The Average Stationery and Wedding Invitation Cost, According to Data

You've hashed out your wedding guest list (our deepest condolences to your college roommate's roommate who didn't make the cut) and you've begun to build out your wedding budget. What's next? Understanding the average wedding invitation cost so you can set aside the right funds. Luckily, we have the data and the intel from pro stationery designers to guide you.

Note: Your location, vendor team and guest list size all factor into the final price—so does your stationery vision. And the extra craftsmanship required for handmade invites made by professional stationery designers will increase the bottom line (as it should). A quick browse through the pretty paper on The Knot Invitations will show that certain design details, like sparkly foil accents, also influence the overall cost. Finally, remember that other supplementary stationery pieces (like save-the-dates and wedding enclosure cards) will contribute to the total bill too. Check out the data below so you can understand how stationery plays into how much the average wedding costs—we've broken it down for you.

Wedding stationery costs at a glance:
Short on time? Eager to start perusing stationery options? Get the TL;DR on the average cost of wedding invitations and stationery here:

• On average, couples spend $518 on their entire suite of wedding paper, which could include elements like invites, save-the-dates, programs, etc.
• Based on guest count, couples spend anywhere from $299–$623 on their entire wedding stationery suite on average, with the lower number attributed to weddings with 50 people or less and the higher number to weddings with over 100 guests.
• The age of the couple also influences how much they spend on wedding paper. Looking at wedding invitation price alone, the average spend range spans from $195–$243, with millennials claiming the high number, Gen Z falling in the middle at $201 and Gen X bringing up the rear.

In this article: Average Cost of Wedding Stationery | Wedding Stationery Cost Factors | What Might Influence Wedding Stationery Costs In the Future? | How to Start Your Search for Wedding Stationery

Photo: The Knot Invitations

Average Cost of Wedding Stationery

So, how much is wedding stationery? Based on The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study, which tapped nearly 17,000 couples who wed last year, a couple typically spends $518 total to cover their wedding invitation suite and all additional paper details. This number has stayed pretty steady over the past few years, though it's a slight dip from 2023's $530 total. Before we break down this number a little further below, let us emphasize: This number is an average spend point for couples, not a budget that can cover every kind of wedding stationery suite. The data is in line for non-custom print invitations you would order from an online retailer, like The Knot Invitations, NOT custom paper designed by a professional—those bespoke suites fall into a completely different price range. To get specific intel on the typical price for wedding invitations from a high-end professional, we talked numbers with two top stationery designers. (If custom paper is a priority for you, play around with The Knot Budget Advisor to see where you can save and splurge. The tool will show you local costs for every vendor type in your area and allow you to edit a custom breakdown while you're creating a wedding budget to suit your spend.)

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Stationery designer Le'Trice Penn of Michigan-based Lepenn Designs says that the price of a full custom invitation suite—including the main invitation, response card, details insert card(s) and envelope—would typically range from $6,000–8,000+. She notes that this range includes details like specialty printing such as foil stamping, letterpress and/or embossing and printed envelopes.

"In general, a ballpark range for a custom wedding invitation suite from a professional designer would be at least around $4,000-5,000+," says Penn. Chelsea Downey of Florida-based Tuesday Grace Designs notes that it's tough to pin down an average cost figure, since every couple prioritizes a different aspect of their stationery. Tuesday Grace offers both custom and semi-custom stationery designs, and Downey notes that her custom-suite couples tend to invest between $7,500 and $15,000, while pairs that opt for semi-custom suites can expect a number closer to the $2500 point for full wedding paper (give or take depending on guest count, number of paper products and which design you select).

How Much Do Wedding Invitations Cost?

According to our internal data, the overall average "cost" of invitations for a wedding (including RSVP cards) is $226. This number falls very much in line with the inexpensive wedding invitations available at online stationery retailers. Guest count proved to be the most significant factor influencing the average price of wedding invitations (the total cost of 50 invitations will always be less than the cost of 150 invitations, even with a bulk discount). Here's the cost breakdown:

• Weddings with 50 guests or under: $123
• Weddings with a size between 51 and 100 guests: $185
• Weddings with 101 or more guests: $276

Age also has a slight sway on the cost of wedding invitations for couples, with a $48 difference in spend between Gen X couples ($195) and millennials ($243). Gen Z pairs spent around $201. A typical price range for a custom wedding invitation and accompanying enclosure cards crafted by a pro stationery designer is between $4,000 and $7,000, say Penn and Downey, with some pairs spending more depending on the design details they desire. The average cost of wedding invitations for 100 guests in terms of semi-custom offerings from a pro stationery designer is typically under $2,000, according to Downey.

How Much Do Save-the-Dates Cost?

By our data, the average cost of save-the-dates is $153. There's no difference between the spending patterns for save-the-dates vs. wedding invitations; this prewedding piece of stationery follows the same logic as the official bids. A couple's spend level rose alongside their guest count and millennials continued to spend the most and Gen X the least. Both Downey and Penn note that $1,000 is a baseline for the average price of save-the-dates from pro designers, with the $3,000 mark capping off the higher end.

How Much Does Day-Of Paper Cost?

From programs, to menus, to table numbers, to escort cards, there's no shortage of wedding stationery that comes into play on the day itself. Couples spend $140 on average here. Downey mentions that her couples usually spend a minimum of $1,500 for day-of stationery, while Penn's pairs average closer to $2,500–5,000+.

How Much Do Wedding Thank-You Cards Cost?

Wedding thank-you cards are a bit of an outlier. Because this stationery isn't usually considered part of the official suite and isn't responsible for previewing a wedding's look and feel to guests, couples are less likely to be consistent in where they are sourcing this piece of stationery. The average cost of wedding thank-you cards (based on the darling options available on The Knot Invitations) falls between $119 and $229 for 100 thank-you cards.

Photo: The Knot Invitations

Wedding Stationery Cost Factors

How much do wedding cards cost? There are lots of factors at play that'll influence the final number. From local rates, to labor costs, to fancy design details, to how much legwork goes into your individual suite, the typical cost of wedding invitations and stationery isn't always cut-and-dried. Here are a handful of price-impacting elements:

Design: Tiana Crispino

Customization Factor

The typical cost of wedding invitations is ultimately most tied to the type of stationery you choose. When a couple orders ready-made stationery from a paper retailer, it takes no extra time or coordination once a design is selected, so this paper is the least expensive. A custom stationery design requires time (about 8–12 weeks) for research, consulting, designing, printing production and assembly, all of which factor into the overall price that wedding invitation designers charge.

"Custom design is for couples looking for wedding stationery that's 100% unique, intentional and infused with their personalities," says Downey. "Often, custom-design couples have a very clear picture of how they want their wedding to look and the experience they want to give their guests." Somewhere in the middle in terms of cost are semi-custom designs, which are set design templates that can be personalized to suit a couple's taste by adjusting the colors, text and perhaps a few other small details. Semi-custom wedding stationery doesn't require a custom design or assembly fee. Downey notes that the timeline for her semi-custom couples is close to four weeks and that this style is a great option for couples who want timeless and elegant paper goods, but have a more general vision of their wedding theme (like a coastal wedding with a blue-and-white color palette).

Printing Style

A fancier printing style will raise the average cost for your invitations. Flat digital printing is the least expensive option, with methods like letterpress and foil stamping coming in at a higher price. The spendiest printing style is sculpted embossing, which is a delicate method in which three-dimensional designs are pushed out of your paper. Note that the price of printing also increases if you mix multiple printing methods.

Paper Type

Generally speaking, heavier cardstock is more expensive than thinner papers. According to our experts, something like a cotton or tree-pulp cardstock or eggshell finish 110# card stock are usually the most budget-friendly options. A double-ply cotton paper or handmade paper falls in the middle in terms of cost, while acrylic and other non-paper mediums get pricier.

Specialty Materials and Embellishments

"Specialty materials like wood, metal, velvet flock and faux leather are all luxury additions that'll further enhance an invitation suite, but at a much higher price point," says Penn. "Finishing touches such as die-cut pocket, holders or sleeves, trifolds and gatefolds, edge painting and acrylic monograms will also raise the cost of your wedding stationery."

Total Number and Shape of Cards

Obviously: The more cards you add to your invitation suite, the more expensive it'll be, as each card will require its own design and extra materials. Plus, a more elaborate invitation suite (aka: an envelope filled with multiple pieces of stationery) will cost more to mail simply because it weighs more. Uniquely shaped stationery (and uniquely shaped can simply mean square—not cut into the shape of you and your fiancé's silhouette) can also bump up mailing costs.

Labor and Artistry

The labor and love given to each piece of paper when working with a professional does and should come at a high price, hands down.

"From a design standpoint, the more artistry that's required—from illustrations to paintings—the more expensive the design will be," says Downey. "Though you can't touch it, you're literally paying for (often) hundreds of hours of work and years of experience, in addition to the cost of your tangible stationery…When you hire a wedding stationer, you're working with an artist." Downey mentions that the design fee that's charged when working with a professional also covers services like the research time they devote to learning about your venue, location, theme and love story, as well as the careful edits made after the first proof, the thoughtful wedding invitation etiquette advice given and the willingness to chat through thoughts and questions with the couple whenever they arise.

"There are stationers who approach custom design in their own unique way, such as hand illustrations, calligraphy, expertise in typography or master manipulation of graphic design elements—and all of these various areas have their own individual price points," says Penn. "A stationer will choose to set their pricing based on how they approach the design, the number of years they have been mastering their art form, the design and production process they have in place for you, along with the number of clients they choose to accept each year. All of these are factors that go into them deciding on the custom design and printing fees they will charge."

Photo: The Knot Invitations

What Might Influence Wedding Stationery Costs In the Future?

Speaking candidly, the thought of wedding tariffs keeps us up at night these days. With many stationery designers importing their paper from abroad, a potential tariff will likely increase paper pricing on a broad scale. And even if the paper itself is manufactured in the US, the wood pulp that paper is made from may still have to be brought in from another country. (China and Canada—two countries at the top of the tariff list—are among the leading wood pulp producers.)

On an opposing note, the amount couples are spending on wedding stationery has, for the most part, slightly decreased over the years. The overall average is down $10 from the previous year and down $40 since before 2020. The average spend in 2016 was as high as $606—that's an $80+ reduction compared to today, despite inflation. Many modern couples are opting to collect RSVPs online, which cuts down on their paper cost. Only 32% of couples sent out physical RSVP cards last year, but there are no wedding invitation mistakes here: both formats have their benefits.

How to Start Your Search for Wedding Stationery

Now that you're acquainted with the average cost of wedding invitations, save-the-date cards and more, it's time to start your paper party. First, nail down a budget based on what you value in terms of stationery. Are you springing for a full suite? Besides the invitations, what day-of stationery will you need? Are custom elements important to you? Regardless, remember that your stationery sets the tone for your wedding.

If a custom suite that'll reach heirloom status years down the line is what you envision and you're less concerned with how to save on wedding invitations, head to The Knot Vendor Marketplace to sift through bespoke stationers, boutique paperies and calligraphers in your area. You can filter by their offerings (for example, if a stationer does bridal shower invitations in addition to wedding stationery) as well as for businesses owned by queer and BIPOC professionals to support your values.

If you're wondering where to buy wedding invitations if ready-made paper is more in your price range, The Knot Invitations offers a range of designs to suit any wedding style (including those with foil embellishments). For extra cohesion, match your stationery to your free The Knot wedding website.