Issues 1 (November 1986) through 170 (February 2006) were published in traditional printed format, but beginning with issue 171 (June 2006), Sino-Platonic Papers has been published electronically only.
The first 170 issues of Sino-Platonic Papers were published in a conventional print format, whereas beginning with issue 171 (June 2006), the journal transitioned to digital-only distribution exclusively.