Look, I've been handling print orders for our small business for about five years now. In that time, I've personally made—and documented—around 17 significant mistakes. Total wasted budget: roughly $8,250. That's a lot of business cards that went straight to the trash.
This FAQ is my way of making sure you don't repeat my errors. I'll cover GotPrint discounts, coupon codes, common gotchas, and a few things I wish someone had told me on day one.
1. How do I actually find a working GotPrint promo code for 2025?
This is the question I get most. And here's the honest answer: it's a moving target.
As of early 2025, the most reliable place to check is the GotPrint website itself, specifically their promotions page. I've found that about 60% of the time, there's a site-wide offer like 15% off or free shipping over $50. But it changes.
If I remember correctly, in January 2024 they had a 20% off deal for new customers. By March, it was free shipping on orders over $75. The point is: don't assume last month's code works this month. It probably doesn't.
My system now: I check the GotPrint site first, then search for "gotprint promo code free shipping 2025" (it's specific enough to filter out expired junk). But—and this is the key—I always verify the code before I start designing. Because nothing's worse than creating a perfect brochure only to find the code expired.
2. Is the "free shipping" promo code actually worth it?
Short answer: depends on what you're ordering.
Here's the thing: "free shipping" from GotPrint usually means standard ground shipping, which takes 5-8 business days. That's fine if you're planning ahead. But if you're in a rush, it's a gamble.
In September 2024, I ordered 500 flyers with a free shipping coupon. Delivery took 9 days. The event was in 10 days. I was literally refreshing the tracking page, praying. It arrived on day 9, but I aged about 5 years in that week.
So my rule: use the free shipping code if you have at least 10 business days of buffer. If you're under that, the rush shipping fee is buying you certainty—and that's worth the extra $15-25. Missing a $4,000 client meeting to save $20 on shipping? That's a false economy.
3. What's the deal with GotPrint discounts—are there hidden fees?
Honest answer: mostly no, but there are a few gotchas.
The price you see when you apply a coupon code is generally the price you pay. But I've been burned twice by not checking the subtotal carefully.
Here's what I learned: some discounts apply to the base product price but not to add-ons like:
- Rush processing fees
- Upgraded paper stock
- UV coating or other finishing options
- Shipping (unless it says free shipping)
So if you have a 20% off code, that 20% applies to the standard business cards, but if you upgrade to 100lb cover stock, the extra cost isn't discounted. I learned this the hard way on a $320 order where the discount saved me $45—less than I'd expected.
Pro tip: The best GotPrint coupon codes for 2025 seem to be the site-wide percentage off or the free shipping ones. Stackable codes? Haven't seen one that works consistently.
4. I need white foam board 20 x 30. Does GotPrint do that?
Yes, they do. But there's a catch I found out the hard way.
GotPrint offers foam board mounting in sizes up to 48 x 96 inches. But the 20 x 30 inches size specifically—it's available, but it's considered a "large format" item. That means it ships separately from, say, business cards or flyers.
Why does that matter? Because if you're trying to combine a foam board order with a promo code that says "free shipping on print orders," the foam board might be excluded from that offer. I made this mistake in October 2023: ordered 3 foam boards (20x30) with a free shipping code. Got charged $18 for shipping on those because of the separate category.
The lesson: when ordering mixed product types, check the shipping policy on each. The GotPrint site should make this clear under the product specs.
5. How do I create a brochure in Word without a template?
I've done this. It's painful, but possible.
Standard brochure sizes from GotPrint are often 11 x 17 inches folded to 8.5 x 11 (that's a bi-fold) or 11 x 25.5 inches folded to 8.5 x 11 (tri-fold).
If you're doing this in Word:
- Set your page size to the flat size before folding (e.g., 11 x 17 for a bi-fold).
- Use columns or text boxes to simulate the panels.
- Make sure your margins leave room for the fold—I recommend 0.5 inches minimum.
- Export as PDF, but check the resolution. Word exports at 220 DPI by default. GotPrint recommends 300 DPI. So you might get a warning.
I personally had a disaster in February 2024: I designed a tri-fold brochure in Word, forgot to account for the fold margin, and when printed, the text on panel 1 ended up smack in the middle of the fold. 1,000 brochures. $350 plus embarrassment.
Since then, I use one of GotPrint's free templates. They're available on the product page. Yeah, I know, templates feel restrictive. But they guarantee your layout works. There's a reason pro printers use templates.
6. Can I combine multiple promo codes on one order?
Short answer: no.
GotPrint, like most online printers, allows one code per order. I've tried—trust me. In Q4 2023, I had a 20% off coupon and a free shipping one. I tried to use both. The system just applied whichever was more recent (or maybe it was alphabetical, I don't know).
The better strategy: pick the code that saves you the most money. Usually, that's a percentage off on large orders, or free shipping on small ones.
Another tip from my cost accounting days: if your order is $80 and free shipping saves you $8, but a 15% off saves you $12, the percentage off is better. Simple math, but in the moment, it's easy to just grab the first code you find.
7. What's the biggest rookie mistake with GotPrint?
Without question: not checking your file resolution before uploading.
Industry standard for print is 300 DPI at final size. GotPrint's system will warn you if it's lower, but it won't refuse the file. I've seen too many people (myself included) upload a file that looked fine on screen, only to get the print back with blurry images or jagged text.
According to standard print resolution guidelines, maximum print size in inches = pixel dimensions ÷ 300. So a 3000 x 2000 pixel image can print at 10 x 6.67 inches max. Ignoring that? You get pixelation.
I once ordered 250 posters at 18 x 24 inches with a logo that was only 72 DPI. The logo came out looking like it was made of bricks. $680 gone. I now use the preflight check tool before submitting anything. It catches about 80% of issues.
8. Is GotPrint actually cheaper than going local?
For volume and standard products? Yes, usually. For one-off specialty items? Not always.
Here's my rule of thumb based on about 200 orders across 4 vendors:
- Business cards: GotPrint is typically 30-50% cheaper than local shops. A box of 500 from GotPrint might cost $25-35, while local might be $50-70.
- Flyers/posters: Generally cheaper online, especially for quantities over 100.
- Custom envelope printing: GotPrint is competitive, but be careful with custom specs—you're locked into their template system.
But—and this is a big but—pricing was accurate as of Q4 2024, and the market changes fast. I got burned once in 2022 when I assumed GotPrint was cheapest without checking. A local shop had a promo that beat them by $40 on a small order.
The bottom line: GotPrint is a solid choice for small to medium print runs, especially if you're cost-conscious and plan ahead. But don't default—check current prices.
The One Thing I Wish I Knew Day 1
Here's the thing I learned after about 5 years and $8,250 in mistakes: the cheapest option isn't always the cheapest.
I know that sounds like a fortune cookie. But I mean it in a specific way: the uncertainty of a low price can cost you more than a slightly higher but reliable option.
In March 2024, we paid $400 extra for rush delivery on 1,000 brochures. The alternative was missing a $15,000 trade show. That's a no-brainer. But I see people hesitate on a $15 rush fee to save $5, and then end up with delays that cost way more.
So when you're choosing between gotprint discounts and guaranteed delivery on a tight deadline? Go for the certainty. Add the promo code if it fits, but don't let saving $20 jeopardize a $5,000 project.
Prices and codes as of early 2025. Things change fast in print, so verify current rates before you place an order.
