Where your quantity sits against the 1/5/10/25/50/100/250/500/1000/2500 break points (just under a break is the expensive place to be)
Material, paper vs vinyl, indoor vs outdoor, and laminate
Size and shape, with custom die cuts adding tooling
Quantity against print breaks
Check before signing
A one-time die or cutting charge billed per order instead of once
A cheaper material substituted for the durability you need
Lamination dropped from an outdoor spec
Quantity priced below an easy break point
Negotiation levers
Standardize shapes to avoid custom dies
Gang multiple designs on one run to share setup
Right-size the material to the use rather than over-speccing
Order to the next break when usage supports it
About square sticker pricing
Priced per unit with quantity breaks. Vendors quote steps at 1 / 5 / 10 / 25 / 50 / 100 / 250 / 500 / 1000 / 2500 units, and the per-unit rate drops at each break.
Why is a die charge on my quote?
Custom shapes need a cutting die, a one-time tooling cost. Reordering the same shape should reuse it at no new charge.
Does indoor or outdoor material matter for price?
Yes. Outdoor vinyl and laminate cost more than indoor paper. Match the material to the use so you neither overpay nor under-spec.