What is a graduation invitation?

A graduation invitation is a formal announcement sent to friends and family to invite them to your school's graduation ceremony. They are sent to a smaller, closer-knit group of friends and family that would be able to watch you receive your diploma in-person. Graduation invitations are used by high school, college, and university graduates.

Why should I make a graduation invitation?

Graduation invitations let friends and family know that you've completed your degree. It allows your loved ones to come celebrate with you and witness a memorable day. Even if they aren't able to come to the graduation ceremony, oftentimes friends and family will send graduation money and/or gifts when they find out you're receiving a degree. That alone is a good enough reason to send them out.

How do you make a graduation invitation?

Sleek online tools allow people to create graduation invitations with a click of a few buttons. You'll choose from a variety of templates that have different designs and color schemes that fit your style. Next, you'll input the details of your graduation ceremony in the text boxes, upload any pictures you want, and submit the invitations for printing. The whole process can be completed in just a few minutes.

What should you include on a graduation invitation?

Graduation invitations usually just include your name, the name of your high school/college/university, your degree and honors, graduation year, time, date, and location of your ceremony, and RSVP instructions. If you choose, you could also make graduation announcements that have information about your graduation party that additional people could be invited to.

How long will it take to receive my graduation invitations?

It's always a good idea to get a head start on graduation invitations, just in case there is a shipping delay or the company is slammed with orders. On average, you should expect it to take between 1-2 weeks for your graduation invitations to be printed and shipped to you. That doesn't account for the time it takes for you to compile your invitations and mail them to guests, so giving yourself about a month of leeway will ensure your invitations arrive in a timely manner.

Are graduation invitations expensive?

Most graduation invitations cost between $1.75 and $3 per card. On top of this, you might have to pay for shipping if the company doesn't offer it for free. The end cost will depend on how many people you plan to send invitations to, if you want any add-ons, and what type of paper you select. The cost of your graduation invitations will also include envelopes, which is a perk.

What if my graduation invitations arrive with an error printed on them?

If your graduation invitations arrive and have a misprint, it will likely be because you didn't do a thorough check before submitting your order. However, there are many generous online graduation invitation companies that offer a satisfaction guarantee and will give you a refund or exchange, regardless of why you need it. This will add weeks onto your timeline of sending out invitations though, so double and triple check all the details on your graduation invitations before submitting them for printing.

What do I need in order to send my graduation invitations out?

Once you receive your graduation invitations and envelopes in the mail, all that's left to do is send them out. You'll need to collect the addresses of the friends and family you want to invite, so you could do this by text, email, or a phone call. If you have a running Christmas card address list, refer to that. The only other thing you'll need is stamps. Once the invitations are compiled and ready to go, you can send them out and get excited about your big day!

Best Graduation Invitation Stores for February 2026

Item: The Best Graduation Invitation Stores - Summary Reviews
Rating: 5
Author: Top Consumer Reviews

Sunday, February 15th We evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.

2026 Graduation Invitation Store Reviews

Where is the Best Place to get Graduation Invitations? Graduation invitations are more than just a piece of paper; they're a way to celebrate a significant milestone in your life and share your achievement with friends, family, and loved ones. Sending out graduation invitations allows you to commemorate your academic success and invite others to join in the celebration of your accomplishments. Plus, it's a great excuse to throw a party and have some fun.

5.0

EXCELLENT

Best Option

Mixbook

Pricing starts at $64.50 per 50 invites
Almost 90 themes available
Print is completed in 1-2 days

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EXCELLENT

5.0

On the Mixbook website

Mixbook offers a wide selection of customizable graduation invitations, with nearly 90 design options available. Prices start at $60.50 for a pack of 50 cards, and customers praise the easy-to-use customization tools and the 100% satisfaction guarantee. With an average customer rating of 4.8 stars, Mixbook is the top choice for designing unique and memorable graduation invitations.

4.5

GREAT

Great

Vistaprint

Prices from $0.83 per card
Free shipping on $100+
Tons of customizations

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GREAT

4.5

On the Vistaprint website

VistaPrint offers a vast selection of 350 graduation invitation designs, with extensive customization capabilities and prices starting at $0.82 per card during promotions. Their intuitive design interface allows for thorough personalization, including adjustments to layout, color schemes, and fonts. With a 100% satisfaction guarantee, free shipping on orders over $100, and high ratings from customers, VistaPrint stands out as a top choice for graduation invitations, earning a very high rating overall.

4.4

GREAT

Great

Zazzle

Prices start at $1.44 per card
40,000+ themes available
Partnerships with pop culture brands for designs

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GREAT

4.4

On the Zazzle website

Zazzle has over 40,000 designs for graduation invitations, with customizable options including name, school details, and paper type, starting at $1.44 per card. While their 30-day return policy offers peace of mind, discrepancies between high customer ratings and a BBB grade of "D-" raise questions. However, Zazzle remains a worthwhile choice with its vast design selection, earning an excellent rating.

4.0

VERY GOOD

Very Good

Staples

Pricing starts at $27.99 for 25 cards
Ships in 5-7 days
200+ unique designs

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VERY GOOD

4.0

On the Staples website

Staples, a renowned office supply retailer, offers over 200 graduation invitation designs with easy-to-use customization tools and prices starting at $27.99 for 25 cards. While their return policy lacks transparency, Staples provides free same-day pickup in-store, making it a convenient option for quick printing needs. With a solid reputation for quality prints and competitive reviews, Staples earns a commendable rating for its variety of graduation invitation designs and efficient service.

3.5

GOOD

Good

Minted

Prices start at $115 for 85 invites
1-5 day shipping
360+ designs

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GOOD

3.5

On the Minted website

Minted has been around since 2007 and is a marketplace for individual artists to share their work. There is an impressive array of graduation invitation designs, but that isn't quite enough to make Minted a top contender. While Minted has competitive prices and fun designs, there are some concerns about shipping lead times and issues with the editor tool. For this reason, Minted earns an above-average rating, but it's still a solid platform if you want to support professional artists.

3.4

GOOD

Good

Paper Culture

Prices from $29.90 for 10 cards
Pre-made designs
Environmentally-friendly

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GOOD

3.4

On the Paper Culture website

Paper Culture prioritizes sustainability with a collection of 370 graduation invitations crafted from 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Prices start at $1.39 per card, with options for foil accents and other premium features available. While the design process is somewhat limited in terms of customization, Paper Culture offers a satisfaction guarantee, although there are exceptions for proof approval errors. With mixed reviews for customer service, Paper Culture earns a decent rating in our review.

2.5

FAIR

Fair

Paper Source

Prices start at $44 for 20 invites
Shipping in as little as 1 business day
115 themes available

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FAIR

2.5

On the Paper Source website

Paper Source, founded in 1983, has over 130 physical stores across 30 states and an online platform, offering a wide range of products from stationery to party supplies. With 115 graduation invitation themes available, Paper Source's customization tools are beginner-friendly but somewhat limited, offering basic features like photo uploads and text boxes. While prices start at $44 for 20 invites and there's a 30-day return policy, Paper Source's customer service has been criticized, resulting in a below-average rating in our review.

2.0

SUBPAR

Subpar

Simply to Impress

Pricing from $0.60 per card
1,238 different designs available
2-5 days shipping

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SUBPAR

2.0

On the Simply to Impress website

Simply to Impress, founded in 2003, offers an extensive catalog of 1,238 graduation invitation cards with helpful filtering options for easy selection. While customization is somewhat limited to text and minor alterations, prices start as low as $0.60 per card, backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. However, negative reviews and a "D+" rating from the BBB raise concerns about customer service reliability, earning Simply to Impress a lower rating in our review.

1.5

WEAK

Weak

Shutterfly

Prices start at $1.99 per card
Ships in 1-10 days
183 different themes available

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WEAK

1.5

On the Shutterfly website

Shutterfly is a photo-focused company that originally opened in 1999. While it offers cards, wall art, decor, and more these days, it isn't particularly supportive of customers. According to a swath of negative reviews and a 1.5-star average from shopper ratings, Shutterfly's reputation has taken a dive in recent years. For this reason, it slides near the bottom of our review with a cautionary note about long shipping times and lackluster customer service.

1.0

POOR

Poor

Snapfish

Prices from $2 per card
264 designs
4-8 day turnaround

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POOR

1.0

On the Snapfish website

Snapfish, operating since 1999 and now owned by Shutterfly, offers over 264 graduation invitations with basic customization options and prices starting at $2 per card. However, the number of designs may appear inflated due to repeated styles, and the lack of transparency in pricing and limited design customizations are problematic. With an "F" rating from the BBB and numerous negative reviews, Snapfish falls short in reliability and quality, earning a low rating in our review.

Continued from above...

Where is the Best Place to Get Graduation Invitations?

Graduation invitations are more than just a piece of paper; they're a way to celebrate a significant milestone in your life and share your achievement with friends, family, and loved ones. Sending out graduation invitations allows you to commemorate your academic success and invite others to join in the celebration of your accomplishments. Plus, it's a great excuse to throw a party and have some fun.

While before the designs for graduation invitations might have been limited, there are tons of sites online that allow you to create completely custom invites with unique pictures, colorful designs, and fun extras. There are limitless options in the modern era, and you can have your designs quickly shipped out with no hassle.

Designing graduation invitations is an opportunity to express your personal style and creativity. Whether you prefer a classic and elegant design or something more modern and playful, there are endless options to choose from. You can customize your invitations with your school colors, graduation theme, or even include photos of your time in school. With so many design possibilities, you can create invitations that truly reflect your personality and make a lasting impression on your guests.

In addition to being a fun and creative project, sending out graduation invitations serves a practical purpose as well. By inviting guests to your graduation ceremony or celebration, you can help your loved ones keep track of your special event so they have the opportunity to mark their calendars and make plans to attend. Plus, receiving an invitation in the mail adds a personal touch and makes your guests feel valued and included in your special day.

When it comes to choosing graduation invitations, there are a few factors to consider helping you find the perfect option for your celebration:

Theme options. Look for graduation invitation designs that match your personal style and preferences. Consider factors like color scheme, layout, and theme to find invitations that reflect your personality and make a statement.
Customization. Choose a graduation invitation provider that offers customization options, such as the ability to add photos, change fonts, and personalize the text. This allows you to create invitations that are unique to you and your graduation celebration.
Price. Compare prices and packages from different graduation invitation providers to find the best value for your budget. Look for special offers, discounts, and promotions that can help you save money without compromising on quality.
Reputation. Check out the reviews for your favorite design sites to make sure that their quality is up to snuff. Reviews from other grads or ratings from the Better Business Bureau can help you decide which sites are worth your money.

Gathering your friends and family to celebrate your graduation is a wonderful way to create lasting memories and share in the joy of your accomplishment. To help you make your day extra special, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the top graduation invitation services out there today. Whether you're planning a small gathering with close friends or a larger party with extended family, we hope this info (and inspo!) helps you pick out the perfect place to design the invites. So, whether you're planning a graduation party, ceremony, or other special event, don't forget to send out invitations and let your loved ones share in the excitement of your big day!