Where to Print in Singapore — 7 Things to Check Before You Order

You search “printing shop near me” and get a list of results. Some are walk-in shops. Some are online. Prices look similar. Turnaround times look similar. So how do you actually choose before you waste time, money or miss a deadline?

This guide covers seven things worth checking before you place any print order in Singapore — whether it’s business cards, flyers, booklets or banners.

1. Do they show you the price before you commit?

Most printing companies in Singapore still require you to fill in an enquiry form, wait for a reply, go back and forth over specifications, and only then get a price — often hours or days later.

The better printers have an instant price calculator on the product page itself. You select your size, quantity, paper and finishing, and the price updates live. No waiting, no sales calls, no pressure.

ExpressPrint’s full product range uses a live price configurator. Every product — from business cards to rollup stands — shows you the exact price before you add anything to cart.

2. What paper and material options do they offer?

Most walk-in print shops in Singapore offer 2–4 paper options. That’s usually fine for simple jobs. But if you’re printing something where the material matters — a corporate gift, a premium menu, a display banner — having more options makes a real difference to the final result.

Things to check:

• What paper weights are available? (80gsm vs 350gsm is a very different feel)
• Do they offer lamination? (gloss, matte, soft touch)
• For large format printing — what materials do they carry? (12 materials available including PP, PVC, canvas, metallic, hologram)
• Do they offer specialty finishes? (spot UV, foil stamping, embossing)

If you’re printing flyers, the difference between 100gsm and 200gsm with matte lamination is significant. If you’re printing posters, having 12 material options versus 2 or 3 opens up possibilities not available at most printers.

3. What is their actual production timeline?

Every printing company in Singapore claims to be fast. The ones worth trusting tell you the exact number of production days upfront, per product and per quantity.

There’s an important distinction: production days are counted from when your artwork is confirmed and payment is cleared — not from when you placed the order. A printer that says “2–3 days” but takes a day to confirm your artwork isn’t actually delivering in 2–3 days.

What to check:

• Is the production timeline shown clearly on the product page?
• Does the timeline vary by quantity? (it should — 100 pieces takes less time than 10,000)
• Is there a production cutoff time? (at ExpressPrint it’s 3pm — orders confirmed before 3pm start production that day)
• Are weekends and public holidays excluded from the count?

See ExpressPrint’s full production timeline guide for details.

4. Can you send your file online and track the order?

Walk-in print shops typically require you to bring a thumb drive, visit in person to approve a proof, and return to collect. For busy marketing teams and procurement managers, this adds time that most projects can’t afford.

Online printing in Singapore has matured to the point where a well-run printer will:

• Accept file uploads at checkout or via a file submission page after ordering
• Perform a free artwork check before printing
• Notify you if there’s a problem with your file (resolution, bleed, colour mode)
• Deliver island-wide without requiring collection

A good printer flags artwork issues rather than printing them wrong and hoping you don’t notice. This is why a free artwork check matters — it’s not just a courtesy, it protects you from wasted print runs.

5. Do they have a track record you can verify?

Singapore’s printing industry has a lot of new entrants. A company that’s been operating for 5 years has a very different track record to one that’s been operating for 20 years. Before placing a large or time-sensitive order, check:

• How long have they been in business?
• How many customers have they served?
• What is their on-time delivery rate?
• Do they have Google reviews, and are the reviews genuine and recent?

ExpressPrint has been operating since 2003 — over 20 years — and has served more than 120,000 businesses across Singapore with a 99% on-time delivery rate across more than 500,000 orders.

6. What happens if something goes wrong?

Printing errors happen — colour shifts, cutting inaccuracies, damaged delivery. What matters is how a printer handles it. Before you order, check:

• Is there a clear quality guarantee or reprint policy?
• Is customer support reachable during office hours by live chat or phone?
• Are after-hours enquiries acknowledged with a clear response time?

At ExpressPrint, the team is reachable via live chat during office hours (Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm). After-hours enquiries sent to sa***@ex**********.sg are handled on the next working day.

7. Do they serve government agencies and large corporates?

A printer that serves government agencies and large corporations has been vetted to a higher standard. It’s a proxy for reliability, compliance and professional handling.

ExpressPrint is a GeBIZ-registered supplier (UEN: 201214440D), regularly used by government agencies, statutory boards, schools and large corporations across Singapore. If you’re placing an order on behalf of a government body, see the ordering process for government agencies.

Online printing vs walk-in print shops — which is better?

Walk-in print shops are better when: you need to physically approve a colour proof, need an extremely small quantity with same-hour collection, or need a face-to-face consultation for a non-standard job.

Online printing is better for most other situations: you have a print-ready file, need a competitive price without driving around, need island-wide delivery, or you’re a marketing team managing multiple print suppliers.

For the overwhelming majority of print jobs in Singapore — business cards, flyers, booklets, banners, corporate gifts — online printing with a reputable, established supplier is faster, cheaper and less friction than visiting a walk-in shop. Browse all products at ExpressPrint with instant online pricing.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I print documents in Singapore without visiting a shop?

ExpressPrint offers online document printing with island-wide delivery. Upload your file, select your paper and quantity, and your order is delivered to your door. See document printing for instant pricing.

What is the fastest printing turnaround in Singapore?

Same day and next day printing is available at ExpressPrint for selected products — including express digital business cards, digital flyers and posters. Contact the team via live chat before ordering to confirm availability.

Is online printing cheaper than walk-in print shops in Singapore?

Generally yes — online printers have lower overheads than retail walk-in shops and pass the savings on through transparent online pricing. The difference is most significant for medium to large quantity orders.

What file format should I use for printing in Singapore?

PDF (PDF/X-1a standard) is the preferred format for all print jobs. Your file should be in CMYK colour mode, with 3mm bleed on each side and 300 DPI minimum resolution. See the full CMYK printing guide for details.

How do I know if a printing company in Singapore is reliable?

Check how long they’ve been operating, how many customers they’ve served, their on-time delivery rate and whether they’re GeBIZ-registered. ExpressPrint has been operating since 2003, has served 120,000+ businesses and maintains a 99% on-time delivery rate.