Where Print Still Thrives: The Top States for Commercial Printing in the U.S.

Print Isn’t Dead—It’s Regional

The next time you hear anyone say ‘print is dead’, feel free to share this stunner of a stat: The US commercial printing market was valued at $263B in 2024, and it’s projected to grow to $329B by 2033. That’s over $100B more than the current value of the social media advertising market. Clearly, print is in fact alive and thriving. It’s simply that the way it operates has changed over time. And one of these changes is in how print expertise is concentrated across the country.

Instead of commercial printing needs being handled at the community or the state level, these days it’s more common for print and packaging providers to be concentrated in regional hubs. These hub states can serve a wider geographic area, thanks to advancements in digital technologies and fulfillment systems. Welcome to the era of “Print Powerhouse” states.

What Makes a State a Print Powerhouse?

Becoming a regional print leader requires a state to have just the right mix of economic, geographic, demographic, and institutional elements. Specifically they need to be rich in factors that specifically help attract and produce high-volume and high-value printing jobs, as these orders tend to offer the best business outcomes for custom print and packaging providers. 

Some of these critical factors include:

• A relatively dense state population
• Robust business activity
• Proximity to major industries with substantial print and packaging needs, such as:
  
  • Finance
  • Pharma
  • Healthcare
  • E-commerce
  • Tech
  • Food and Beverage
  • Cosmetics
• A robust transportation infrastructure, including:
  
  • Well-maintained roadways
  • Port, air, and rail access
  • Strong fulfillment networks
• Specialized talent and workforce depth

The Top States for Commercial Printing (According to Market Size)

The current top ten largest US markets for commercial printing are:

1. California 
2. Texas
3. New York 
4. Florida 
5. Illinois 
6. Pennsylvania
7. Ohio
8. Georgia 
9. New Jersey 
10. Washington

When we apply the factors we outlined in the previous section, it’s fairly easy to see how these states have emerged print powerhouses. Most are situated on one of the coasts, while the two that aren’t (Illinois and Ohio) border the Great Lakes, providing port access in addition to strong air, rail, and road infrastructure. What’s more, all of these states except for Texas and Washington rank among the 20 most densely populated states. 

However, perhaps the biggest factor contributing to their print success is the local industry-driven print demand each state boasts. These industries vary widely from state-to-state. For example, we see tech driving a large portion of print and packaging demand in California, Texas, and Washington. However, in New York and New Jersey, the financial sector is more prominent. Meanwhile manufacturing plays a major role in the print success of Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. This variation encourages each print powerhouse to tailor their offerings and develop print specialties that support their region’s dominant industries.

Minnesota’s Role in the Print Ecosystem

While not among the nation’s top ten, Minnesota’s print market still ranks respectably with 20th largest commercial print market in the nation. This ranking qualifies it as a smaller regional hub, particularly responsible for serving in-state demand. However, the story looks a little different for Minnesota’s top print and packaging operations. These providers tend to attract clients both from farther afield and from higher up the economic food chain. 

Such outsized success is most commonly seen with Minnesota’s print and packaging producers that have exceptionally long histories in the state. Their operations date back to an era when Minnesota was an undisputed North American leader in print design and innovation. This rich heritage has resulted in a century-long trajectory of print excellence, and given Minnesota’s best the deserved reputation of producing some of the USA’s most innovative design-centric prints and specialty packaging solutions.

This excellence is reflected in part by the many nationally and internationally renowned Minnesota businesses that source their print solutions in-state. These include:

• Healthcare
  
  • Mayo Clinic
  • Medtronic
  • UnitedHealth
• Manufacturers with Custom & Regulated Packaging Needs
  
  • 3M
  • Ecolab
  • Thorne
• Artisanal, Cultural, and Design Content Publishers
  
  • MCAD
  • Minnesota Center for Book Arts
  • Minnesota Historical Society
  • Independent artist studios
• Educational Institutions
  
  • University of Minnesota
  • Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
  • Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities

Work With Minnesota’s Top Print and Packaging Experts

When you work with the pinnacle of Minnesota’s print and packaging professionals, you reap the combined benefits of outsized talent and bespoke, highly-personalized service. Take our history at Wallace Carlson, for example. After nearly a century of continuous operation in this state, we’ve built an undisputed legacy of design excellence and continuous innovation. When other printers might throw up their hands and say a job is impossible, we pride ourselves on finding a way to make your most vibrant, eye-catching, and game-changing ideas a reality. And we do it all with an unyielding commitment to providing Michelin star-quality service to each and every one of our clients. If this sounds like a winning combination to you, then reach out to our team today! Lets get started bringing your print and packaging visions to life.