Fax at Staples & Office Depot vs OneFaxNow — Cost, Time & Privacy in 2025
Before you search "fax near me" and drive to Staples or Office Depot for per-page faxing, compare it to sending the same fax online from home for a flat $3.50–$5.00. No trip, no public machine, optional HIPAA for medical documents.
Staples & Office Depot
- •Per-page pricing (~$1.79–$2.50+ per page, more for long-distance)
- •In-store only, during store hours
- •Public machines; staff may handle documents
OneFaxNow
- Flat $3.50 (1–10 pages), $5.00 (11–50 pages)
- 100% online, 24/7 from any browser
- Optional HIPAA Mode with BAA & audit logs
Should You Fax at Staples or Office Depot — or Use OneFaxNow Instead?
Staples / Office Depot fax is okay if:
- You're already in the store for printing or supplies
- You only have 1–2 non-sensitive pages
- You're fine paying per-page and standing at a public counter
OneFaxNow is usually better if:
- You're sending more than a couple of pages
- You'd rather fax from home/phone instead of driving around
- Your documents are sensitive (insurance, legal, personal)
- You're faxing medical or PHI and need HIPAA with a BAA
Example: At Staples, a 10-page local fax often costs around $1.79 for the first page + $1.59 for each additional, roughly $16.10. With OneFaxNow, the same 10-page fax is $3.50 flat — and you never leave home. Office Depot's pricing is similar.
How Much Does It Cost to Fax at Staples or Office Depot vs OneFaxNow?
Example using common 2025 retail pricing: Staples $1.79 first page + $1.59 additional; Office Depot around $1.79–$1.99 per local page. Actual prices vary by store; always check locally.
| Pages | Staples (example) | Office Depot (example) | OneFaxNow | Who's Cheaper? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ~$1.79 | ~$1.79–$1.99 | $3.50 | Retail slightly cheaper |
| 3 | $4.97 | ~$5.40–$5.97 | $3.50 | OneFaxNow |
| 5 | $8.15 | ~$9.00–$9.95 | $3.50 | OneFaxNow (by a lot) |
| 10 | $16.10 | ~$18–$19.90 | $3.50 | OneFaxNow (huge difference) |
| 20 | $32.02 | ~$36–$39.80 | $5.00 | OneFaxNow (massive difference) |
OneFaxNow
- Lite: $3.50 (1–10 pages)
- Standard: $5.00 (11–50 pages)
- HIPAA add-on: +$3 / +$5
- Pay only if delivery succeeds
Staples Pricing
- Local: ~$1.79 first, $1.59 add'l
- National: ~$2.39 first, $2.19 add'l
- International: ~$5.99 first, $3.99 add'l
Office Depot Pricing
- Local: ~$1.79–$1.99/page
- National: ~$2.49/page
- International: ~$3.99–$10/page
- + printing costs if needed
For one page, Staples or Office Depot might be a bit cheaper. For anything over 2–3 pages, OneFaxNow is usually dramatically cheaper than both — and you didn't spend time or gas getting there.
"Fax Near Me" (Staples / Office Depot) vs Faxing from Your Phone
When people search "fax near me," they often end up at Staples or Office Depot because both chains promote copy/print/fax centers and they're familiar, trusted brands. But compare the flows:
Fax at Staples / Office Depot
- 1Find a location that actually offers fax
- 2Print your documents at home or in store (extra cost) if they're digital
- 3Drive, park, and go to the print & copy center
- 4Wait if there's a line
- 5Use a self-service machine or hand papers to staff
- 6Pay at the counter and keep your paper receipt
- 7All limited to store hours only
Fax with OneFaxNow
- 1Open onefaxnow.com on your phone or computer
- 2Upload PDF/Word/images (up to 50 pages, 20MB per file)
- 3Enter fax number (U.S./Canada), add optional cover page, toggle HIPAA Mode if needed
- 4Pay online with card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay
- 5Watch status in real time; get email confirmation
- 6Pay only on success
Instead of driving around looking for "fax near me Staples" or "Office Depot fax service," you can be completely done in a few minutes from your couch.
Privacy: Public Counter vs Private, HIPAA-Ready Online Fax
At Staples & Office Depot
- •You're in a public retail environment
- •Documents go through shared self-service machines or are handled by staff
- •Faxes may sit in an output tray near other customers
- •There's no BAA and no dedicated HIPAA-compliant fax pipeline for walk-in users
With OneFaxNow
- Upload files directly from your device over encrypted (TLS) connections
- Files processed and deleted according to mode:
- Standard: stored only as long as needed for transmission/receipts
- HIPAA Mode: stricter handling, no saved drafts, automatic PHI deletion with immutable logs
- HIPAA Mode includes instant BAA + HIPAA Audit Dashboard with exportable logs
If you're faxing medical records, prior authorizations, or PHI, big-box retail fax counters like Staples and Office Depot generally aren't enough for HIPAA — they don't sign BAAs for walk-in customers. OneFaxNow's HIPAA Mode is built for those scenarios.
Learn About HIPAA FaxStaples Fax vs Office Depot Fax vs OneFaxNow
| Feature | Staples Fax Service | Office Depot / OfficeMax | OneFaxNow |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you fax | In person at Copy & Print center | In person at print center | Online from any device |
| Pricing model | ~$1.79 first, $1.59+ add'l; higher for national/int'l | ~$1.79–$1.99 local; more for national/int'l | Flat: $3.50 (1–10), $5.00 (11–50) |
| Extra printing costs | Yes, if printing digital docs | Yes, printing adds to cost | None – upload digital files |
| Hours | Store hours only | Store hours only | 24/7 |
| Travel required | Yes | Yes | No |
| Privacy | Public machines; staff may handle docs | Public machines; staff may handle docs | Private, encrypted uploads |
| HIPAA support | No BAA for walk-ins | No BAA for walk-ins | Optional HIPAA Mode with BAA, audit logs |
| Tracking | Paper confirmation if you ask | Paper confirmation if you ask | Real-time status + email |
| Retries on busy | Device dependent; manual | Device dependent; manual | Up to 3 auto retries; pay only on success |
| Account required? | No, pay in store | No, pay in store | No account, pay-per-fax |
When It Still Makes Sense to Fax at Staples or Office Depot
It can still be reasonable to use Staples or Office Depot if:
- You're already in the store for printing, shopping, or a notary
- You have just a page or two and don't mind per-page pricing
- Your documents are not especially sensitive, like simple forms or non-private letters
- You prefer to pay in cash, or you don't want to use cards/online payments
For most multi-page, time-sensitive, or privacy-sensitive faxes — especially anything involving medical or legal documents — a flat-rate, from-home option like OneFaxNow is usually cheaper, faster, and more secure than driving to Staples or Office Depot.
Staples & Office Depot Fax vs OneFaxNow — Common Questions
Can I fax at Staples or Office Depot?
Yes. Most Staples and Office Depot/OfficeMax locations still offer in-store fax services through their copy/print centers. You can send domestic and international faxes there during store hours, using self-serve machines or with staff assistance.
How much does it cost to fax at Staples or Office Depot?
Pricing varies by store. Staples typically charges about $1.79 first page and $1.59 each additional for local, $2.39/$2.19 for national, and $5.99/$3.99 for international. Office Depot charges around $1.79–$1.99 per local page, $2.49 for national, and $3.99–$10 for international. If you need printing before faxing, add $0.10–$0.50 per page. By contrast, OneFaxNow charges $3.50 flat for 1–10 pages and $5.00 flat for 11–50 pages in the U.S./Canada.
Is faxing at Staples or Office Depot private enough for medical or legal documents?
It's generally safe for everyday paperwork, but you're still using shared machines in a public area or handing your documents to store staff. Faxes may sit in output trays until picked up. If your documents contain PHI or very sensitive information, retail fax counters rarely offer Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) or healthcare-grade audit trails. OneFaxNow's HIPAA Mode is specifically designed for PHI, with a BAA, encrypted handling, and detailed logs.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Staples and Office Depot fax services?
Yes. Online pay-per-fax services like OneFaxNow are often much cheaper for multi-page faxes and don't require you to travel. A 10-page local fax that might cost $16–$18+ at Staples or Office Depot can cost just $3.50 flat with OneFaxNow.
Do I need an account or subscription to use OneFaxNow?
No. OneFaxNow is built for one-time, pay-per-fax usage. You don't need to create an account or sign up for a monthly plan. Upload your document, enter a U.S./Canada fax number, and pay only if it's delivered successfully.
What if I just search "fax near me"?
You'll almost always see Staples, Office Depot, UPS, FedEx, and a few local stores. Those can work in a pinch—especially if you're already out. But if you're at home with a phone or computer, you can skip the "fax near me" hunt and just send your fax online with OneFaxNow in a couple of minutes.
Skip the Trip to Staples or Office Depot — Send Your Fax Online
If you were about to search "fax near me" or drive to Staples or Office Depot just to send a few pages, you don't have to. Upload your document, enter the fax number, and send it online with flat pricing, real-time tracking, and optional HIPAA for medical faxes.