Turn a finished EP or album into CDs for the merch table, release show or tour. Buy only the quantities you can use, with printed artwork and packaging that fans will want to keep.
PRINTED DIGIPAK
PRINTED CARDBOARD SLEEVE
An independent band might need 20 CDs for a launch night, a few copies to give to venues or a small restock before the next date. The right quantity depends on your audience and budget, not an arbitrary factory minimum.
Choose lightweight sleeves for travel, jewel cases for full albums and digipaks for collector-style artwork. Our workshop handles the discs and packaging so you can focus on the performance.
These images are taken from existing DiskCrafters product and service artwork. Follow a card to see live options and order details.
Fold-out printed board with a fitted CD tray.
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A compact, full-colour sleeve for a single or EP.
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Album-style packaging with a clear tray.
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Classic album packaging with printed inserts.
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Artwork-led fold-out packaging for a distinctive release.
Explore service ↗These examples show what each physical CD format looks and feels like, with direct ordering links.
A compact, full-colour sleeve for a single or EP. Choose the quantity, print finish and packaging options that suit the release.
Fold-out printed board with a fitted CD tray. Choose the quantity, print finish and packaging options that suit the release.
Classic album packaging with printed inserts. Choose the quantity, print finish and packaging options that suit the release.
Album-style packaging with a clear tray. Choose the quantity, print finish and packaging options that suit the release.
These are the same native product cards and live starting-price badges from the DiskCrafters homepage. Choose a format to configure the quantity, disc print and packaging.
Planning a show budget, choosing packaging and timing your order.
A live show is one of the few places where a listener can meet the artist and take home something tangible from the performance. A physical CD can combine the music with a cover, artwork, credits and a record of the occasion. For an independent band, it can also be a practical merchandise item at a price different from shirts, posters or vinyl records.
The commercial question is not whether every person at the gig still owns a CD player. It is whether a portion of the audience wants a keepsake or a direct way to support the band. A short-run strategy works well when that audience is small or uncertain: order an amount you can realistically carry, sell and restock, rather than treating a first live show like a national retail release.
Start with the number of people who are likely to buy rather than the capacity of the venue. A debut act playing a few local dates may want a single proof copy and a small initial batch; an established band with existing listeners may have reason to take more. The audience, retail price and competing merchandise all influence how much you should manufacture.
DiskCrafters offers no minimum order, so you can make one copy to check the result and then choose 10, 25, 50 or another supported quantity if it suits your release. Keep a simple record of what sells at each show. That real information is more useful for the next order than a guess based on another band's tour.
Cardboard sleeves are useful when you have to carry stock between venues or mail a few copies after a gig. The front and back panels can include the release artwork, band name, social link and track listing without the weight and space of a rigid plastic case. They are particularly suitable for singles, demos, limited EPs and affordable entry-level merchandise.
A sleeve should not look like a disposable handout unless that is part of the creative concept. Use clear artwork, sufficient contrast and a properly prepared print file. Coordinate the disc face with the outer design and think about how the product will be displayed on a merch table. If it will be posted, add an appropriate protective mailer to avoid bent card or disc damage.
A classic jewel case gives your album a familiar retail presentation, particularly when you have lyrics, photography or a printed booklet. A digipak offers a fold-out printed-board design with a fitted disc tray, allowing the packaging itself to become part of the visual identity. Those choices may suit a release sold at a premium merchandise price rather than a basic promotional demo.
Neither format is automatically right for every band. Consider whether fans value the illustrated panels and extra artwork enough to pay for the more elaborate package. Check the production price at the actual quantity, then decide how it fits alongside your other merchandise. Ordering a one-off proof is particularly useful when the sleeve design is complex.
To understand whether CD merchandise is worthwhile, calculate the complete cost of making and getting the discs to you. That includes the chosen package, disc finish, applicable delivery and any extras such as additional booklet pages. Then consider the selling price fans are willing to pay and any venue commission or card-payment charges that might apply to each transaction.
Do not confuse the manufacturer's lowest advertised per-unit price with your true cost at a run of 10 or 25. A lower manufacturing unit cost at 100 copies is not useful if most of those discs end up in a cupboard. A simple spreadsheet tracking ordered quantity, units sold and remaining stock will help you improve the margins on future gigs without speculative bulk purchases.
Good merch art communicates the band identity even when the product is seen from a few feet away. The artist name, album title and overall colour treatment should be clear on the front. Inside or on the back, provide the track list, relevant credits and links that help somebody reconnect with your music. Keep any website or social link readable rather than adding several tiny logos that compete for attention.
If you need more room for credits or lyrics, choose an appropriate booklet or a package with additional printed panels. Print-ready artwork requires bleed, safe areas and a template that matches the final product. It is also worth checking the spine design if your package is a jewel case: many collectors see that edge when CDs are stored vertically on a shelf.
A common mistake is leaving CD manufacturing until the week of a release show without allowing time for file corrections, printing, packaging, dispatch and courier delivery. Finalise your audio and artwork well before you need the stock in hand. If the date is fixed, contact DiskCrafters before checkout with the format, quantity and actual delivery deadline.
Rush production may be available for eligible jobs when capacity allows, but it is not automatic. The start point depends on having production-ready materials and an approved order. If you are playing several cities, arrange delivery to a secure address where someone can receive the parcels rather than assuming a venue will accept stock without prior agreement.
A physical album can continue selling after the final date on a tour. You might maintain a small stock yourself, sell copies through a website or explore an on-demand fulfilment arrangement where a manufacturer produces and ships individual orders. Each approach has different costs and handling requirements, so decide based on actual fan demand and how much packing work you want to manage.
For bands with an audience spread across countries, on-demand production can reduce the need to store and post every individual order. For bands selling most CDs face to face at shows, a ready-made short run may be more practical. You can also mix the approaches: take a reasonable supply to gigs and make an online ordering option available for listeners who discover your music later.
Real reviews from artists and customers, with direct links to the original Trustpilot feedback.
Without a shadow of a doubt, Diskcrafters are quite literally the best in the entire industry. Being on demand, affordable, based in the UK, all with insane customisation like the option for metadata, genuine Digipaks, Vinyl-style CDs, and...
Without a shadow of a doubt, Diskcrafters are quite literally the best in the entire industry. Being on demand, affordable, based in the UK, all with insane customisation like the option for metadata, genuine Digipaks, Vinyl-style CDs, and Clear jewel cases, it’s easy to see why I rate them so highly. All of these seem like basic necessities for a normal CD, and yet the market nowadays seemed so deprived of it until Diskcrafters came along.
I've used other services that offer similar CD duplication. This is the best out of all for the money. There is no question. I've had amazing customer service, helping me through adding bits and making sure everything works...
I've used other services that offer similar CD duplication. This is the best out of all for the money. There is no question. I've had amazing customer service, helping me through adding bits and making sure everything works on my product. Really good prices, and no minimum order number so you know if it's good enough before you order more. Surprisingly fast delivery. I waited a total of a week from ordering to recieving the sample. This is a great service.
It was a very friendly and efficient service that treated my little music project as important. Queries were answered promptly and the product was delivered Quickly.
Base the quantity on likely demand, price and what you can afford to carry. You can start with a small run and reorder later, because DiskCrafters has no minimum.
Card sleeves are compact and lightweight. Jewel cases and digipaks can give a more substantial premium feel but need more protection when travelling.
Contact DiskCrafters with the actual date and your production-ready files. Rush slots depend on capacity, product and delivery arrangements; do not assume a deadline is guaranteed.
Yes. Choose suitable printed booklets, inlays or board panels and follow the artwork templates for the format you need.
Yes. You can sell your purchased stock yourself or enquire about DiskCrafters on-demand fulfilment for orders going directly to fans.
You can reorder the package and quantity you need. Keep the original final audio and artwork files and refer to the previous project where possible.
Professional CDs with no minimum order. Choose the correct product, check your exact options and upload your finished audio and artwork.
