How much does it cost to press 100 custom vinyl records?

unified manufacturing

For the past several years, indie musicians have been releasing their albums on vinyl and that's not just because there's a demand for it and that it's absolutely cool, it's also because custom vinyl record pressing is so easy to make these days.

Yep, that's right. Easy as pie.

You don't have to be included in the Billboards Top 100 to consider having some records pressed. If you got 1000 followers on your social media and even just 100 super fans, you can go right ahead and call a vinyl pressing company to get a quote because there is absolutely no risk.

You know why?

First, it's because of the internet. It's so darn easy to sell stuff these days that we can bet our life savings that you won't have any loss.

HERE'S HOW TO DO IT:

• Choose an album that has a lot of digital sales. You gotta stay safe by choosing an album that already became some sort of a hit and has a song that your fans lurvs to death. Beyonce and other artists release vinyl only a year after it's released in other formats.

• Offer Pre-Order. Get your album ready for pressing but don't press any yet. Let your fans order your vinyl before it's even pressed. It's like a reservation of an item with the understanding that it's good as sold. Plus, you now have money to order the records.

• Order only 100 vinyl records. If you have 1000 pre-orders, well go ahead order 1000. But if you only have 60, then the wise thing to do is order only 100 records. You can just reorder anytime since your custom vinyl pressing plant already has your masters.

Now let's answer the question, shall we?

How much does it cost to press 100 custom vinyl records?

If you're looking for a reliable short run vinyl pressing company, we recommend UnifiedMFG for custom vinyl records with no minimum records quantity. They are not only operating in Los Angeles but across the U.S. as well.

Here's their rough estimate for 100 vinyl records:

100 units = $1580

Test pressing= $120

Vinyl record sleeves=$200 (but depends greatly on artwork)

The estimated cost for 100 units of vinyl records is $1,850.

Each unit will cost roughly $15-$18 to make.

But you can lessen the manufacturing expenses in many ways!

Here are some ways you can cut down vinyl pressing expenses:

#1 Press more. Of course we know this already but the thing is, your next pressings will be much cheaper since you already have the basic ingredients, so to speak. Each unit will definitely be cheaper by a couple of dollars.

#2 Go lighter on the records. The heavier the record, the more expensive it is. For 100 pieces, 180g is $68 more expensive than 140g. The thing is, the sound difference isn't even noticeable. People just love the heavyweight ones because they seem more expensive (which they are) and they are more stable on the turntable because they are heavier. However, if you really want to save a few bucks, go for the lighter ones.

#3 Keep it simple with vinyl packaging and artwork

Instead of adding booklets and choosing a vinyl gatefold, go for the regular single sleeve jacket.

Instead of having too many colors on your artwork, cut them down.

You can still get really creative though. Check out the album packaging of Sigur Ros or the Beatles White album. They're all just mostly white but they still pack a punch.

#4 Don't rush orders

Vinyl pressing takes a long time to make. Period. Paying for rush fees can sometimes be not worth it. If you're going to press some records, prepare them months in advance! If you really care about the cost, don't rush.

For instance, from 8 weeks to 6 weeks (rush), it costs additional $200

If you just started and planned earlier, you'd have saved the $200. That's already equivalent to 10-12 units of vinyl records!

So you see? Don't be nervous!

There's nothing to lose really because now you can press as few as 50 units. Go ahead and press some badass records. It will be hard proof of your music that will live for years and years to come. Plus, it's good for your marketing, too.

But we're warning you: You'd cry a little when you'll finally see and touch your own vinyl record made from your blood, sweat, and tears!