Searching "photocopy near me" usually means one thing: you're holding a paper document and you need duplicates — today if possible. Here are your realistic options in the UK, including the one most people don't think of: turning the paper into a PDF with your phone and having copies printed and posted to you.
Where you can photocopy locally
| Option | Typical cost | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Library | ~10–20p per copy | Membership, opening hours, B&W only in some branches |
| Print / copy shop | ~20–40p per copy | Travel and queues; small jobs can carry a minimum charge |
| Supermarket kiosks | Varies | Photo-focused; document copying not guaranteed |
| Your workplace | Free-ish | Not private, and not for personal use everywhere |
The no-photocopier method: scan with your phone, print online
A photocopier is just a scanner and a printer in one box — and you already own the scanner half. Both iPhone and Android can produce a clean PDF scan:
- iPhone: open the Notes app → camera icon → "Scan Documents". It auto-crops, straightens, and saves a PDF.
- Android: open Google Drive → + → "Scan". Same result: a straightened, high-contrast PDF.
- Upload the PDF to an online printing service like printle, choose how many copies you need, and they're printed and posted to your door.
This beats the high street when you need multiple copies (per-page pricing from 15p undercuts most copy shops), when the document is private (payslips, medical letters, legal papers — no shared machines), or when getting to a shop is the hard part. Full walkthrough: how to print documents from your phone.
When a local photocopier is still the right call
Honesty first: if you need one copy in your hand within the hour, a library or copy shop wins — online printing dispatches same-day (order before 2 PM on a working day) but arrives by post. The online route wins on price for multiple copies, on privacy, and on effort.
Copy quality tips
- Scan in good light and hold the phone flat — shadows are the main quality killer
- Use the app's black & white / document mode for text — it sharpens contrast
- Check the PDF preview before ordering: if it's readable on screen, it will print well
Need copies without the trip? Upload your scanned PDF and we'll print and post your copies anywhere in the UK — from 15p per page, free delivery over £10.