Foil Stamping Cost Breakdown – Where Does Your Money Go?

The Die – A One-Time Investment
Every foil stamping job requires a custom metal die engraved with the mirror image of your artwork. This is a one-time charge per design.

Die costs vary by material and complexity:
Magnesium dies are the most common choice for short to medium runs . They engrave quickly and cost less than copper or brass. The trade-off is durability — magnesium wears faster, especially on large solid areas or abrasive papers.

Brass dies are the standard for long runs and high-detail work. They can be CNC-engraved or hand-finished, allowing for finer detail and smoother surfaces. They cost more but last considerably longer — often 2–3 times the impressions of magnesium.

Copper dies are used primarily for combination dies that include embossing with foil stamping. Copper is softer than brass, which makes it easier to engrave complex three-dimensional profiles, but it‘s also more expensive.

The Foil Itself
Foil is a consumable. You pay for what you use — and what you waste.

The cost per piece depends on:
Coverage area– More foil area means more material consumed
Foil type – Metallic foils, pigmented foils, holographic foils, and specialty finishes each have different price points
Waste – Setup and makeready waste a certain percentage of foil