{"id":22047,"date":"2026-07-20T08:06:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T12:06:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/?p=22047"},"modified":"2026-07-20T08:07:47","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T12:07:47","slug":"gang-run-printing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/gang-run-printing\/","title":{"rendered":"Gang Run Printing: Meaning, Benefits &amp; Best Use Cases"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you have ever wondered how a printer can sell full-color <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/printing-products\/business-cards\/\">business cards<\/a> for a few dollars, the answer usually comes down to one clever method: <strong>gang run printing.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This technique is widely used in commercial printing, delivering professional, full-color results at a fraction of the cost of printing each item separately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read on to discover useful insights from our experts on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What is gang-run printing?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What are its benefits and the best products for it?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What are the best use cases of gang printing and how does it work?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Where can it save you the most money?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #3f3f3f;color:#3f3f3f\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #3f3f3f;color:#3f3f3f\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/gang-run-printing\/#What_Is_Gang_Run_Printing\" >What Is Gang Run Printing?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/gang-run-printing\/#How_Does_Gang_Run_Printing_Work\" >How Does Gang Run Printing Work?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/gang-run-printing\/#File_preparation_and_imposition\" >File preparation and imposition<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/gang-run-printing\/#Color_matching_and_grouping_jobs\" >Color matching and grouping jobs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/gang-run-printing\/#Printing_trimming_and_finishing\" >Printing, trimming, and finishing<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/gang-run-printing\/#What_Products_Are_Best_Suited_for_Gang_Run_Printing\" >What Products Are Best Suited for Gang Run Printing?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/gang-run-printing\/#Product_1_Business_cards\" >Product 1. Business cards<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/gang-run-printing\/#Products_2_3_Flyers_and_postcards\" >Products 2 &amp; 3. Flyers and postcards<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/gang-run-printing\/#Products_4_5_Brochures_and_door_hangers\" >Products 4 &amp; 5. Brochures and door hangers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/gang-run-printing\/#Products_6_7_Stickers_and_labels\" >Products 6 &amp; 7. Stickers and labels<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/gang-run-printing\/#Whats_the_Difference_Between_Gang_Run_Printing_vs_Individual_Print_Runs\" >What&#8217;s the Difference Between Gang Run Printing vs. Individual Print Runs?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/gang-run-printing\/#How_Does_Gang_Run_Printing_Save_Money\" >How Does Gang Run Printing Save Money?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/gang-run-printing\/#Factor_1_Shared_setup_costs\" >Factor 1. Shared setup costs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/gang-run-printing\/#Factor_2_Reduced_paper_waste\" >Factor 2. Reduced paper waste<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/gang-run-printing\/#Factor_3_Lower_cost_per_unit_for_small_quantities\" >Factor 3. Lower cost per unit for small quantities<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/gang-run-printing\/#Why_Gang_Printing_Works_with_Offset_Printing\" >Why Gang Printing Works with Offset Printing<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/gang-run-printing\/#Why_Choose_ChilliPrinting_for_Your_Print_Project\" >Why Choose ChilliPrinting for Your Print Project?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading speak-question\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Gang_Run_Printing\"><\/span>What Is Gang Run Printing?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"speak-definition wp-block-paragraph\">Gang run printing is a method in which a printer arranges <strong>multiple <\/strong>separate print projects on a single shared sheet of paper.<strong> <\/strong>The goal is to <strong>cut printing costs<\/strong> and <strong>reduce paper waste<\/strong> at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"speak-details wp-block-paragraph\">Generally, printers run these combined jobs on sheet-fed presses, almost always for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/rgb-vs-cmyk\/\">CMYK process color<\/a> work that needs four printing plates. <strong>Preparing<\/strong> and <strong>balancing<\/strong> the inked plates, a process called make-ready, can require up to <strong>250 test sheets<\/strong> before the colors are accurate. Usually, this setup is <strong>costly<\/strong>, but gang run printing allows every job on the sheet to share the expense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-a35a80c1 uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-left-title uagb-infobox-left uagb-infobox-image-valign-middle info-box-background-color\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-left-title-image\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-icon-wrap\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M256 0C114.6 0 0 114.6 0 256s114.6 256 256 256s256-114.6 256-256S397.4 0 256 0zM256 400c-18 0-32-14-32-32s13.1-32 32-32c17.1 0 32 14 32 32S273.1 400 256 400zM325.1 258L280 286V288c0 13-11 24-24 24S232 301 232 288V272c0-8 4-16 12-21l57-34C308 213 312 206 312 198C312 186 301.1 176 289.1 176h-51.1C225.1 176 216 186 216 198c0 13-11 24-24 24s-24-11-24-24C168 159 199 128 237.1 128h51.1C329 128 360 159 360 198C360 222 347 245 325.1 258z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h4 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\"><strong>Gang run vs. combination run: are they the same<\/strong>?<\/h4><\/div><\/div><p class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\">People throw around &#8220;gang run,&#8221; &#8220;gang printing,&#8221; and &#8220;combination run&#8221; as if they mean the exact same thing. They overlap, but there is a <strong>small difference worth knowing.<\/strong><br><br>A gang run usually means filling one sheet with the same job repeated, or with several jobs that <strong>share identical stock and specs.<\/strong> A combination run, sometimes called a combo run, groups different designs or different customers&#8217; artwork on one sheet.&nbsp;<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Does_Gang_Run_Printing_Work\"><\/span>How Does Gang Run Printing Work?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The process looks complicated from the outside, but it&#8217;s<strong> really just a clear sequence.<\/strong> A printer gathers compatible jobs, lays them out on one sheet, prints, and then separates everything into finished pieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let&#8217;s put some more insights for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"File_preparation_and_imposition\"><\/span>File preparation and imposition<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, you <strong>send print-ready files<\/strong> with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/full-bleed-printing\/\">correct bleed and trim marks<\/a>. The printer then uses imposition software to tile many jobs across the press sheet like a grid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sheet sizes are usually these:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Full Sheet:<\/strong> 28 by 40 inches&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Half Sheet:<\/strong> 28 by 19 inches<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Quarter Sheet:<\/strong> 213 by 19 inches&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As an example, a single 28 by 40 sheet can hold <strong>nine 4 by 6 postcards at 5,000 copies<\/strong>, or eighteen at <strong>2,500<\/strong> copies each, because every card needs <strong>4.25 by 6.25 inches<\/strong> to allow for full bleed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-border-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-color:#8a1e50;border-width:0.8px;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px;background-color:#fdfcf8;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><strong>You may also like:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/full-bleed-printing\/\"><strong>Full Bleed Printing Guide: Why Brands Should Use It in 2026<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Color_matching_and_grouping_jobs\"><\/span>Color matching and grouping jobs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In general, the printer groups jobs that use the same paper stock and have similar color profiles. Every design on the sheet receives the same ink levels in one pass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jobs with similar colors are printed together. This careful grouping is central to professional gang-run printing and helps <strong>maintain consistent quality<\/strong> across every job on the sheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Printing_trimming_and_finishing\"><\/span>Printing, trimming, and finishing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Then the press prints the entire sheet at once. After the ink dries, a <strong>heavy industrial cutter trims each job<\/strong> down to its final size. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Finishing steps like coating, folding, scoring, or rounded corners come last, job by job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Products_Are_Best_Suited_for_Gang_Run_Printing\"><\/span>What Products Are Best Suited for Gang Run Printing?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The method <strong>works best for standard-size products<\/strong>, ordered in healthy volume, that share <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/paper-types-guide\/\">common paper<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/aqueous-coating\/\">finishes<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are the items that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/printing-products\/\">print products<\/a> most:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Product_1_Business_cards\"><\/span>Product 1. Business cards<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Business cards are the <strong>classic gang printing product.<\/strong> They are small, standard in size, and ordered constantly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dozens of card orders fit on one sheet, which is why cheap gang run printing makes full-color cards so affordable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Products_2_3_Flyers_and_postcards\"><\/span>Products 2 &amp; 3. Flyers and postcards<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/printing-products\/flyer-printing\/\">Flyers<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/printing-products\/custom-postcards\/\">postcards<\/a> print beautifully in a gang run. They use <strong>popular sizes and standard text or gloss stocks.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you need bulk gang run printing for a marketing push, these two are ideal candidates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Products_4_5_Brochures_and_door_hangers\"><\/span>Products 4 &amp; 5. Brochures and door hangers<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/printing-products\/brochure-printing\/\">Brochures<\/a> and door hangers also fit well, as long as they use <strong>common stocks and folds.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In particular, door hangers ship in large quantities for local campaigns, so they pair naturally with low-cost gang-run printing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-layout-flex uagb-block-05b14929 alignwide uagb-is-root-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-38b38886\">\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-larger-font-size wp-elements-8ff6d9e89bcf72ba26a1b999fda1e76e wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);line-height:1.2\"><strong>Impress your customers with a custom brochure.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/printing-products\/brochure-printing\/\" style=\"border-radius:10px\">Configure your brochure<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-ce4ee4a2\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image uagb-block-3fc756fa wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-zoomin wp-block-uagb-image--align-none\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Brochures-2.webp?resize=788%2C569&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Professional Brochures\" class=\"uag-image-18742\" width=\"788\" height=\"569\" title=\"Professional Brochures\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"img\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Products_6_7_Stickers_and_labels\"><\/span>Products 6 &amp; 7. Stickers and labels<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/stickers\/\">Stickers and labels<\/a> round out the list. Many small sticker orders gang together <strong>easily on one sheet of label stock.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You get vibrant color and a low price per piece, <strong>even on a small run<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-border-color has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"border-color:#8a1e50;border-width:0.8px;border-top-left-radius:10px;border-top-right-radius:10px;border-bottom-left-radius:10px;border-bottom-right-radius:10px;background-color:#fdfcf8;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><strong>You may also like: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/how-to-reduce-printing-costs\/\">How To Reduce Printing Costs by up to 45%: Guide for SMEs<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats_the_Difference_Between_Gang_Run_Printing_vs_Individual_Print_Runs\"><\/span>What&#8217;s the Difference Between Gang Run Printing vs. Individual Print Runs?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The difference between a gang run and a dedicated run comes down to <strong>control versus cost.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here, an individual run gives you the whole press to yourself. A gang runs trades some of that control for a much lower price. The table below breaks it down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#faf8f3\"><tbody><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Factor<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Gang Run Printing<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Individual Print Run<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Cost per unit<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Low, since the setup is shared<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Higher, you pay full setup<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Color control<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Good, but shared across the sheet<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Precise, tuned to one job<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Paper choice<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Limited to the shared stock<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Any stock you want<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Turnaround<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Set by the run schedule<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Flexible, on demand<\/td><\/tr><tr><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><strong>Best for<\/strong><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Standard, high-volume items<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">Custom, color-critical jobs<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Does_Gang_Run_Printing_Save_Money\"><\/span>How Does Gang Run Printing Save Money?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Above all, there is some research behind the gang run method (when we say it saves money).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a <a href=\"http:\/\/idealabs.byu.edu\/pdfs\/2013ACCPressSheetOptimization.pdf\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">2013 study on press sheet optimization by Fullmer and Warnick<\/a>, producing 63 distinct business card orders individually would <strong>traditionally require 63 separate setups.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When grouping them together, a printer only needs a <strong>single set<\/strong> of plates, one setup sequence, and one cutting pass.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That&#8217;s it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nevertheless, there are three factors that do most of the work:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Factor_1_Shared_setup_costs\"><\/span><strong>Factor 1. Shared setup costs<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In general, make-ready is the <strong>expensive<\/strong> part of any print job, which includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Plates<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Press preparation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And washup takes time and labor <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a gang run, every customer on the sheet <strong>splits<\/strong> that <strong>one-time cost<\/strong>, so nobody pays for the full setup alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Factor_2_Reduced_paper_waste\"><\/span><strong>Factor 2. Reduced paper waste<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A partially empty sheet increases production costs and wastes valuable material. Gang printing fills the available space with multiple jobs, allowing more of each sheet to be used. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Plus, it helps printers use ink, plates, and press time more efficiently. So all in all, this reduces paper waste and lowers the overall cost of your order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Factor_3_Lower_cost_per_unit_for_small_quantities\"><\/span><strong>Factor 3. Lower cost per unit for small quantities<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A solo short run carries the entire setup cost on just a few hundred pieces. Pool your job with others, and that cost spreads thin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That&#8217;s why an affordable gang-run printing beats a dedicated run for small and medium orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Gang_Printing_Works_with_Offset_Printing\"><\/span>Why Gang Printing Works with Offset Printing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Offset printing has <strong>quite high setup costs<\/strong>. So your best bet is to order in bulk to save money. The price per piece drops like a rock when you print more.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, printing 1,000 custom brochures might cost you<strong> $200, which is $0.20 each. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, <strong>our team always advises bumping that up to 10,000 brochures.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Simply because <strong>your total might only be $500.<\/strong> That will bring your cost down hugely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-a30975dc uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-left-title uagb-infobox-left uagb-infobox-image-valign-middle info-box-background-color\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-left-title-image\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-icon-wrap\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M256 0C114.6 0 0 114.6 0 256s114.6 256 256 256s256-114.6 256-256S397.4 0 256 0zM256 128c17.67 0 32 14.33 32 32c0 17.67-14.33 32-32 32S224 177.7 224 160C224 142.3 238.3 128 256 128zM296 384h-80C202.8 384 192 373.3 192 360s10.75-24 24-24h16v-64H224c-13.25 0-24-10.75-24-24S210.8 224 224 224h32c13.25 0 24 10.75 24 24v88h16c13.25 0 24 10.75 24 24S309.3 384 296 384z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><h4 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Did you know?<\/h4><\/div><\/div><p class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\">Gang run printing is one of the main reasons <strong>full-color printing got cheap.<\/strong> By piggybacking jobs onto unused sheet space, printers slashed the cost that once made color work a luxury.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Choose_ChilliPrinting_for_Your_Print_Project\"><\/span>Why Choose ChilliPrinting for Your Print Project?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gang run printing has been one of the biggest reasons full-color printing prices fell so sharply. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you want professional gang-run printing, our team makes the process easier for you. From <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/printing-products\/business-cards\/\">business cards<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/printing-products\/flyer-printing\/\">bulk flyers<\/a>, you get fast, gang-run printing services with <strong>consistent quality<\/strong> from the first sheet to the last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Order your next gang run and see how affordable professional-quality printing can be with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-layout-flex uagb-block-05b14929 alignwide uagb-is-root-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-layout-flex uagb-block-38b38886\">\n<p class=\"has-black-color has-text-color has-link-color has-larger-font-size wp-elements-3b80013793196d72d8e9975ecf2e9eb2 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);line-height:1.2\"><strong>Explore our printing solutions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/printing-products\/\" style=\"border-radius:10px\">see all products<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-ce4ee4a2\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image uagb-block-3fc756fa wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-zoomin wp-block-uagb-image--align-none\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Collage-of-pro-printed-materials-1024x1024.avif\" alt=\"Collage of pro printed materials\" class=\"uag-image-22444\" width=\"788\" height=\"788\" title=\"Collage of pro printed materials\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"img\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you have ever wondered how a printer can sell full-color business cards for a few dollars, the answer usually comes down to one clever method: gang run printing. This technique is widely used in commercial printing, delivering professional, full-color results at a fraction of the cost of printing each item separately. Read on to<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":22049,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[216],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-printing-design"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gang-run-printing-featured.webp?fit=1152%2C768&ssl=1","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gang-run-printing-featured.webp?fit=1152%2C768&ssl=1",1152,768,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gang-run-printing-featured.webp?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gang-run-printing-featured.webp?fit=350%2C233&ssl=1",350,233,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gang-run-printing-featured.webp?fit=768%2C512&ssl=1",768,512,true],"large":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gang-run-printing-featured.webp?fit=788%2C526&ssl=1",788,526,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gang-run-printing-featured.webp?fit=1152%2C768&ssl=1",1152,768,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gang-run-printing-featured.webp?fit=1152%2C768&ssl=1",1152,768,true],"bunyad-small":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gang-run-printing-featured.webp?fit=150%2C100&ssl=1",150,100,true],"bunyad-medium":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gang-run-printing-featured.webp?fit=450%2C300&ssl=1",450,300,true],"bunyad-full":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gang-run-printing-featured.webp?fit=1152%2C768&ssl=1",1152,768,true],"bunyad-viewport":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gang-run-printing-featured.webp?fit=1152%2C768&ssl=1",1152,768,true],"bunyad-768":["https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/gang-run-printing-featured.webp?fit=768%2C512&ssl=1",768,512,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"David Tait","author_link":"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/author\/davidtait\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"If you have ever wondered how a printer can sell full-color business cards for a few dollars, the answer usually comes down to one clever method: gang run printing. This technique is widely used in commercial printing, delivering professional, full-color results at a fraction of the cost of printing each item separately. Read on to","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7uAlw-5JB","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22047","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22047"}],"version-history":[{"count":70,"href":"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22047\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":22460,"href":"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22047\/revisions\/22460"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22049"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22047"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22047"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.chilliprinting.com\/online-printing-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22047"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}