How Much Does a Letter Folding Machine Cost?
Last Updated: April 25, 2023
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How difficult can it be to fold paper? Well, imagine the time it takes to fold hundreds or thousands of letters each month. That amounts to a lot of employee hours that could be used more effectively.
If you're sending out letters on a daily basis, a paper folding machine can save a significant amount of time and energy. It can also improve your bottom line by freeing up employee time for more important tasks.
Some models of letter folding machines are designed for occasional use, while others are better suited for extremely high-volume jobs. Read on to find out more about the different types and how much you can expect to pay for each one.
About Paper Folding Machines #
There are three basic types of paper folding machines. The one that is best for you depends on your budget and the volume of letters you handle each month.
- Manual-feed machines have two slots, much like a toaster. Each slot can handle between one and five sheets at a time. These are the least expensive and can only handle low-volume jobs.
- Automatic friction-feed machines require manual setup but automatically shut off when the job is done. Some fold just standard paper, while others can handle larger sizes and glossy varieties. Some of the most advanced friction-feed machines can fold in two different directions, can be adjusted for thickness, and/or can score and perforate paper.
- Automatic air-feed machines are designed for high-volume jobs and/or very glossy paper. They're the most expensive of the paper folding machines. But, they're also capable of creating different types of folds and tracking the number of documents that are being folded.
In addition to letters, paper folding machines can also be used to fold flyers, brochures, newsletters and many other types of documents.
Paper Folding Machine Average Costs #
The smallest manual feed machines sell for about $200 to $300. Friction-feed letter folding machines range from about $800 to $2,500. On the lower end of that price range, you'll be able to purchase a machine that can handle moderate volume of 3,000 folds per day or 20,000 per month. On the high end of that price range, the machine will be able to handle large volumes of 10,000 letters per day or 125,000 per month.
Air-feed folders are significantly more expensive, generally running $5,000 to $10,000. However, the most advanced air-feed folders designed for production-level jobs can run as much as $10,000 to $15,000.
To further streamline the process of preparing and sending letters, you can also opt for a machine that has both a letter folder and an envelope inserter. This frees up an even greater amount of employee time, but the machines are pricey: They usually cost anywhere from $4,000 for basic varieties to several hundred thousand dollars for production-level machines.