By Mustafa Bilgic · Last updated 23 June 2026
How Much Do Wedding Invitations Cost?
Invitation budgets range wildly — from almost nothing to several dollars a guest. Here's a clear breakdown of what wedding invitations cost in 2026 by route, plus the postage and extras people forget.
Cost by route
| Route | Typical cost per invite | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Fully digital / e-vite | Free–$1 | No paper or postage; email or text delivery |
| DIY (free design, home/local print) | $0.50–$2 | You design and print; pay for paper & ink only |
| Online template services | $2–$5 | Pre-designed, professionally printed, shipped |
| Custom / semi-custom stationer | $5–$12 | Designer suite, premium paper, often full suite |
| Luxury (letterpress, foil, engraving) | $12–$40+ | Specialty printing and heavy cotton stock |
For a 100-guest wedding (roughly 60–75 invitations, since couples and families share one), the printed total usually lands between $200 and $800.
The extras people forget
- Postage — both outgoing and the stamped RSVP return. Heavy or square invitations cost extra; weigh one first. See our postage guide.
- Inserts — RSVP cards, details cards and envelopes add per-piece cost. See insert cards.
- Extra invitations — order 10–15% spare for mistakes and last-minute additions; reprints cost far more.
- Save-the-dates — a separate mailing earlier in the year.
- Calligraphy or assembly — optional, but adds up across a full guest list.
How many to buy is its own question — see how many invitations to order.
How to save without looking cheap
- Use a free template and print locally — the biggest saving by far.
- Go digital for save-the-dates, paper for the formal invitation.
- Move travel, registry and FAQs to your wedding website to cut insert count.
- Keep invitations a standard size and weight to avoid surcharge postage.
- Skip foil and letterpress; a clean digital print on good stock looks elegant.
The free option
You can design a polished, print-ready invitation for nothing with our free editor — your only costs become paper and postage. For many couples that's the single biggest line-item saving in the whole stationery budget.
Word it, then make it beautiful
Pick a template, type your wording straight onto it, and download a print-ready invitation in minutes. Free, no account, no watermark.
Open the free editor →Frequently asked questions
How much do wedding invitations cost?
Printed wedding invitations typically run $2–$8 each, or about $200–$800 total for a 100-guest wedding. Digital or DIY routes using a free design can cut that to just paper and postage. Postage and inserts are extra.
How much should I budget for wedding stationery?
Many planners suggest about 3–5% of your total wedding budget for stationery, covering save-the-dates, invitations, inserts and postage. DIY or digital options can bring this well below that range.
Are digital wedding invitations cheaper?
Yes — digital invitations are the cheapest option, costing little to nothing since there's no paper, printing or postage. Many couples go digital for save-the-dates and use paper only for the formal invitation.
How much is postage for wedding invitations?
Budget for postage both ways — the outgoing invitation and the stamped RSVP return. Heavy, square or oversized invitations need extra postage, so always weigh a fully assembled one at the post office before buying stamps.
How can I save money on wedding invitations?
Use a free template and print locally, keep invitations a standard size to avoid postage surcharges, move details and registry to your wedding website to cut inserts, and skip pricey foil or letterpress finishes.
Related: the free editor · Free templates · How many to order · Postage guide · Digital vs paper · Insert cards · DIY invitations