The printing industry defies the digital obituary written for it over a decade ago. The global printing market grew from $339.57 billion in 2024 to $357.8 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate of 5.4%. The broader commercial printing market reached $501.36 billion in 2024 and is projected to hit $598.06 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 3.2%. Far from shrinking, the industry reinvents itself through packaging innovation, digital workflows, and sustainability-driven demand that keeps revenue climbing across nearly every segment.
This article maps the full landscape of printing industry data across nine critical dimensions: overall market size and growth trajectory, the digital printing revolution, packaging as the dominant application, 3D printing's explosive expansion, regional power shifts, workforce dynamics, sustainability and eco-friendly inks, technology segmentation, and the forces reshaping the industry's future. Every statistic draws from 2023–2025 data to give decision-makers the most current intelligence available.
Global market size and growth projections
The printing industry operates at a scale that surprises most observers outside the sector. The market is expected to reach $423.75 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 4.3% , while the commercial printing market alone stands at $837.20 billion in 2025 . These figures reflect an industry that remains deeply embedded in global commerce, from product packaging to marketing collateral to book publishing.
Growth drivers have shifted decisively. Sustainable printing practices, e-commerce packaging, smart packaging, remote work impact, and health and safety concerns fuel the forecast-period expansion. The era of pure volume growth in traditional print runs ended; value-added, technology-enhanced printing now commands the growth narrative.
Market size benchmarks:
$339.57 billion was the global printing market value in 2024, growing to $357.8 billion in 2025 at a 5.4% CAGR.
$501.36 billion was the commercial printing market size in 2024, projected to reach $598.06 billion by 2030.
The commercial printing market is projected to post a 2.38% CAGR, reaching $940.54 billion by 2030.
Industrial printing market growth will increase by $100.5 billion during 2025–2029, expanding at a CAGR of 9.2%.
The global books commercial printing market was valued at $58.46 billion in 2024 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.6% from 2025 to 2030.
The global printers market was valued at $53.28 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $55.63 billion in 2025.
Digital printing accelerates its takeover
Digital printing has crossed from challenger to dominant force in the industry. The global digital printing market was valued at $30.22 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $59.93 billion by 2034, expanding at a CAGR of 7.09%. That growth rate roughly doubles the pace of the broader printing market, signaling a fundamental technology migration that reshapes production economics. Over 60% of the commercial printing industry has shifted to digital printing technologies , and the transition keeps accelerating.
The economics tell the story. Digital printing eliminates plate-making, slashes changeover times, and enables profitable micro-batch runs. Digital inkjet solutions are forecast to expand at a 3.45% CAGR through 2030 , outpacing every traditional printing technology in the market.
Digital printing market data:
The digital printing market is expected to reach $34.34 billion in 2025 and grow at a CAGR of 7.16% to reach $48.51 billion by 2030.
The U.S. digital printing market was valued at $8.04 billion in 2024 and is predicted to reach $16.78 billion by 2034, at a CAGR of 7.64%.
The global digital print market is worth $167.5 billion in 2025 and is forecast to increase to $251.1 billion by 2035.
Digital printing volumes are forecast to increase from 1.8 trillion A4 print equivalents in 2025 to 2.8 trillion in 2035, a 54.3% increase.
Inkjet technology accounts for 55% of digital printing applications, with laser printing holding a 30% share.
The digital print market will see 304,000 tons of ink and toner sold in 2025, valued at $14.5 billion.
The shift toward on-demand printing has increased by 50%, enabling cost-effective short-run production.
Packaging dominates commercial printing demand
Packaging has become the printing industry's single most powerful growth engine. The packaging segment dominated commercial printing in 2024, accounting for 54.2% of global revenue. E-commerce expansion creates an insatiable appetite for branded, customized packaging that drives print volume far beyond what traditional advertising ever did. E-commerce expansion and premium brand positioning drive continuous growth in printed packaging, which captured 44.08% of revenue in 2024.
The convergence of packaging and digital technology opens new territory. Over 40% of packaging companies have adopted digital printing, integrating QR codes, RFID tags, and augmented reality elements for interactive branding. This transformation turns packaging from a cost center into a marketing platform.
Packaging and label printing statistics:
The retail and e-commerce segment contributed the biggest revenue share of 25% among end-user industries in 2024.
Global demand for packaging labels is valued at a projected $48.3 billion in 2025.
Variable data printing has grown by 45%, enabling personalized marketing and real-time product tracking.
The global 3D printed packaging market is set to grow from $1.67 billion in 2025 to $2.71 billion by 2034 at a CAGR of 5.53%.
Over 40% of packaging firms use digital printing for customized labels, enhancing brand engagement.
Over 30.3% of consumers in the Asia Pacific region are willing to pay a premium for personalized printed materials.
3D printing emerges as the industry's fastest-growing segment
No segment in the broader printing ecosystem matches the velocity of 3D printing's expansion. The global 3D printing market was estimated at $15.35 billion in 2024 and is predicted to reach $35.79 billion by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 17.2%. The technology has migrated from prototyping labs into production floors across automotive, aerospace, healthcare, and consumer goods. 3D printing now represents the highest-growth frontier in the entire printing industry.
Industrial applications drive the bulk of revenue. The industrial printer segment generated more than 77% of total 3D printing revenues in 2025. Meanwhile, the healthcare vertical accelerates adoption at rates that surpass other end-use sectors, fueled by demand for patient-specific implants and surgical guides.
3D printing growth metrics:
The 3D printing market is estimated at $29.94 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach $66.42 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 17.28%.
Prototyping represented 40.27% of the 3D printing market in 2024, while manufacturing parts advance at a 24.87% CAGR.
The automotive segment captured 30.47% of 3D printing revenue in 2024, yet healthcare and dental are the fastest movers with a 25.33% CAGR to 2030.
Fused Deposition Modeling contributed 35.7% of 3D printing market share in 2025 owing to its affordability and customization capabilities.
Polymers led 3D printing materials with 65.47% of revenue in 2024, while metals and alloys are projected to rise at a 26.47% CAGR.
In 2021, 2.2 million 3D printers were transported globally, with shipments anticipated to exceed 21.5 million by 2030.
Regional dynamics reshape global market share
Asia-Pacific has seized the dominant position in global printing. The region leads with a 45.64% revenue share and a 3.28% CAGR, supported by manufacturing expansion and rising consumer spending. China and India anchor this dominance, with India emerging as the fastest-growing country in the commercial printing market. Asia Pacific accounted for the largest revenue share of over 36.7% in 2024 in commercial printing.
North America holds firm as the second-largest market and leads in digital printing adoption. The North America commercial printing market accounted for over 33.2% of global revenue in 2024. Europe's role centers on sustainability-driven innovation and regulatory leadership, while Latin America and the Middle East represent emerging growth pockets fueled by e-commerce expansion.
Regional market breakdowns:
The Asia Pacific commercial printing market was valued at $117.11 billion in 2024.
Asia Pacific commercial printing is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 3.7% through 2030.
India's commercial printing market is projected to reach $39.18 billion by 2030, making it the fastest-growing country-level market.
The North America digital printing market surpassed $11.48 billion in 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 7.12%.
Europe is estimated to contribute 35% to the growth of the global commercial printing market during 2024–2029.
North America commanded 41.68% of 3D printing revenue in 2024, while Asia Pacific is expected to post a 26.47% CAGR through 2030.
Technology segmentation and the analog-to-digital shift
The printing industry's technology landscape reveals a market in transition. Lithography printing remained the largest segment with a revenue share of 44.94% in 2024 , but digital technologies close the gap with every passing quarter. Offset lithography contributed the biggest revenue share of 35% in 2024 , yet its dominance erodes as digital inkjet and laser systems capture short-run, high-margin work.
Substrate preferences reinforce this shift. Paper dominated the print medium segment with a share of 70% in 2024 , but fabric and textile substrates represent the fastest-rising category as fashion and home décor drive digital textile printing demand.
Technology and substrate data:
Lithography printing accounted for a revenue of $225.33 billion in 2024.
Plastics and films represented 55.45% of the digital printing market in 2024, anchored by flexible pouching and shrink-sleeve formats.
Paper and cardboard captured 68.32% of commercial printing market share in 2024, while plastic and synthetic substrates are set to rise at a 4.01% CAGR over 2025–2030.
Small-format jobs held 58.45% of the commercial printing market in 2024; direct-to-object printing is poised for a 5.21% CAGR.
Printing services contributed 60% of commercial printing revenue share in 2024.
The global inkjet printers market reached $50.9 billion in 2024.
The cost of industrial digital presses remains 40% higher than conventional printing equipment, limiting adoption among small and mid-sized firms.
U.S. workforce and industry structure
The American printing industry remains one of the nation's significant manufacturing employers, though automation reshapes its workforce composition. 361,498 people were employed in the printing industry in the U.S. as of 2025. Employment in U.S. printing declined -3.0% on average over the five years between 2020 and 2025 , reflecting automation gains and the ongoing migration from analog to digital production methods.
The industry's establishment base tells a story of consolidation. There were 28,191 private industry printing establishments in the U.S. in the third quarter of 2024. Smaller shops face mounting pressure from digital-first competitors, while mid-size and large operators invest in automation to maintain margins.
Workforce and operational benchmarks:
36.6% of companies surveyed by PRINTING United Alliance report that automation has reduced the number of employees needed.
"Increase productivity" is a top priority for 73.5% of printing companies surveyed for 2025.
Artificial intelligence is a focus for 33.8% of companies surveyed by PRINTING United Alliance for 2025.
Just 5.4% of companies expect business conditions in 2025 to be worse than in 2024.
AI-driven print automation has grown by 45%, optimizing workflow efficiency across the sector.
Advanced inkjet and laser printers require expensive maintenance, increasing operational costs by 30% compared to traditional equipment.
Sustainability and the eco-friendly inks revolution
Sustainability has crossed from corporate talking point to market-moving force in printing. The global sustainable printing market was estimated at $2.07 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $3.35 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.5%. Regulatory pressure, consumer preferences, and brand commitments converge to push eco-friendly practices from the margins to the mainstream of commercial printing.
The inks market captures this shift most clearly. The global eco-friendly inks market was valued at $4.71 billion in 2024, is expected to reach $6.80 billion by 2031, and grows at a CAGR of 5.4%. Water-based formulations lead this transition, with packaging applications creating the strongest pull.
Sustainability and eco-printing metrics:
The water-based inks segment is projected to account for 44.7% of the eco-friendly inks market in 2025.
Packaging leads eco-friendly ink end-use with a 61.2% share of demand.
The U.S. sustainable printing market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2024 to 2030.
The sustainable printing market in Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 9.4% from 2024 to 2030.
In Europe, the adoption rate of sustainable printing materials has reached an estimated 15% over the past three years.
94.6% of respondents in an industry study expressed willingness to pay more for eco-friendly textile options, significantly influencing digital textile printing expansion.
Eco-friendly digital printing solutions have grown by 40%, with water-based inks and energy-efficient printers reducing environmental impact.
Textile printing and emerging application segments
Textile printing represents one of the industry's most dynamic growth stories. The global digital textile printing market was estimated at $5.80 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.7% from 2025 to 2030 to reach $11.60 billion. Fast fashion, e-commerce, and on-demand production models combine to make textiles the fastest-expanding substrate category in commercial printing.
Technology innovation drives adoption. Direct-to-fabric roll-to-roll printing dominated the segment with a revenue share of 66.9% in 2024 , while direct-to-garment technology enables single-piece production that eliminates inventory risk. The textile printing sector has seen a 35% rise in digital print adoption, replacing traditional screen-printing methods.
Textile and specialty printing data:
The global textile printing market is estimated at $5.79 billion in 2025.
Asia Pacific digital textile printing held a significant share of around 32.6% in 2024.
The cotton segment dominated digital textile printing, accounting for a 52.4% share of global revenue in 2024.
Sublimation leads the digital textile printing market with around 48.4% of market share in 2024.
The global direct-to-film printing market was valued at $2.72 billion in 2024.
Over 50% of custom apparel manufacturers use digital textile printing for high-quality, low-waste production.
The global web-to-print market is growing and expected to reach nearly $40 billion by 2027.
Print is not dying — it is transforming
The data demolishes the narrative that print is a declining industry. A global market growing from $339.57 billion to $357.8 billion in a single year does not describe an industry in retreat. What the data does reveal is a sector in radical transformation — digital technologies replace analog workflows, packaging eclipses publishing as the primary demand driver, and sustainability shifts from optional to essential.
The growth hotspots tell executives exactly where to invest. 3D printing expanding at a 17.2% CAGR represents the industry's fastest frontier. Digital textile printing growing at 12.7% annually signals opportunity in fashion and home décor. The broader digital printing market doubling from $30.22 billion to $59.93 billion over the next decade confirms that the analog-to-digital migration still has enormous runway. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific's 45.64% revenue share cements the region's role as the industry's center of gravity.
The printing industry's future belongs to companies that master digital workflows, invest in sustainable materials, and build flexibility into their production models. Those that cling to legacy economics will shrink; those that embrace transformation will capture a growing share of a market still measured in hundreds of billions of dollars. The printing industry is not vanishing — it is evolving faster than at any point in its 500-year history, and the data proves it.