Custom Index Tab Pricing
Most tab vendors hide pricing behind a quote form. We manufacture the tabs, so we can just tell you: the tables below are computed from the same pricing engine our store uses — setup fee included, updated automatically whenever our prices change.
Custom paper tabs
Price per set, one-time setup included. Default configuration: 8.5" x 11" — 90# index · 1-Sided printing · Unpunched · No Reinforcing · Uncollated.
| Quantity | 5-tab set | 8-tab set | 10-tab set | Order total (5-tab) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 sets | $5.45 | $8.00 | $9.70 | $136.25 |
| 50 sets | $3.20 | $4.76 | $5.80 | $160.00 |
| 100 sets | $2.35 | $3.58 | $4.40 | $235.00 |
| 200 sets | $1.65 | $2.55 | $3.15 | $330.00 |
| 300 sets | $1.55 | $2.42 | $3.00 | $465.00 |
| 400 sets | $1.48 | $2.32 | $2.88 | $590.00 |
Custom poly (plastic) tabs
Price per set, one-time setup included. Default configuration: .015 gauge poly · 1-Sided printing · Black Ink · Unpunched · Uncollated · No Body Printing.
| Quantity | 5-tab set | 8-tab set | 10-tab set | Order total (5-tab) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 sets | $31.50 | $40.80 | $47.00 | $787.50 |
| 50 sets | $19.75 | $26.80 | $31.50 | $987.50 |
| 100 sets | $11.85 | $16.56 | $19.70 | $1,185.00 |
| 250 sets | $6.80 | $9.92 | $12.00 | $1,700.00 |
| 500 sets | $5.05 | $7.60 | $9.30 | $2,525.00 |
| 1000 sets | $4.35 | $6.72 | $8.30 | $4,350.00 |
What the options add
Priced per tab; pick them live in the configurator.
| Paper — 8.5" x 11" — 110# index | +$0.05/tab |
| Paper — 2-Sided printing | +$0.03/tab |
| Paper — 3-Hole Punched | +$0.01/tab |
| Paper — Mylar Reinforcement | +$0.03/tab |
| Paper — Collated | +$0.01/tab |
| Poly — 2-Sided printing | +$0.15/tab |
| Poly — Collated | +$0.06/tab |
| Poly — 1-Color Body Printing | +$165.00 per order |
| Poly — each added poly color in a set | +$35.00 |
Why quantity changes everything
Custom tabs are a make-ready business: typesetting, plates or screens, and die setup cost the same whether you run 25 sets or 400. That's why the per-set price falls steeply with quantity — and why the sweet spot for most buyers is 100+ sets, where the setup has spread thin and the per-tab rate has dropped through several tiers.
Every order includes a free PDF proof before anything prints, and US orders of $75+ ship free by UPS Ground. Paper tabs run about 5 business days from proof approval; poly about 15.
Pricing questions
How much do custom index tabs cost?
As a benchmark from our live store: 100 sets of custom-printed 5-tab paper dividers cost $235.00 ($2.35 per set), setup included. A minimum order of 25 sets runs $136.25. Poly (plastic) tabs cost more — 100 five-tab poly sets are $1,185.00 — because they are screen printed on durable .015 plastic.
Why do custom tab prices fall so much at higher quantities?
Most of the cost of a custom tab run is in the make-ready: typesetting, plates or screens, and die setup. Once the press is running, additional sets are cheap — so the per-set price drops steeply as quantity rises, and the one-time setup fee spreads across more sets.
Are poly tabs more expensive than paper tabs?
Yes. Poly tabs are screen printed with UV inks on .015 plastic, which carries a larger one-time setup cost and a higher per-tab rate than offset-printed paper. Paper tabs with Mylar reinforcing are the economical choice; poly pays off where charts and manuals face moisture, gloves, and years of daily handling.
Are there hidden fees on top of the published prices?
No. The prices on this page include the one-time setup fee. The only additions are the options you choose (heavier stock, 2-sided printing, hole punching, Mylar reinforcing — each priced per tab and shown here), and shipping, which is free UPS Ground on US orders of $75 or more.
How do I get an exact price for my tabs?
Design them. The online configurator shows the exact price as you build — quantity, tabs per set, colors, and every option — with no account, no quote form, and no waiting. What you see is what checkout charges.
Design them and watch the price update live — no account, no quote form.