Home › Answers › What paper are blueprints printed on?
What paper are blueprints printed on?
Modern blueprints are printed on 20 lb (20#) bond, a plain white uncoated wide-format paper, by a toner or inkjet plotter. Heavier 24# bond is used for presentation sets, and vellum or mylar for archival and reproducible originals. The blue color came from the old diazo and cyanotype processes, which are almost gone.
20# bond is the standard. Permit sets, bid sets, field sets and construction documents all print on it. It takes pencil and pen markup, folds cleanly, and is light enough that a 50-sheet set ships cheaply. Every East Coast Blueprints order prints on 20# bond at $2.00 a 24×36 sheet.
When heavier stock is worth it. 24# bond feels more substantial for a client presentation. Vellum is translucent and was used to make reproducible copies; mylar (polyester film) is dimensionally stable and tear-proof for archival record sets. Both are specialty runs, quoted on request.
Why "blueprint". Until the late twentieth century, drawings were copied by a chemical process that left white lines on a blue background (cyanotype), later blue lines on white (diazo). Plotters replaced both, but the name stuck.
Related questions
Should bid sets be on heavier paper?
No. Bid sets are used for the bid period and discarded. 20# bond is the right paper and the cheapest.
Can you print on vellum or mylar?
Yes, as a quote-based specialty run. See specialty reprographics.
Does color print on the same paper?
Yes. Color pages print on 20# bond too, at $4.75 a 24×36 for line work and $8.95 for renderings and heavy fills.
Upload plans & see price → Check a PDF first
See also
More answers: How much does it cost to print a 50-page plan set? · What is the cheapest way to print blueprints in bulk? · Where can I print 24×36 plans online and get them the next day? · How do I get blueprints printed and shipped to a job site? · Can I print blueprints the same day online? · How much does it cost to print a permit set for a house?