Faxing documents has largely been replaced with scanning and electronic documents.
However, you may still find an occasional need to fax a document to a business or private party, or even a need to make copies.
Just recently I had to send some documents via fax to a mortgage company.
Luckily, there is a good selection of businesses that offer fax services to the general public or to customers and members.
Places to Fax Near You
While services at each type of business or location may vary, many of the places below have at least some locations that provide fax services.
1. Office Depot/Office Max
There are local Office Depot (and Office Max – now Office Depot in many states) locations throughout the United States that will fax items if you stop in and visit their customer service counter.
Prices may vary based on your state or location, but in my state Office Depot charges as follows:
- $1.49 to fax one page locally ($1.29 each for additional pages)
- $1.99 to fax one page nationally ($1.79 each for additional pages)
- $$7.99 to fax one page internationally ($3.99 each for additional pages)
Again, your local Office Depot location prices may vary, so I’d suggest calling or stopping in to check prices before you fax, and to make sure that your local Office Depot offers this service.
2. FedEx/Kinkos
FedEx stores, which in many states have also bought out Kinkos store locations, often have fax services as well. Most stores allow you to send or receive local, domestic or international faxes.
Prices in my local stores for faxing at FedEx are as follows:
- $1.89 to fax one page locally ($1.59 each for additional pages)
- $2.49 to fax one page nationally ($2.19 each for additional pages)
- $5.99 to fax one page internationally ($3.99 each for additional pages)
Note that prices in your local store may vary.
With FedEx you get a complimentary cover page included with your order and they’ll give you a printed fax confirmation sheet as well.
The inclusion of a cover sheet is a welcome security precaution. Remember to check with your local FedEx/Kinkos store to get the scoop on their prices and available fax services.
3. UPS Store
UPS (United Parcel Service; the guys with the big brown trucks) has over 4600 store locations worldwide, and many of those locations offer fax services.
Here in the U.S. fax prices at UPS stores are as follows:
- $1.00 to fax one page locally ($1.00 each for additional pages)
- $2.00 to fax one page nationally ($1.00 each for additional pages)
- $3.00 to fax one page internationally ($3.00 each for additional pages)
Note that the prices UPS charges – at least in my area – are quite a bit cheaper than the other stores we’ve featured so far.
Since UPS stores are just as easy to find in many cities as FedEx or Office Depot stores, you may want to choose to do your faxing at UPS if you have to fax things on any kind of a regular basis.
4. Staples
Staples has over 300 store locations as of this writing.
Prices at Staples locations in my area are currently running at:
- $1.79 to fax one page locally ($1.59 each for additional pages)
- $2.39 to fax one page nationally ($2.19 each for additional pages)
- $5.99 to fax one page internationally ($3.99 each for additional pages)
Note that Staples has locations in Canada as well as in the United States.
5. Your Local Bank or Credit Union
Many – if not most – banks and credit unions have fax services available, and those services are often free to customers.
Although your bank or credit union may not specify that they offer fax services for customers, it certainly wouldn’t hurt to ask, especially if that means you are able to fax your documents for free as a member of the financial institution.
If you’re not a member of the local bank offering fax services, ask if they’ll fax anyway for free or for a small fee.
6. AAA Travel and Auto Club
If you’re a member of the AAA Auto Club, you may be able to get items faxed for free by visiting one of their local office locations.
AAA is great for being there if your car breaks down on the side of the road, but they also offer members a myriad of other services.
These include travel services, discounts for many stores and businesses, and banking and community services such as fax services.
Faxing is free at most office locations for AAA members and available only to members.
If you’re not currently an AAA member you can join and get the benefits of their roadside assistance help along with the ability to fax items for free.
You don’t have to go into an office to join AAA, you can simply call their customer service number via the link above.
7. Postal Annex
Postal Annex (also known as Annex Brands, Inc.) is business that provides complete shipping and business services to people all over the United States.
They have hundreds of locations throughout the U.S., including stores in California, Colorado, Texas, Arizona, Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina and other states.
According to their website, their store locations do offer fax services, and they promise to let you use their fax number and hold any faxes you receive at their store locations in a secure location until you arrive to claim them.
Prices for faxing at a Postal Annex store vary by location, but generally you’ll find they charge between $1 and $2 per page to send a fax.
Visit or call your local store location for more information on pricing and availability.
8. Pilot Flying J
Pilot Flying J is a travel center company with over 750 locations in the United States as well as a few in Canada.
I’m a bit embarrassed to say I’d never heard of these guys until I did my research for this article, especially being that they have several locations in my area.
The company offers roadside assistance, they have food and fuel locations for when you’re on the road, and many centers have business services such as Western Union, check cashing, coin exchange and yes, fax services.
Prices for faxing and faxing availability may vary depending on location, but generally they’ll charge you approximately $2 per page for fax services. Nice if you’re on the road and find you need fax services.
9. Your Local Library
Not all local library locations provide fax services, but you may find that yours does. Call or stop in to see if they offer fax services and what their charge is to do so.
10. Various Hotel Chains
Just as many hotels offer free wi-fi and free computer use at their hotels, almost all larger chain hotel companies offer fax services to guests.
Whether their fax machine is in a business center that is designated specifically for guests or in a private office for employees, most hotel employees would probably allow you to fax something if need be.
Now, the hotel might not offer fax services for those who aren’t staying as guests at the hotel, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to ask.
As a non-guest they may just fax something for you anyway. If they’re hesitant you could ask about paying a small fee to use their fax machine.
If you’re staying as a guest at the hotel, you’ll probably be able to fax documents as a courtesy service for guests.
11. Local Travel Agent Offices
Many times local travel agency offices will allow visitors to fax items if they’re on the road and away from home.
Whether or not they’ll let you fax for free – or at all – may depend on the travel agency’s business policy and their level of customer service, but it could be an option worth checking out if you’re traveling and not near your home town.
In order to find a travel agency, simply google “travel agency near me” and be sure to have the location turned to “on” so your cell phone can populate nearby travel agency locations.
12. Online Fax Software and Fax Apps
With technology such as it is these days, you can also use online fax software or fax apps right from your PC or other device.
Here are some examples of products that might be useful for you if you have items to fax.
EFax
EFax is one of the easiest ways to send a fax. You can send a fax from a computer, smartphone or even your tablet.
It is $16.95 per month for up to 150 pages faxed with a $10 set up fee.
Ring Central
If you fax items on any kind of a regular basis for your small business or personal reasons, you could get a separate fax software program from Ring Central.
For as little as $12.99 per month (for 750 faxed pages), Ring Central will set you up with fax services from your PC (via your email address) or mobile device.
Metro Fax
Metro Fax has a plan similar to that of Ring Central starting at only $7.95 per month. The $7.95 per month plan allows you to send/receive a total of 500 pages per month, although they do state that pricing varies by area.
As with Ring Central, you can send faxes from your email or from your mobile device. There are no contracts with Metro Fax, which is nice in case you need to do some faxing during short-term time periods.
My Fax
My Fax is another fax software company that also has fax plans starting at just $10 a month for sending 100 pages and receiving 200 pages.
Comparison Table
| Company | Price Per Sheet Local | Price Per Sheet National |
|---|---|---|
| Office Depot/ Max | $1.49 | $1.99 |
| FedEx/Kinkos | $1.89 | $2.49 |
| UPS | $1.00 | $2.00 |
| Staples | $1.79 | $2.39 |
| Pilot Flying J | $2.00 | $2.00 |
Summary
There are several other online faxing companies available to choose from as well. Whether or not you want to sign up for a service depends on how much you have to fax things.
I would say that most people these days don’t have to use a fax service all that often, in which case it would likely be more cost effective to simply go to a local shipping store or office supply store and just pay the one-time fee they charge for your fax.
However, if you find you are needing to fax things on any kind of a regular basis, it might be a better option to sign up for inexpensive online fax services like the ones mentioned toward the end of the post.
