If you are a part of a religious community in your area, then you might be able to make copies at your local place of worship. It is likely that the office has a copier. They may let you use it for free, but it is probably appropriate to offer some sort of payment for copier use, even if you can only volunteer your time to the cause. Copies near me could be solved in this very unique way.

d. Office Depot – Business Center

Cost: B&W is just .09 per copy
20 pages (10 sheets of paper), Double Sided, Black & White: $1.80

Color copies are $.42.

They can usually have orders ready in an hour and there is no extra charge to pick up in person. If you can’t pick up your order they offer free shipping for orders that are $45 or greater.

They do offer discount programs for various organizations with Black & White printing as low as 2.9 cents per copy. These organizations for copies near me include (but are not limited to):

• AICPA
• American Bar Association
• American Medical Student Association
• APTA
• Associated General Contractors
• NAPA
• National Chamber of Commerce
• NFIB

If you want more than a basic copy, then Office Depot and OfficeMax would be a good place to look because they offer a wide variety of printer services. Get 10% Back in Rewards on Copy & Printing Services at Office Depot/Office Max.

e. Staples Office – Copy Center

Cost: as low as 4 cents per copy
Cost: 20 pages (10 sheets of paper), Double Sided, Black & White: $2.30

Staples is another office supply store that might be in your area. They offer a variety of printing services but make basic copies as well. You can get a copy as low as .021 cents, but you’ll need to make about 1000 copies. The price per page increases as the number of copies decreases.

f. Kwik Kopy

Cost: varies by location. Probably 20 cents or less per copy

Kwik Kopy is a copy store that makes copies any way you would like it. It is known for being an effective way to get your copies done fast.

g. FedEx Office

Cost: .15 cents per copy (confirmed by phone. Phoenix pricing. August 2019)
Cost: 20 pages (10 sheets of paper), Double Sided, Black & White: $3.00

FedEx Office is the new version of Kinko’s. The store is basically the same, but with a different name. You can still make any kind of copy you want for a good price.

A color copy will run for about 69 cents, while a black and white will cost 21 cents. They have a ton of machines, so it is likely you would not have to wait at all to make your copy.

You can also ship things from here, so if you need to mail a copy of something this is a great way to get two things done in one store.

h. UPS Store

Cost: .9 cents per copy (confirmed by phone. Phoenix pricing. August 2019)
Cost: 20 pages (10 sheets of paper), Double Sided, Black & White: $1.80

The UPS Store also offers copy services. You will need to confirm that your location offers copier services though because it varies by location. Steve & Annette regularly make copies at their local UPS store. They’ve even purchased a Prepaid Copy card that got them a 30% discount on up to 500 black and white copies.

With 5000 locations in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, you should easily be able to find a location near you.

i. Sir Speedy

Cost: varies by location. Probably 20 cents or less per copy

Sir Speedy can print everything from a huge banner to a single sheet of paper and everything in between. They have locations in most major cities but check out your area on Google before counting on this store.

J. Local print stores are another option that often gets overlooked. It is easy to just go to the big chain, but many cities have small print shops that do amazing work for a better price.

For example in my own town of Gainesville, Florida, we have a chain called Target Copy that is really good at what it does, plus it is open 24 hours a day!

Just do a Google-Search for copies near me or a copy center in your area.

k. Corborn’s Grocery Store with Copier

Corborn’s. A grocery chain that will take care of more than just your food and copies. It also offers dry cleaning and recycling bags. If you are interested in making copies at your local store, call ahead to confirm that they offer copy services at that location. Pricing for copies varies slightly by location – between 10 and 20 cents per copy.

You might not even notice the copier in your grocery store if you are just used to doing your regular grocery shopping there. But this can be a really good way to check-off two different items on your to-do list with only one stop.

l. Publix Grocery Chain

Publix. A southern grocery chain that prides itself on creating a welcoming shopping experience has recently added a copier to the list of amenities it offers. The price of a copy at my local Publix is 10 cents, but that might vary by location. Call ahead to your local store to confirm that it offers a copier service.

m. Hy-Vee

Hy-Vee. Some locations of Hy-Vee have a copier service. Just call your local store to see if it does offer the service. Copies near me could be solved right at your local grocery store.

If you don’t see your local grocery store, then just call to see if they offer a copy service. It is fairly likely that at least one grocery store in your area will have a copier for you to use at a low rate.

n. CVS

CVS Pharmacy is a chain that is in almost every state of the US. Some of their 9800 locations offer copier services, but you will need to call your local store to see if it offers copies.

It is probable that you have multiple CVS stores in your city, so you could call a few if you want to make your copies there. Hopefully at least one of the stores will offer the service.

• Black & White copies cost 19 cents for one-sided and 38 cents for two-sided copies.
• Color copies are more. Single-sided copies are $0.99 per sheet and double-sided are $1.98 per sheet.

With 9800 locations across the U.S., there is likely to be a CVS drug store providing copy services near you.

o. Walgreens

Walgreens is another national drug-store chain. While they have extensive digital photo printing capabilities including banners, photo prints, canvas prints, calendars, and photo books, they do not make black and white or color paper copies.

Steve & Annette use Walgreens for all of their photo prints, Christmas cards, and banners for their speaking events.

With these two drug stores providing copy services you can easily get a copy made near you.

p. United States Post Offices

Some, but certainly not all, United States Postal Service branches have a copier available for public use. Call or stop by your local post office to determine whether this service is available and the charge per page because it almost certainly will not appear in any online sources.

q. Community Centers

Local community centers, which are public locations where community members gather for group activities, socialization, and public information, often are operated by governments or non-profit organizations. It could be your local recreation center or a meeting hall for citizens, but the types of community centers will vary by location.

Some of these places are a good option for making inexpensive copies. Just call the center to find out if there is a copier available for public use.

r. Costco

You can conveniently make copies while you shop in bulk at Costco Business Centers, Sam’s Club, BJ’s and other similar stores usually offer copier and printing services. You might be able to make a cheaper copy here just based on the fact that you have already paid for a membership to the store.

• Color copies will cost 29 cents per page if you make 50 copies and
• Black & White Copies 3.5 cents each.

s. Sam’s Club

Sams Club

• No prices for Black & White Copies
• Color Copies and Flyers $.59 each for 100 copies

t. BJ’s Wholesale Club

We couldn’t find any indication that BJ’s Wholesale Clubs offer copying services.

Although not every Costco or Sam’s Club location will offer copier services, it is worth calling ahead to find out more about your location’s available services and prices. Copies near me could easily be solved on your next visit to a warehouse club.

3. Order Cheaper Copies Online (3 places)

If you don’t want to buy a copier, but also don’t want to leave your house. You can order copies online through retailers like DocuCopies, FedEx, Vistaprint, Staples, Office Depot and more.

You simply have to upload your original to their website, they will make copies and mail it to you.

This option is slightly more expensive, but if you can’t make it to the store then this is a good option.

a. Best Value Copy

Best Value Copy is an online print shop based in Maspeth, NY. Many bloggers promote this company as a viable option for inexpensive copies.

We encourage you to look at their Google My Business (3.3 stars out of 5 / 33 reviews) and Trust Pilot (3 stars out of 5 / 22 reviews) reviews. Some people have been completely satisfied with their services, but about the same number said that they were not happy with the customer service.

Their prices are some of the lowest we’ve seen but don’t include shipping.

Cost:

• B&W Copy: 2.7 cents per copy (confirmed by phone. Phoenix pricing. August 2019)
• Color Copy: 9 cents each

There are no order minimums and all orders ship within 24 to 48 hours.

Customer Service: 1-888-307-4570

b. Color Copies Today

ColorCopiesToday offers black & white or color copies at the following rate per page:

• Black & White: 4 cents per page (500-page minimum):
• Color Copies:10 cents per page (150-page minimum):

If you order more copies your price will drop. Besides color and black & white copies, they also offer other business-related printing.

They have a 5-Star rating on TrustPilot with more than 300 reviews.

c. DocuCopies

DocuCopies offers black & white or color copies. They mail directly to your home or office.

Minimum Order: 6 copies

Cost:

• B&W Copies: cost 8.7 cents each (1,000 minimum)
• Color Copies: cost 8.7 cents each (1,000 minimum)

They even offer next-day delivery when you submit your order by the daily cutoff time.

They have a 5 Star Excellent rating on TrustPilot.com, but they do not have a Google My Business page and as a result, no Google reviews.

4. Copying Documents without a Copier (2 options)

What if you need to copy some legal documents, but don’t have a copier. If all you have is a printer (inkjet or laser) you can use one of these 5 mobile apps to scan your document.

We’ve done this and then uploaded the file to our Google Drive and printed it from there. It’s super easy to scan or just take a photo of a document and then print it out.

x. Genius Scan – PDF Scanner for iPhone

Genius Scan is an awesome free option, complete with scanning and image adjustment settings. This app will help you make the best copies possible.

The free version lets you scan documents, and select to save your scans as either .jpg or .pdf (multiple pages also). You can organize and search scanned documents by using tags.

Get Genius Scan from the App Store.

y. CamScanner — for Android and iOS

CamScanner is well known as one of the most popular and highly rated free scanning apps for Android and iOS.

with more than 1.5 million reviews and a 4.6-star satisfaction rating – it is one of the best.

Camscanner is easy to use. It can scan any type of document to PDF in one step. It also can do OCR on your scanned documents if you need the text or email a portion of it.

It can create multi-page pdfs, batch several documents for scanning and allow you to tag and organize your scans for easy retrieval.

Download the CamScanner version you need.

More Information for making copies nearby

As you are looking for a place to make copies, you will need to remember to ask for relevant discounts. If you are in the military, definitely ask about a military discount because most stores have them. You deserve the discount, so do not be shy about asking for it.

Students can usually score a discount at most copy stores, so make sure to ask for the discount. And it doesn’t hurt for seniors and current or former military personnel to ask for discounts also.

Another potential reason for a discount is if the copies are for a non-profit. You might be able to receive a significant discount just by showing that the copies will be used to benefit the mission of a nonprofit.

Remember, it is never a bad thing to just ask for any relevant discounts or deals. There is no need to pay more if you don’t have to.

Overall, when you are looking for a place to make copies or copies near you, remember to value your time as well as your money. It may not be worth it to drive an extra 30 minutes across town to save only 2 cents on a single copy. It will cost you time and gas money. If you are planning on making hundreds of copies, then the trip across town might be well worth it.

With all of these resources in mind, it should make finding your next copy place an easier mission.

Where will you be making your next copy?