The Quick Answer
Under 100 copies, or need it within a few weeks — lathe cut. Over 100 copies, confident you can move them, and can wait — pressed vinyl. Not sure? Read on.
| Factor | Lathe Cut | Pressed Vinyl |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum order | 1 copy | 100–300 copies |
| Turnaround | 7–14 days | 8–20 weeks |
| Starting cost | From £15 | £500–800+ for 100 |
| Per-unit cost (10 copies) | Lower | Not available |
| Per-unit cost (300 copies) | Higher | Lower |
| Durability | Good (PETG) | Excellent (PVC) |
| 7" and 10" formats | Yes, no extra minimum | Often 12" only, or higher min |
When pressing is the right call
Pressing plants are built for volume and consistency. They make sense when:
- You need 100+ copies and have confidence you can distribute them
- You have 4+ months of lead time before you need the records
- You're going to retail or distribution and need barcode, ISRC and full packaging
- You want maximum playback durability for records that'll be played thousands of times
- You've already tested demand and know the run will sell
At that scale and timeline, pressing is the economically sensible route. The per-unit cost drops significantly, the format is robust, and the infrastructure around it (distribution, retail, streaming aggregation) is built for pressed vinyl.
When cutting is the right call
Lathe cutting makes sense when flexibility matters more than volume:
- You need fewer than 100 copies — pressing plant minimums don't suit your project
- You need the records within weeks, not months
- You want to test how your music sounds on vinyl before committing to a full press
- You're making dubplates or exclusive DJ tools — one-of-a-kind copies not meant for mass distribution
- Your project is unusual or non-standard — a pressing plant has a format committee; a lathe doesn't
- You want to start selling or playing records now rather than waiting half a year
At roughly 100–150 copies, pressing starts to become cheaper per unit. Below that, lathe cutting wins on cost and speed. Above it, pressing wins on unit economics — but only if you can actually distribute them all.
The hybrid approach
Many artists and labels use both. The typical workflow: cut a small lathe run first — for DJ play, promos, testing — then commit to a pressing plant run once you know demand is there.
You get records to play and send to press while you wait. You hear how the mastering translates to wax before it's locked in. You know whether the audience is there before you spend £800 on 300 copies. A single test pressing costs £15–40 and takes two weeks. A mastering revision after a pressed run has shipped is a much more expensive problem.
If pressing genuinely makes more sense for your project, I'll tell you. Get in touch with your quantity and timeline and I'll give you a straight answer — including if a pressing plant is the better call.