Lathe-Cut Records : Rates

When artists approach me about making a small run of lathe-cut records for them, the first question nearly everyone asks is: how much does it cost?

I don’t have a fixed price list for all the different types of lathecut records I make, due to the nature of how specialized every part of the process can be, including different sizes, shapes, etc. There is a section on this site that breaks down a lot of the possible options involved, and so far, no two projects have been exactly the same. That means folks who are interested in a custom project will need to take a few minutes and read through the options. (*but you really do want to do that, so your records will end up exactly the way you want them, right?) Otherwise, when they talk with me, I will still have to ask all the same questions anyway, so it really helps to just take a minute and think about some of the options they might want for their project ahead of time.

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That said, I can announce that for the time being (*at least until we run out of stock, or our suppliers raise their prices), the one fixed rate we are able to offer is for a basic minimum run of 20 – 100 7-inch singles.

These prices are locked down as of May 2024:

• 20 – 100 one-sided square 7″ records : $5 ea. (20 = $100 / 50 = $250 / 100 = $500)
• 20 – 100 two-sided square 7″ records : $7 ea. (20 = $140 / 50 = $350 / 100 = $700)
• 20 – 100 one-sided round 7″ records : $8 ea. (20 = $160 / 50 = $400 / 100 = $800)
• 20 – 100 two-sided round 7″ records : $10 ea. (20 = $200 / 50 = $500 / 100 = $1000)

For this package, the following applies:

• 7-inch singles only (squares or circles)
• Minimum Order : 20 / Maximum Order : 100
• clear polycarbonate (no colors)
• no jackets or labels
• just the records in a clear polyethylene sleeve

Now, I’ve worked more than a few minimum wage jobs in my life, and I know that to some bands, $100 – $200 might seem like a lot, but the trade-off is that I can give them a small run which a pressing plant can not, and the turnaround times can be a lot quicker (depending on how booked out we are). Plus, if they sell those at a show for $15 – $20 (which actually is what a lot of artists sell them for), their investment comes back pretty quickly. I’ve had some return clients who have done just that and then recycle their profits into bigger projects.

For 10” or 12” records, the price is generally going to fall closer to an average range of $12-$18 (-ish) per disc, and some of the price is determined by what they want in terms of labels and packaging. BUT I always try to find a way to work with someone depending on their needs and resources – which is one reason I don’t like to post a detailed price list. Some people are going to be scared off by numbers and not bother to find out if we can work something out. Realistically, I know I’m going to lose a few potential clients no matter which way I go, but I’m more motivated by art and creative possibilities than money, so I would always encourage people to reach out and see what we might be able to come up with.

If someone only looks at the numbers, I understand they may think that sounds like a lot of money up front. The reality of it is that I am really only covering the cost of my materials, and asking for a fair wage; and my rates as a sound engineer are only slightly higher than what someone gets paid per hour working at Arby’s or Chick-Fil-A. (Yes, that is actually true, unfortunately.)

The trade-off, however, is that no pressing plants are currently making small runs of 20-50 albums, because it’s just not practical for them to do that. Also, some artists may not realize that they can actually sell these records for $25 – $40, and those prices are fairly common, in the bandcamp market, for example.

Another thing to consider is that if the artists want me to handle printing their jackets, etc, they’re really going to end up spending a lot more money than they need to. I generally have a small stock of blank sleeves and labels on hand, but if someone wants custom printed jackets, my advice is for them to purchase their own blank jackets and seek out their own method of printing (or silkscreening, etc). If I have to hire a job out to a printer, then it stands to reason that I have to charge the customer more for a service I’m not even directly providing. But if they want to do their own artwork, that’s when they can deliver something really unique to their fans, by hand-painting or silkscreening their own cover art.

After all, an artist who is looking at making a small run of records doesn’t really need to try and make something that looks like a traditional mass-marketed product. In the end, it might be a much better idea to think instead about what makes your art unique, and deliver something to your fans that they won’t find anywhere else.