By Sarah Martinez · Published March 31, 2026 · Updated June 8, 2026 · 8 min read
Quick Answer: Faxing costs $1.89–$3.00 per page at retail stores, or as little as $0.03 per page with an online fax app. A monthly online fax plan starts at $3.49 and covers hundreds of pages — making it the cheapest option for anyone who faxes more than once a month.
So how much does it cost to fax something in 2026? The honest answer: it depends entirely on how you do it. There's a 50x difference between the most expensive method (retail fax machine) and the cheapest (online fax app). Before you drive to a store and pay $3 per page, it's worth knowing all your options.
This guide breaks down every fax method with real 2026 prices — retail stores, online services, and traditional fax machines — so you can pick the one that makes sense for your situation.
In-Store Fax Costs: UPS, FedEx, Staples & More
In-store faxing is the most expensive option per page, but it requires no setup and works for one-off needs. Here's what each major retailer charges in 2026.
UPS Store
The UPS Store is the most widely available fax location in the U.S. with 5,500+ locations.
| Fax Type | First Page | Each Additional |
|---|---|---|
| Local | $2.00 | $1.50 |
| Long distance | $2.00 | $1.50 |
| International | $3.00+ | $3.00+ |
A 5-page local fax at UPS costs $8.00 ($2.00 + 4 × $1.50). A 10-page fax runs $15.50. Prices vary slightly by franchise location, so call ahead.
For a full breakdown including hours and what to bring, see our complete UPS fax guide.
FedEx Office
FedEx Office is slightly cheaper than UPS for local faxes and distinguishes between local, national, and international rates.
| Fax Type | First Page | Each Additional |
|---|---|---|
| Local | $1.89 | $1.59 |
| National | $2.49 | $1.99 |
| International | $5.99 | $3.99 |
A 10-page local fax at FedEx costs $16.20 ($1.89 + 9 × $1.59). International faxes get expensive fast — 10 pages can run over $40. See our FedEx fax pricing guide for details.
Staples
Staples fax pricing varies more by location than UPS or FedEx, but expect similar rates.
| Fax Type | First Page | Each Additional |
|---|---|---|
| Local | $1.80 | $2.20 |
| National | $2.39 | $2.39 |
| International | $5.99 | $5.99 |
Note that Staples' additional-page rate ($2.20) is higher than the first-page rate at some locations, making long documents expensive quickly. Check our Staples fax guide for location-specific details.
Office Depot / Office Max
Office Depot prices are similar to Staples, running $1.99–$2.49 per page for domestic faxes and up to $7.99 per page for international destinations.
Public Library
Libraries are often the cheapest in-store option if you can find one that offers fax services — only about 65% of U.S. public libraries do.
| Fax Type | First Page | Each Additional |
|---|---|---|
| Local | $1.00–$2.00 | $0.50–$1.00 |
| Long distance | $2.00–$3.00 | $1.00 |
| International | $5.00–$10.00 | $2.00–$5.00 |
Some libraries charge as little as $0.50/page flat. Call your local branch before making a trip — service and pricing vary widely. Our library fax cost guide has location-specific data.
Always Call Before You Go
About 35% of retail locations that used to offer fax services no longer do. Inventory and pricing can also differ between franchise locations. A quick call saves a wasted trip.
Online Fax Service Costs
Online fax services are dramatically cheaper than in-store options. You pay a monthly subscription or per-fax fee, and send from your phone or computer — no driving, no waiting in line.
How Online Fax Pricing Works
Most services offer two models:
- Monthly subscription: A flat fee per month covering a set number of pages. Best if you fax regularly.
- Pay-as-you-go: Charged per fax or per page. Best for occasional use.
2026 Online Fax Pricing Comparison
| Service | Starting Price | Pages Included | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| mFax | Pay-per-fax | Varies | Mobile, quick sends |
| FAXAGE | $3.49/month | 300 min/month | Budget plans |
| CocoFax | $4.99/month | 60 pages | Light users |
| MyFax | $5.00/month | 100 pages | Small businesses |
| Fax.Plus | $6.99/month | 200 pages | General use |
| RingCentral Fax | $12.99/month | 750 pages | Teams |
| eFax | $16.95/month | Varies | Enterprise |
| HelloFax | $9.99/month | Varies | Dropbox users |
Pay-as-you-go rates from services like Fax.Plus start at $0.03/page — that's 97% cheaper than a UPS Store for a multi-page fax.
mFax: The Mobile-First Option
mFax.to is designed specifically for people who need to send a fax from their phone quickly, without committing to a monthly plan. Upload a PDF or snap a photo, enter the fax number, and send — in under 2 minutes.
- No fax machine
- No trip to a store
- Delivery confirmation included
- Available on iOS and Android
Over 5 million users have chosen mFax for exactly this reason. For anyone who faxes occasionally — a tax document, a medical form, a contract — it's the fastest and most cost-effective option.
For regular business faxing, mFax Business adds virtual fax numbers, team accounts, and HIPAA-ready compliance starting at about $9/mo (billed annually). Unlike the fixed tiers most competitors lock you into, you build your own plan — choose the exact seats (1–35) and pages (200–5,000) you need with a live calculator and pay only for what you use ($3/seat + $4 per 100 pages). See our comparison of the best online fax services to see how options stack up.
Traditional Fax Machine Costs
Buying your own fax machine feels like it would save money — but the real costs add up fast.
Hardware
| Type | Price Range |
|---|---|
| Basic standalone fax machine | $100–$200 |
| Multi-function printer with fax | $150–$500 |
Monthly Operating Costs
| Cost | Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| Dedicated phone line | $20–$50 |
| Paper (1 ream) | $5–$10 |
| Toner/ink cartridges | $30–$150 (amortized) |
| Total | $55–$210/month |
A business running even a lightly used fax machine — say 4 machines at 1,000 pages/month each — can spend over $6,700/year on paper and toner alone, before counting the phone line.
See our fax machine cost breakdown for a full analysis of hardware and ongoing expenses.
The Hidden Cost: Your Time
The biggest expense of traditional faxing is rarely counted: labor. Walking to the machine, dialing, waiting for confirmation, dealing with busy signals, and filing — each fax takes 8–30 minutes. At a median professional wage of $43/hour, that's $5.79–$21.70 of labor cost per fax, on top of everything else.
Real-World Cost Comparison: Sending a 10-Page Fax
Let's put the numbers together. Here's what it actually costs to send a 10-page local fax using each method.
| Method | Cost | Time Required |
|---|---|---|
| UPS Store | $15.50 | 30–60 min (drive + wait) |
| FedEx Office | $16.20 | 30–60 min |
| Staples | ~$21.50 | 30–60 min |
| Public library | $5.50–$11.00 | 30–60 min |
| Online fax app (pay-per-page) | $0.30–$1.00 | 2 minutes |
| Online fax subscription | ~$0.50 (amortized) | 2 minutes |
| Traditional fax machine | $1.00–$2.00 (supplies) + labor | 10–25 min |
The in-store premium is real: you pay 15–50x more per page and spend up to an hour on something an app handles in 2 minutes.
What Drives Fax Costs Up
Understanding the cost drivers helps you avoid overpaying.
Destination type is the biggest variable. Local faxes are cheapest; international faxes can cost 3–5x more per page at retail stores. Online services typically charge much smaller premiums for international sends.
Page count matters more in-store. Retail stores charge per page with no volume discount. Online subscriptions cover a set number of pages per month, so your per-page cost drops as you use more.
Receiving vs. sending: Most stores and apps charge only for sent faxes. Receiving is often free with online services.
Confirmation receipts: Good online services include delivery confirmation at no extra charge. This alone saves the hassle of calling the recipient to verify — a hidden time cost with cheap or free services.
How to Get the Lowest Fax Cost
Follow this decision tree to find the right option for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to fax one page?
One page costs $1.89–$2.00 at retail stores like FedEx Office and UPS Store. Online fax apps charge as little as $0.03–$0.10 per page, or you can use a flat monthly plan starting at $3.49 that covers hundreds of pages per month.
Is there a free way to fax something?
Some online fax services offer a small number of free pages for new users — typically 5–10 pages. Beyond that, you'll pay a per-fax or monthly fee. There's no reliably free, unlimited fax option. See our best free fax services guide for what's actually available.
Why is store faxing so expensive?
Retail stores charge a premium because faxing is an ancillary service — they're covering equipment maintenance, phone line costs, and staff time. The markup can be 30–50x the actual cost-per-page. Online services, which operate at scale, pass much lower costs on to customers.
Can I fax from my phone without going to a store?
Yes. Apps like mFax let you upload a PDF or scan a document with your phone's camera, enter a fax number, and send — all within 2 minutes. You receive a delivery confirmation when it goes through. No fax machine, no store, no waiting.
Do online fax services charge for receiving faxes?
Most plans include free inbound faxing — you get a virtual fax number and received faxes arrive in your inbox at no extra cost. Some pay-as-you-go services charge a small per-page rate for inbound faxes. Always check the plan details before signing up.
The Bottom Line
The cost to fax something ranges from $0.03 per page (online fax app) to $3.00+ per page (international in-store fax). For most people, the math is clear: an online fax app costs a fraction of the retail price, requires no trip to a store, and delivers a confirmation receipt automatically.
If you only fax a few times a year, the mFax app on your phone is the cheapest and fastest option — no monthly fee, no fax machine, and no standing in line at UPS.
For businesses that fax regularly, mFax Business gives you a dedicated virtual fax number, HIPAA-ready compliance, and team access for less than the cost of a traditional phone line.
Try mFax free — send your first fax from your phone in under 2 minutes.