Advice

Printing turnaround times: how long to allow, product by product?

Published 5 July 2026 · Welye advice

The real question is never "what's your turnaround?" but "for WHICH product, starting WHEN?". The clock doesn't start at the order: it starts when the proof is approved. Here are the real 2026 lead times — and the three traps that derail them.

Standard turnaround, product by product

• ✓Business cards, flyers, posters: 2–4 business days — 24h express.
• ✓Roll-up banners: 2–3 days — 24h express, hardware included.
• ✓Saddle-stitched brochures: 3–5 business days; perfect bound: 5–8 days (the glue must cure) — 48h express possible depending on page count.
• ✓Banners & rigid panels: 3–5 days — 48h express.
• ✓Labels: 3–6 days depending on material and die-cut.
• ✓Complete stand (backdrop, counter, totems): allow 7–10 days to stay calm — our exhibitor's checklist details the countdown.

What actually derails a deadline

1. The waiting proof

Production time starts when the proof is approved, not when the quote is sent. A proof approved at 9am goes to press the same morning; approved at 6pm, it goes the next day. On a 24h express job, that nuance is the deadline.

2. The file that needs fixing

Missing bleed, 72 dpi images, RGB files: every correction round costs half a day. The artwork guide prevents 90% of back-and-forth — and our file check is free.

3. Underestimated delivery

A pallet for a trade show doesn't ship like an envelope of cards. Exhibition venues impose build-up slots: we schedule delivery on them (trade-show delivery), but we need hall, booth number and an on-site contact at order time.

Express: what's genuinely possible

Producing in the Paris region changes everything: no distant outsourcing, no customs, no international carrier. That's what makes 24h credible on cards, flyers, posters and roll-ups, and 48h on brochures and large format (our express service). Golden rule: file approved before noon = comfortable express; after 4pm = we'll tell you honestly whether it's still on.

How we secure your date

• ✓The promised turnaround is written on the quote — it's binding.
• ✓Quote with your hard deadline: we plan backwards and warn you if it's tight.
• ✓File checked free of charge before proofing: surprises are caught before production, not during.
• ✓A hiccup on press? We call you immediately with a solution — not the day before delivery.

Best reflex: give us your event date with the quote request. The whole schedule is built from it.