Book Printers: How to Choose One, and What Printing Costs
The right book printing company depends on how many copies you need: print on demand for books sold online, short-run digital printing for copies you own, offset for runs of thousands. Harmony Publishing is a short-run printer: paperback or hardcover, from one copy, with the price shown before you order.
For example, a 200-page 6 x 9 in black-and-white paperback costs $98.15 for one copy, $13.92 a copy at 25 copies, $8.70 a copy at 100 copies and $7.79 a copy at 500 copies, printing only. Price your own book in the book printing calculator.
The four kinds of book printing company
| Type | Best for | How it works | Cost per copy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Print on demand (Amazon KDP, IngramSpark) | Books sold online, with no stock to hold | One copy at a time, printed when it is ordered | Highest per copy; you do not pay for unsold stock |
| Short-run digital printing (Harmony) | Copies you own: launches, events, reviewers, bookstores | From one copy, with the price shown before you order | Falls as the quantity grows; instant prices up to 1,000 copies |
| Offset printing | Large runs, usually thousands of copies | Setup cost is paid once, so the run needs to be big | Lowest per copy at volume; longer lead time |
| Local print shop | Booklets, programmes and simple bound documents | Often small runs with limited paper and binding choices | Ask whether they do perfect-bound paperbacks or hardcover at all |
Many authors use two: print on demand for retail sales, and a short run for launches and events. The print-on-demand platforms compared in the 12 best self-publishing companies and print on demand book printing explain that route.
Seven questions to ask any book printer
- What is the minimum order, and is a single proof copy possible?
- Which trim sizes, papers, cover finishes and bindings can I choose, and is hardcover case-bound?
- Is the price per copy shown before I order, and does it include shipping?
- What are the file requirements: PDF, bleed, spine width and the page count rules?
- How long does production take, and how long does delivery take after that?
- What happens when I need a reprint: do I pay setup again?
- Who holds my files, and can I take them to another printer?
What Harmony prints
You choose 19 trim sizes, paperback or hardcover (a hardcover is case-bound with an adhesive case wrap), a black-and-white or colour interior, six papers, a gloss, matte or soft touch cover, and any quantity from one copy to 10,000. Instant prices are shown up to 1,000 copies; above that, ask for a quote. Production for a typical paperback runs from about 2 days for a single copy to about 9 days for 10,000 copies on standard paper, and delivery is shown for your ZIP code. See hardcover book printing, paperback book printing and single book printing.
If you want help with the rest, our self-publishing packages include editing, cover design and distribution, and you can see what authors say in our reviews or weigh us against other options on the comparison pages.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to print a book on demand?
Print on demand charges per book, so the price depends on page count, trim size, paperback or hardcover and colour, and a single copy costs the most per book. Amazon KDP publishes its printing-cost formula on its help pages, a fixed charge per book plus a charge per page, so check it for your page count. For copies you own, price the same book with a short-run printing service and compare.
What type of printer is best for printing books?
Books are printed on digital presses for short runs and offset presses for large runs. Digital printing has no setup cost, so it suits one copy to a few hundred copies; offset spreads a setup cost over thousands of copies and is cheapest per book at that scale. Most self-published books are short runs or print on demand, which means digital.
What is the best way to print my own book?
Finish and proofread the interior, choose the trim size and paper, make a cover with the right spine width for your page count, order one proof copy, and check it before you print more. A printing service such as Harmony takes your print-ready files, or formats the interior and designs the cover for you, and shows the price before you order.
How much does a 300 page book cost to print?
A 300-page paperback (6 x 9 in, black-and-white interior, 60lb natural paper, gloss cover) costs $103.61 for a single copy, $14.01 a copy at 25 copies, $11.50 a copy at 100 copies and $10.49 a copy at 500 copies. These are Harmony's printing prices from the calculator, before shipping and sales tax. A colour interior, a hardcover or a larger trim size costs more, so price your exact book in the calculator.
How much does a 500 page book cost to print?
A 500-page paperback (6 x 9 in, black-and-white interior, 60lb natural paper, gloss cover) costs $114.53 for a single copy, $21.98 a copy at 25 copies, $17.10 a copy at 100 copies and $15.89 a copy at 500 copies. These are Harmony's printing prices from the calculator, before shipping and sales tax. A colour interior, a hardcover or a larger trim size costs more, so price your exact book in the calculator.
Can I print my own book at Barnes & Noble?
Barnes & Noble Press is Barnes & Noble's own self-publishing service: it prints and sells books you publish through it, rather than printing a file for you to own and sell elsewhere. Check its current page for formats and prices. If you want copies you control for events, reviewers or your own sales, use a printing service and price the run first.
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