Choosing a printer
Tarot Printing: Overseas vs a US Manufacturer
There is no single right answer between an overseas and a US manufacturer for custom tarot printing; it depends on your quantity, deadline and tolerance for customs paperwork. Dark Forest prints in Ukraine and ships insured by UPS: a minimum of 12 decks, from $15.90 a deck (box and 48-page booklet included), 3–4 weeks of production after artwork approval, plus 5–9 business days of transit. Prices in US dollars, read live on 2 November 2026.
The short answer: four questions decide it
Start with what you actually need. The place a deck is printed matters less than four things you can check before you pay.
- How many decks, and how often? Small runs are where minimums bite.
- When do you need them? Transit and customs time count as much as press time.
- Who checks the quality? A proof, a sample, or neither.
- Who handles the import? You, or the carrier, and with what paperwork.
The table below compares the two routes in general terms, and then in the particular case of what we offer. We have not priced other manufacturers here and we do not invent their numbers: ask any printer, ours included, for the same five answers in writing.
Overseas versus US: the comparison
| Factor | Overseas printer | US manufacturer | Where to be careful |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum order | Often higher; many quote by the hundreds or thousands | Varies; some digital shops accept short runs | Ask for the smallest run with box and booklet |
| Lead time | Production plus sea or air transit | Production plus domestic shipping | Ask for both numbers, not just the press time |
| Unit cost | Usually lower at volume | Usually higher, less transit risk | Compare landed cost, not unit cost |
| Quality control | You rely on a proof or a sample | Easier to visit or reprint | Ask what is checked and by whom |
| Customs and tax | Duty, VAT or import paperwork may apply | Domestic, simpler | Confirm who is the importer of record |
These are tendencies, not rules. A US digital printer can be cheaper than an overseas offset house for 50 decks, and an overseas printer can beat a US one on a 2,000-deck order. The only way to know is to get comparable quotes for the same specification.
Cost: compare the landed price, not the unit price
A unit price is only part of the cost. Add the box, the booklet, the artwork preparation, delivery, duties and tax, and divide by the decks you receive. On our side, the figures are fixed and published.
| Decks | Per 78-card deck | Goods total |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | $15.90 | $190.80 |
| 24 | $14.90 | $357.60 |
| 48 | $12.90 | $619.20 |
| 96 | $11.90 | $1,142.40 |
| 192 | $10.90 | $2,092.80 |
The box and the printed 48-page booklet are included. Artwork preparation ($50 box, $50 back, $150 booklet layout) is free from 60 decks and does not apply when your files match our template. Delivery is extra and quoted by destination: 12 decks to the US is $36.00, and to Great Britain $33.00. Ask every printer you compare for the same lines in the same order.
Lead time: press time is not the whole story
Ours is 3–4 weeks of production (15–20 business days) after you approve the artwork, then 5–9 business days of insured UPS transit. That is roughly five to six weeks door to door, and it should be planned as an estimate. A US manufacturer may shave the transit, though its press queue can be longer. What matters is that you receive both numbers in writing, and that the clock starts at artwork approval, not at the first email.
Minimums and quality control
Many manufacturers think in hundreds or thousands of decks. Ours starts at 12, in multiples of twelve up to 192 in one order, and more by quote. That suits a creator testing a first deck, a shop trying a private label, or an author who wants a limited edition.
On quality, our decks are printed on 350 gsm laminated card with a hidden black core, standard tarot size of 70 x 120 mm, with a printed 48-page booklet. You approve a digital proof before anything is printed. We do not offer a physical printed sample today, and we say so rather than imply otherwise. If a physical sample is a must for you, factor that into your decision; it is a real trade-off. The materials and process are on the printing specification page.
How to compare two quotes fairly
Whoever you choose, build the comparison on a single page. Write down the same specification for each printer: 78 cards, 70 x 120 mm, a named card stock, a printed box, a booklet of a given page count, and the quantity. Then put in a column for each of these lines: unit price, box, booklet, preparation, proof or sample, production days, transit days, delivery cost, duty and tax, and the payment terms.
The cheapest unit price often falls behind once the empty lines are filled in. A printer that quotes the cards alone and the box separately, or one that gives a lead time without transit, is not comparable with one that gives a complete number. Ask for the missing items rather than assuming they are included. Ours are written out on the custom printing page so you can put them next to anyone else's.
Customs, VAT and where Dark Forest sits
If you order from outside your own country, you may meet import duty, VAT or a customs clearance fee. We do not quote duty figures because they depend on your destination, your status and the classification, and they change. Treat customs as a separate line, ask the carrier or a broker for the rate, and decide in advance who is the importer. Our delivery quote shows the shipping cost only.
Where we sit: not the cheapest at ten thousand decks, and not a same-week local print shop. We are a small-run specialist that prints abroad, publishes the full price ladder, includes the box and booklet, and starts at 12. Where the cards are made, and why we say it plainly, is explained in where custom tarot cards are printed.
The decision rule is short: if you need thousands of decks or a physical sample, get quotes from larger manufacturers as well. If you need a small, well-specified run with a known price and a proof, ask for ours.
Common questions
- Is it cheaper to print tarot decks overseas?
Usually at high volume, not always at small runs. Compare landed cost: goods, box, booklet, preparation, delivery, duty and tax, divided by the decks you receive.
- What is the minimum order for custom tarot printing with Dark Forest?
12 decks, in multiples of 12 up to 192 per order, and more by quote.
- How long does custom tarot printing take?
3 to 4 weeks of production after artwork approval, then 5 to 9 business days of insured UPS transit.
- Will I pay customs or VAT?
You may, depending on where you are. We do not quote duty figures; ask the carrier or a broker, and decide who is the importer of record.
- Can I get a physical sample first?
Not today. You approve a digital proof before anything is printed.