Rush Printing: What We Can Turn Around Same-Day, Next-Day and in 48 Hours

Quick answer

Yes, we rush. Business cards, postcards, flyers, roll labels, retractable banners, vinyl banners, foam boards and short-run folders can ship the same business day when your print-ready file is in and approved before 11 AM Central. Most other digital and large-format products ship next day or in 48 hours. Anything involving plates or dies (foil, letterpress, embossing) or offset presswork needs a little more time, and we explain how much below. Everything ships nationwide from Houston, TX; our facility is production-only, so we pair rush production with the right shipping speed instead of pickup.

What ships same-day (order before 11 AM CT)

• Business cards, postcards, flyers and rack cards on our in-stock 14pt / 16pt and 100lb gloss stocks, full color, with matte or gloss aqueous coating.
• Roll labels on paper or BOPP in standard shapes; custom die-cut shapes add a day for the cutting die.
• Retractable banner stands (33" and 36"), X-stands, tabletop displays and 13oz vinyl banners with hems and grommets.
• Foam board and rigid signs, window clings and adhesive vinyl up to our standard sheet sizes.
• Short-run digital pocket folders on 14pt with standard glued pockets.

The same-day list is the set of products flagged on our Same-Day page; the configurator shows a 'same-day' badge and the cut-off countdown on each of them. The rule is simple: file in, proof approved, order paid before 11:00 AM Central, and it leaves the building that afternoon.

Next-day and 48-hour products

• Saddle-stitched booklets, brochures and folded pieces: next business day for short runs, 48 hours for larger runs or heavier stocks.
• Spot UV, soft-touch lamination, painted edges and other premium digital finishes: add one day for the finishing pass and cure time.
• Custom-shape roll labels, hang tags with drilling or stringing, and folded greeting cards: next day.
• Step-and-repeat backdrops, tension fabric displays, table throws and custom flags: 48 hours, because fabric is printed, heat-fixed, sewn and finished.
• Custom event tents and SEG lightboxes: 3 to 5 business days for the frame and graphic to be built, checked and packed.

Why plates and dies change the math

Hot foil stamping, letterpress, embossing, debossing and die-cut shapes are not printed, they are pressed. Each needs a physical die or plate engraved to your artwork, then mounted and made ready on the press. Die making alone is a one to two business day step before any impression is made, and a foil job that also needs a second color or a registered emboss needs two dies. We routinely turn these jobs in three to five business days, sometimes faster, but we will not promise same-day on them. Our dedicated guide explains the process and the fast-looking alternatives (digital foil, raised spot UV, metallic ink) that can ship in a day.

Shipping speed is the other half of a rush job

Production time plus transit time equals your delivery date. From Houston, ground reaches Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas next day; most of the South and Midwest in two days; the coasts in three to four. If you need the piece in New York tomorrow, we print same-day and ship overnight air; our delivery-date estimator shows the window for your ZIP before you order. We can also split a rush order: a small quantity by air for the event, the balance by ground for the office.

How to place a rush order in five minutes

• Use the Rush Quote Request. It is tagged High Priority - Urgent in our ticket desk and lands at the top of the prepress queue.
• Attach a print-ready PDF: CMYK, 300 DPI, 0.125" bleed, fonts outlined or embedded. Files that need repair are the number-one cause of missed cut-offs.
• Tell us the real deadline (the event date, not just 'ASAP') and the ship-to ZIP. We plan production and shipping backwards from that date.
• Approve the digital proof the moment it arrives; we hold the press slot for you, but the clock stops until the approval comes back.
• Pick a stock and size from the standard options. Custom sizes and special papers are possible but usually cost a day.

Popular rush products

• Same-Day Business Cards14pt and 16pt, ships today before 11 AM CT
• Same-Day Postcards4×6 and 5×7, full color
• Same-Day Promotional FlyersLetter and half-letter
• Retractable Banner 33" × 81"Stand and case included
• 13oz Outdoor Vinyl BannerHemmed and grommeted, any size
• Same-Day Digital Pocket FolderShort-run 9×12 folders

Do you really print same day?

Yes. Products flagged same-day ship the same business day when the print-ready file is approved and paid before 11 AM Central. Order later than that and it ships next business day.

Is there a rush fee?

Same-day items are priced with the standard turnaround already shown in the configurator; where a faster option costs more, the configurator shows the exact surcharge before you add to cart. Rush quotes list any fee up front.

Can I pick up my rush order in Houston?

No. Our facility is production-only and is not set up for walk-in pickup. We ship nationwide, including same-day handoff to overnight carriers, so a Houston address typically receives next morning.

Can foil stamping or letterpress be done same day?

Not same day. These require a die or plate to be made and mounted, which is a one to two day step. We turn most foil and letterpress work in three to five business days and can suggest fast-looking alternatives such as digital foil or raised spot UV when the date is fixed.

What if my file is not print-ready?

Send it anyway. Our prepress team will tell you within the hour what needs fixing, or fix it for you where possible. Repairs may push a same-day order to next day, so the earlier we see the file the better.