William Lipovsky
It wasn’t too long ago that CD/DVD drives came standard on desktop and laptop computers, but such drives have begun to disappear from newer computer models.
You can use an external CD/DVD drive, but if you don’t burn CDs often, finding a company that can burn one for you might be more convenient.
Fortunately, there are a few office supply chains and shipping stores that will do this for you. Local businesses specializing in audio digitizing services may also be able to help.
For the list of places that burn CDs for you, see below.
The List
FedEx
- Service: CD and DVD duplication; you can even customize the discs with images and logos.[1]
- Cost: $9.99 per CD or DVD[2]
- Find out more or find a FedEx Office
Staples
- Service: We reached out to Staples locations in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, and some of the stores said they burn CDs (while some do not). It’s best to call ahead to your intended store to confirm if it offers CD burning.
- Cost: Where available, the service costs about $10 per disc, but varies by location.[3]
- Find a Staples
Office Depot/OfficeMax
- Service: We reached out to Office Depot locations in Alabama and North Carolina, and all of the stores said they burn CDs. It’s still a good idea to call ahead to your intended store to confirm if it offers CD burning.
- Cost: Prices vary by location, but the service generally costs about $5 per disc.[4]
- Find an Office Depot/OfficeMax
Local Businesses
Some local businesses offer CD-burning services. We found businesses like Digital Revolution (San Francisco, CA.), Digital Pickle (Austin, TX), and HB Media Solutions (Fort Lauderdale, FL) — representatives at these stores told us that their stores will burn CDs and DVDs.
To find a local business near you, search for “(city name) audio digitizing services.” For pricing information, you’ll want to contact the business directly.
Public Libraries
A number of public libraries and college libraries offer CD-burning services. Larger public libraries often even have labs or recording studios. And some libraries, such as the library at the College of Charleston, may even let you check out an external CD/DVD drive to use at home.
Try searching online for “(county name) library” and phrases such as “creation station,” “creative lab,” “creative studio,” “creative space,” and “recording studio.” There may be a nominal fee, and you’ll likely need to bring your own blank CDs.
DIY CD/DVD Burning
If there are no places near you that offer CD burning and your personal computer does not have a disc drive, you can do it yourself with an external CD-burning drive.
You can find this type of hardware for around $20 to $30 on Amazon, which may be worth it if you have several discs to burn.
Amazon also sells CD-burning software for about $20 — this is a one-time purchase that you can reuse for all of your CD-burning needs.
Need to copy something else? We also have the list of the best places for you to make paper copies and the most convenient places to scan documents.
