The best promotional products, priced against the market
We sell 14,887 decoratable items, and we track what the large promotional suppliers charge for the same kind of thing. This page is that comparison in full, including the 20 product types where we are the more expensive option.
How to choose, in the order that matters
Most buyers pick the object first and discover the constraints later. The order that works is the reverse: decide how long the thing has to survive, then what it costs all in, then whether the date is real.
- Durability beats novelty. An engraved steel tumbler is still on a desk in three years. A printed plastic cup is in a bin by Friday. Engraving cannot peel, which is why we engrave wherever the material allows it.
- Compare all in, not per piece. A $50.00 setup fee spread over 50 pieces is $1.00 a piece of cost that never appears on the product page. Every figure below includes decoration and any setup charge on both sides.
- Check the date before you commit to the item. Decorated goods need a proof approved before anything goes on a machine. Ordered today, ours land Wed, Oct 21 - Mon, Nov 2.
What 26 product types cost, ours versus the market
All in at 50 pieces, decoration and setup included on both sides. Market figures come from 280 live competitor listings. We are at or below the median on 6 of 26 types and above it on 20.
| Product type | Ours, all in at 50 | Market median | Difference | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engraved keychain Gifts & Office |
$5.40 | $9.32 $7.45 to $8.79 |
-42% | 2 6 stores |
| Leatherette luggage tag Gifts & Office |
$7.20 | $10.97 $3.61 to $20.34 |
-34% | 12 9 stores |
| Wood plaque 8x10 / 9x12 Awards |
$57.84 | $82.90 $38.99 to $97.90 |
-30% | 9 5 stores |
| Leatherette wallet Gifts & Office |
$11.86 | $15.43 $10.37 to $16.94 |
-23% | 8 6 stores |
| Sport medal with ribbon Awards |
$3.02 | $3.75 $3.19 to $4.30 |
-19% | 2 6 stores |
| Custom ornament Gifts & Office |
$6.24 | $6.60 $6.48 to $6.60 |
-5% | 3 7 stores |
| Insulated can cooler Drinkware |
$18.40 | $17.30 $12.45 to $40.00 |
+6% | 16 10 stores |
| Leatherette hat patch Gifts & Office |
$2.40 | $2.25 $2.19 to $4.00 |
+7% | 7 6 stores |
| Glass award 7-9" Awards |
$60.00 | $52.79 $24.99 to $59.99 |
+14% | 8 5 stores |
| Resin sport trophy 5-7" Awards |
$16.60 | $14.47 $9.40 to $17.33 |
+15% | 5 3 stores |
| 30 oz insulated tumbler Drinkware |
$23.00 | $19.27 $9.29 to $27.61 |
+19% | 18 10 stores |
| Coaster set Gifts & Office |
$21.40 | $17.60 $10.59 to $161.39 |
+22% | 12 7 stores |
| 20 oz insulated tumbler Drinkware |
$20.00 | $15.64 $8.78 to $25.00 |
+28% | 25 11 stores |
| Flask gift set Gifts & Office |
$17.60 | $13.74 $8.69 to $36.46 |
+28% | 7 6 stores |
| Metal cup trophy Awards |
$61.60 | $47.83 $23.99 to $147.99 |
+29% | 8 4 stores |
| Acrylic award 6-8" Awards |
$62.40 | $47.99 $11.47 to $73.50 |
+30% | 16 7 stores |
| 12 oz stemless wine tumbler Drinkware |
$17.20 | $12.90 $4.70 to $35.44 |
+33% | 18 9 stores |
| Bamboo cutting board Gifts & Office |
$24.60 | $18.11 $8.24 to $36.39 |
+36% | 7 7 stores |
| 20 oz insulated water bottle Drinkware |
$25.60 | $18.30 $10.44 to $41.15 |
+40% | 15 10 stores |
| Crystal award 7-9" Awards |
$112.80 | $60.00 $48.50 to $95.00 |
+88% | 13 6 stores |
| Photo frame 4x6 / 5x7 Gifts & Office |
$18.80 | $9.54 $5.15 to $19.29 |
+97% | 9 4 stores |
| 40 oz travel mug with handle Drinkware |
$40.00 | $17.70 $8.40 to $24.10 |
+126% | 22 11 stores |
| Leatherette journal / padfolio Gifts & Office |
$28.40 | $11.96 $4.90 to $44.99 |
+137% | 24 8 stores |
| 11 oz ceramic mug Drinkware |
$12.20 | $4.90 $1.98 to $7.63 |
+149% | 6 10 stores |
| Bottle opener Gifts & Office |
$7.40 | $2.53 $1.20 to $4.24 |
+192% | 3 8 stores |
| Perpetual plaque Awards |
$176.80 | $47.99 $47.99 to $149.90 |
+268% | 5 5 stores |
Where we are higher, it is deliberate: heavier pieces, engraved rather than printed, and nothing added at checkout. Where we are lower, it is usually because there is no setup fee sitting on top.
How this comparison is built
So you can check it rather than trust it. We capture live listed prices from the large promotional suppliers, at the same quantity, for the same class of item, and we add any setup fee to both sides before comparing. Where a competitor publishes a range, we take the median of the listings rather than the cheapest one, because the cheapest is usually the smallest imprint. Our own figure is the published ladder price at 50 pieces plus the engraving charge for a logo covering about half the available area, which is what a normal one-color logo uses. Product types where we have fewer than two competitor listings are excluded entirely rather than shown thin, which is why this table lists 26 types and not every category we sell. The numbers move as the market does, so this page recalculates whenever it is loaded.
Best for client and employee gifting
Drinkware is the most requested category we sell and the one people keep. These are in stock now, with the price at 50 pieces next to the engraving charge for a logo covering about half the available area.
Solid Walnut Plaque with Gold Aluminum Star and Black Brass Plate
$108.00 each at 50, plus about $35.75 to engrave
122 in stock · 7.5in x 10in imprint area
Solid Walnut Certificate Plaque with Plexiglass Cover
$91.20 each at 50, plus about $3.25 to engrave
163 in stock · 2in x 2in imprint area
Solid Walnut Plaque with Sculptured Relief Eagle Casting and Black Brass Plate, 7" x 9"
$98.40 each at 50, plus about $20.00 to engrave
89 in stock · 5.5in x 7.5in imprint area
Solid Walnut Plaque-12 Sapphire Marble Plates 7/8" x 2 3/4" (Perpetual Series)
$132.00 each at 50, plus about $3.25 to engrave
216 in stock · 2in x 2in imprint area
Best for desks, milestones and executive gifts
Heavier pieces for the moments that deserve one: retirements, closings, board thank-yous.
Gold Metal Star Paperweight
$38.40 each at 50, plus about $3.25 to engrave
1,000+ in stock · 2.4in x 1.8in imprint area
Black Glass Certificate Plaque with Easy Open/Close Backing
$60.00 each at 50, plus about $3.25 to engrave
443 in stock · 2in x 2in imprint area
American Walnut Frame w/Black Velour Back/Bronze Finish Frame/Black Brass Plate
$314.40 each at 50, plus about $3.25 to engrave
54 in stock · 2in x 2in imprint area
Walnut Frame Plaque w/Gold Electroplated Gavel, Black Velour Back, Black Plate, 15" x 18"
$278.40 each at 50, plus about $47.50 to engrave
68 in stock · 10in x 10in imprint area
Best for recognition and awards
Crystal and plaques read as ceremony. It is the category where we most often sit above the market median, because the glass is thicker and the mark is cut into the piece rather than printed onto it.
Solid Walnut Plaque with Gold Aluminum Star and Black Brass Plate
$108.00 each at 50, plus about $35.75 to engrave
122 in stock · 7.5in x 10in imprint area
Cherry Finish Plaque with Sapphire Marble Plate, 7" x 9"
$76.80 each at 50, plus about $20.00 to engrave
307 in stock · 5.5in x 7.5in imprint area
Oak 5" x 7" Photo Plaque with Plate
$67.20 each at 50, plus about $3.25 to engrave
175 in stock · 2in x 2in imprint area
Carved Crystal Eagle on a Black Crystal Base with Black/Silver Plate
$187.20 each at 50, plus about $12.50 to engrave
297 in stock · 3in x 8in imprint area
What we do not charge for
- No setup fee. The market median is $50.00 an order.
- No art fee for usable artwork. We redraw it to fit at no charge.
- No proof fee. You approve a digital proof before anything is made, and you can cancel at that point for a full refund.
- Free ground freight over $250.00.
What do people actually ask?
What is the best promotional product for a trade show?
Something useful enough to survive the flight home. Drinkware is the dependable answer: it gets used daily and carries a logo well. At 50 pieces our engraved drinkware lands between $135.25 and $143.75 all in, setup included. Order it to arrive before you fly: decorated goods ordered today land Wed, Oct 21 - Mon, Nov 2, and checkout refuses an in-hand date it cannot keep.
How much do promotional products cost per piece?
At 50 pieces, across the 26 product types we track, competitor medians run from $2.25 to $82.90 all in depending on the item. Engraving is quoted from the artwork itself: $0.55 per square inch of the personalization area on the product, charged only for the share your artwork actually covers.
Are setup fees normal on promotional products?
They are common. Across 1,900 competitor listings we captured, the median setup charge is $50.00 an order, which is $1.00 a piece hidden inside a 50 piece run. We do not charge one at any quantity. Engraving is priced separately, by the share of the personalization area your artwork covers, and shown before you pay.
How long does it take to get promotional products?
Decorated goods ordered today arrive Wed, Oct 21 - Mon, Nov 2 on our standard timeline, which covers the proof, production and ground transit. Blank stock ships much sooner, Mon, Oct 12 - Wed, Oct 14. Checkout asks for the date you need them in hand and refuses any date we cannot guarantee.
What is the minimum order?
One piece on 9,069 of our 9,071 listed products, with no small-order fee and no setup fee at any quantity. The other 2 are sold in fixed packs the warehouse will not break, and each product page states its pack size before you add it to the cart. The price per piece falls at every published quantity break.
Can I see my logo on the product before I pay?
Yes. Upload your logo on any decorated product page, drag it where you want it and size it. The engraving price updates as you size it, and the layout you confirm is saved as your approved proof, so nothing is engraved that you have not seen. Production then runs 3 to 5 business days.