Print My Plans
What Paper Are Blueprints Printed On?
By Eli Gewirtzman, Owner · Last checked Nov 5, 2026
Short answer: most construction plans today are printed on bond, a plain, uncoated white large-format paper, and we print every sheet on 20 lb bond. You can order finished blueprint prints online (upload a PDF and have the sets shipped), take the file to a local print or copy shop, or buy blank bond plotter rolls if you print in-house; vellum and Mylar are specialty media for originals and archives, not everyday job-site sets. At Print My Plans, upload your PDF on the order page: $1.95 per sheet in black and white or $3.75 in color, the same price at every size from 17×22 to 36×48. Order by 3 PM ET and it ships the same day.
Looking for sheet sizes instead? See what size paper house plans are printed on.
Where can I order blueprints printed on bond?
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Online plan printer (upload a PDF, prints shipped) | Full permit, bid and job-site sets on 20 lb bond, several copies, shipped to the office or site | Allow for shipping time. At Print My Plans, order by 3 PM ET for same-day shipping. |
| Local print or copy shop | Same-day pickup, one-off sheets | Confirm they print on bond (not coated poster stock) and true to scale |
| Blank plotter or bond rolls (print yourself) | Offices that already run a large-format plotter | You buy paper, not finished sets; you still need ink, a working plotter, and time to fold or roll |
Print My Plans is an online blueprint printing service: every order is printed on 20 lb bond and shipped rolled in protective tubes. Free 2-day air shipping on orders over $95 (lower 48 states).
Bond: the standard for plan sets
“Bond” is the everyday paper of large-format plan printing. It’s what permit offices, contractors, subs and inspectors are used to handling:
- Uncoated, so you can write on it. Pencil, pen and highlighter all work for field notes and redlines.
- Light enough to fold or roll. A full set fits in a tube or a box, and sheets fold into a binder. See how to fold or roll blueprints.
- Good for line work and color. Black line drawings stay crisp, and colored site or landscape sheets read clearly.
“20 lb” is the paper’s weight rating. We print every sheet on 20 lb bond at every size: 17×22, 18×24, 22×34, 24×36, 30×42 and 36×48.
What the other papers are for
| Paper | What it is | Typically used for | Do we print on it? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bond (20 lb) | Plain, uncoated white paper | Permit sets, bid sets, job-site sets, client review | Yes, all orders |
| Vellum | Translucent paper | Originals that are traced over or reproduced | No |
| Mylar (polyester film) | Durable plastic film | Long-term archive originals | No |
| Coated / photo paper | Heavier, coated stock | Renderings and display boards | No |
If an office or surveyor asks for vellum or Mylar, ask which providers it accepts. We print on bond only.
Buying blank 20 lb bond rolls is for plotter owners; ordering prints means the print shop supplies the bond and sends finished sheets.
Why “blueprints” aren’t blue anymore
The name stuck from an old copying process that made white lines on blue paper. Today’s “blueprints” are digital prints, usually on white bond. The full story: why are blueprints blue?.
Black and white or color on bond
Black and white is right for most sheets: floor plans, framing, details. Use color where it carries meaning, like a site plan separating existing and new work, or a rendering. You can mix both in one order. See black and white or color plan prints.
What bond prints cost
$1.95 per sheet in black and white and $3.75 in color, the same price at every size (17×22, 18×24, 22×34, 24×36, 30×42 and 36×48, including 24×36). Printing subtotals for common sets:
| Set on 20 lb bond | Sheets | Black and white printing | Color printing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small permit or deck set | 3 | $5.85 | $11.25 |
| Typical house set | 12 | $23.40 | $45.00 |
| Larger home or light commercial | 24 | $46.80 | $90.00 |
Math: sheets × $1.95 (black and white) or × $3.75 (color). Shipping is shown at checkout before you pay. Full price list: pricing, or try the plan printing cost calculator.
FAQ
What paper are blueprints printed on?
Most plans today are printed on bond, a plain, uncoated white large-format paper, and we print every order on 20 lb bond. Vellum and Mylar are specialty media used for originals and archives.
Where can I order blueprints printed on bond paper?
You can order finished prints online by uploading a PDF and having the sets shipped, take the file to a local print or copy shop, or buy blank bond rolls if you run your own plotter. At Print My Plans, upload your PDF on the order page: $1.95 per sheet in black and white or $3.75 in color, every sheet on 20 lb bond.
What is bond paper?
Bond is plain, uncoated paper. In plan printing it comes on large-format rolls and is the standard paper for permit, bid and job-site sets.
What does 20 lb bond mean?
It’s the paper’s weight rating. 20 lb bond is light enough to fold or roll, and it’s the paper we print every order on.
Can I write on bond plan prints?
Yes. Because bond is uncoated, pencil, pen and highlighter all work for notes and redlines.
Can I buy the paper and print blueprints at home?
Most home printers stop at letter or 11×17, so full-size plan sheets need a large-format plotter or an online or local printer. See can I print blueprints at home?.
What does it cost to print blueprints on bond?
$1.95 per sheet in black and white or $3.75 in color, the same price at every size from 17×22 to 36×48. A 12-sheet house set in black and white is $23.40 for printing. See pricing.
How fast can I get bond plan prints?
Orders placed by 3 PM ET ship the same day. Free 2-day air shipping on orders over $95 (lower 48 states). 2-day air and next-day air shipping are available at checkout.
Do you ship prints rolled?
Yes. Prints ship rolled in protective tubes.
Do you print on vellum or Mylar?
No. We print every order on 20 lb bond.
Are blueprints still blue?
No. The name comes from an old copying process. Today’s plans are digital prints, usually black line work on white bond.
Printing it
Upload your PDF on the order page, choose the size, black and white or color, and the number of copies, and check out. Order by 3 PM ET, ships same day, arrives as soon as the next day. Prints ship rolled in protective tubes, and free 2-day air shipping applies on orders over $95 (lower 48 states). If we make a mistake, we reprint and ship it free of charge.