By David Thompson · Published June 14, 2025 · Updated June 8, 2026 · 7 min read
Quick Answer: A fax costs $0.03–$0.20 per page with an online service and $1.79–$5.99 per page at a retail store. The cheapest way to fax is through an online service like mFax.to, where a monthly plan breaks down to roughly $0.04 per page.
How much does it cost to send a fax in 2026? The answer depends entirely on how you send it. Walk into a UPS Store and you'll pay $2.00 per page. Use an online fax service and that same page costs under a dime.
This guide breaks down the real fax cost per page across every option: retail stores, online services, pay-as-you-go sites, and owning a fax machine. We'll show you exactly what each method costs — and which one makes sense for your situation.
Use the Calculator
Scroll down to our interactive cost calculator — enter your page count and fax type to see exactly how much you'd pay at each location.
Fax Cost per Page at Retail Stores (2026 Prices)
Retail stores charge $1.79–$5.99 per page, depending on the store and destination. Here's what you'll pay at the most popular fax locations in the US.
| Store | Local (per page) | Long Distance (per page) | International (per page) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staples | $1.79 | $2.39 | $5.99 |
| FedEx Office | $1.89 | $2.49 | $5.99 |
| Office Depot | $1.99 | $2.29 | $7.99 |
| UPS Store | $2.00 | $2.50 | $3.00 |
| Library | $1.00–$2.00 | $2.00–$3.00 | $5.00–$10.00 |
What this means in real dollars:
- A 5-page local fax at FedEx costs $9.45
- A 10-page long-distance fax at UPS costs $25.00
- A 3-page international fax at Office Depot costs $23.97
These prices add up fast — especially for multi-page documents like contracts, medical records, or tax forms.
Prices Vary by Location
Store fax prices can differ between locations. Some stores don't publish prices at all. Always call ahead to confirm before making the trip.
For detailed store-by-store guides, see our articles on faxing at UPS, FedEx, Staples, Office Depot, and your local library.
Online Fax Service Costs per Page
Online fax services cost $0.03–$0.20 per page on a monthly plan — a fraction of retail pricing. Here's how the major services compare.
Monthly Subscription Plans
| Service | Monthly Price | Pages Included | Effective Cost per Page | Overage Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mFax.to | From $10/mo | 250 pages | ~$0.04 | Varies |
| Fax.Plus | $9.99/mo | 200 pages | $0.05 | $0.20/page |
| iFax | $12.49/mo | 200 pages | $0.06 | $0.10/page |
| eFax Plus | $18.99/mo | 340 pages | $0.06 | $0.10/page |
| eFax Pro | $24.99/mo | 550 pages | $0.05 | $0.10/page |
The effective cost per page drops as your plan includes more pages. Even the most expensive online plan is 10–50x cheaper per page than any retail store.
Pay-As-You-Go (No Subscription)
If you only need to send one fax, pay-as-you-go services are the way to go:
| Service | Price | Pages Included |
|---|---|---|
| FaxZero | Free (with ad) | Up to 5 pages |
| FaxItOnce | $2.75 flat | Up to 45 pages |
| OnetimeFax | $5.00 flat | Up to 100 pages |
| PayPerFax | $2.00 + $0.75/page | 3 pages included |
For a deeper comparison of one-time fax options, see our pay-as-you-go fax guide.
Interactive Cost Calculator
Drag the slider to your page count and switch between local, long-distance, and international to see the real cost at each location.
Fax Cost Calculator
The True Cost of Owning a Fax Machine
Buying a fax machine might seem like a one-time expense, but the ongoing costs are significant.
| Expense | Cost | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Fax machine | $200–$500 | One-time |
| Dedicated phone line | $20–$50/month | Monthly |
| Toner cartridges | $30–$150 | Every 1,000–3,000 pages |
| Paper (per ream) | $5–$10 | As needed |
| Maintenance/repairs | $50–$200 | Annual |
Annual cost of ownership: $500–$1,000+ — before you send a single fax.
For comparison, an mFax.to monthly plan costs $120/year and includes 250 pages per month (3,000 pages per year), a dedicated fax number, and the ability to receive faxes. No hardware, no phone line, no toner.
The Math Is Clear
A fax machine pays for itself only if you send hundreds of pages per month consistently. For everyone else — individuals, small businesses, remote workers — online fax services are 5–10x cheaper.
Hidden Costs Nobody Mentions
The per-page price at a store isn't the full picture. Factor in these hidden costs:
- Travel time and gas — a 20-minute round trip to FedEx costs $5–$15 in gas and mileage, plus the value of your time
- Cover page fees — some stores charge an extra $1–$2 for a cover page (often required for medical and legal faxes)
- Receiving faxes — stores charge $1–$2 per page to receive faxes, and you have to physically pick them up
- Privacy risk — your documents sit on a shared fax machine tray where anyone can see them
- No confirmation — many stores don't provide delivery confirmation, so you can't prove the fax was received
- Store hours — you can only fax during business hours, which may not align with your deadline
Online fax services eliminate every one of these costs. You fax from your phone or computer, get instant delivery confirmation, and your documents never touch a shared machine.
Which Option Is Cheapest for You?
The right choice depends on how often you fax.
| Your Situation | Best Option | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| One fax, ever | FaxItOnce | $2.75 flat |
| 1–2 faxes per year | Pay-as-you-go service | $2.75–$5.00 per fax |
| 1–3 faxes per month | mFax.to monthly plan | $10/month (~$0.04/page) |
| 5+ faxes per month | mFax.to monthly plan | $10/month (best value) |
| Team or business | mFax Business | From $9/mo |
| Already at the store | In-store (1–2 pages only) | $1.79–$2.00/page |
The breakeven point is clear: at 3+ faxes per month, a monthly plan beats every other option — including walking to a store.
How to Fax at the Lowest Cost
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For a single fax: Use a pay-as-you-go service. FaxItOnce at $2.75 for up to 45 pages is the best value for one-time use.
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For regular faxing: Sign up for mFax.to. You get 250 pages per month, a dedicated fax number, and the ability to send and receive faxes from your phone — all for $10/month.
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For business teams: mFax Business starts at about $9/mo (billed annually) with team accounts, virtual fax numbers, and HIPAA compliance features. You build your own plan — choose the exact seats and pages you need and pay only for what you use ($3/seat + $4 per 100 pages), with no rigid fixed tiers.
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Skip the store unless you're already there and only need to fax 1–2 pages. For anything more, online fax is faster, cheaper, and more secure.
Send Your Fax for Less
Stop overpaying at retail stores. mFax.to lets you fax from your phone in under 2 minutes — at a fraction of the cost. Upload your document, enter the fax number, and send. No machine, no store, no waiting.
For business teams, mFax Business includes virtual fax numbers, HIPAA compliance, and team accounts — starting at about $9/mo.