CD & DVD Replication pricing

Vendors offer two pricing methods for CD DVD replication and duplication services. You can either pay a per unit rate based on the number of discs and the services you choose, or a fixed rate for complete packages that include the disc cloning, disc and insert printing, and packaging and assembly.

All vendors should include a master proof for you to sign off on before CD DVD replication starts, as well as comprehensive quality assurance during and after reproduction. Also, make sure to budget for shipping costs, which will vary based on the size and weight of your order and destination.

Per unit costs
Duplicating 200 to 1,000 CDs can cost $0.50 to $2.50 per disc for the duplication service, disc printing, and delivery in plain paper sleeves or on a spindle. DVD duplication will cost around $0.70 to $5, including the same basic services. The variance in pricing depends on the quantity of discs you order and the quality of printing.

If you need more than 1,000 discs, expect to pay $0.35 to $0.79 per disc to replicate CDs and $0.80 to $2.50 to replicate DVDs. While the per-disc cost is much less, some CD DVD replication vendors charge additional fees for the glass master and replication setup, adding $100 to $500 to your total costs.

Since prices are so closely tied to volume, it's usually worth asking how many more discs you'd need to print to get a better price break. Rates may drop considerably with a larger order, and you may find future use for the extra copies.

Packaging options such as full-color cardboard sleeves, jewel cases, printed inserts, and shrinkwrapping can each cost an additional $0.10 to $0.40 per unit (see the additional packaging pricing chart for more details.)

For example, a typical low-end package might include 1,000 replicated CDs, 3-color on-disc silkscreen printing, 2-panel CD insert, full color traycard, jewel cases, assembly, and shrinkwrapping, all for around $750 to $1,000 (or $0.75 to $1.00 per disc) plus shipping. For a similar package deal for 1,000 DVDs, expect to pay about $1,000 to $1,500 (or $1 to $1.50 per disc.)

Other services
In addition to the reproduction and packaging options, vendors provide other services to enhance your disc performance or get the finished product in your hand quicker:

• Enhanced CD (E-CD) – $400 to $500 for a short video clip, splash page, multiple photographs, web site links, and a company biography. $10 to $175 for each add-on (digital photos, screen savers, a branded MP3 player.)
• CD mastering - $100 to $300 per project (fine-tuning audio production)
• DVD mastering - $100 to $1,000 per project (interactive menus, chapter points, region encoding, and video thumbnails.) $200 to $300 for each add-on (slide shows, director commentary, closed-captioning, and multiple language support.)
• Extended play DVD - $1.75 to $3.25 for a DVD-9 (dual-sided) or DVD-10 (dual-sided and encoded to play in different regions)
• Print to blank media - $0.50 to $0.70 per blank CD with silkscreen printing; $0.75 to $0.90 per blank DVD
• Design services - $50 to $100 per hour (or $100 to $500 per project) for disc and packaging artwork
• Rush orders - $800 to $1,300 to receive project 1-5 days ahead of schedule
• Premium media (Blu-ray or HD DVD) - $2,500 to $5,000 for setup costs plus $1.35 to $2 per unit (may not be available from all vendors)