How much does it cost to publish a book?
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There is no single price, and anyone who quotes one is guessing. Publishing is several pieces of work — editing, cover design, interior layout, ISBN, printing and distribution — and what you pay depends on which of them you need. This page gives you the real 2026 figures, our package prices, and a free calculator for the printing side, which is the part that changes most between books.
Key takeaways
- Our packages run from $699 to $9,999, and individual services from $99.
- Our packages run from $699 to $9,999 and include cover, interior, ISBN and distribution.
- Printing is priced per copy — it depends on page count, trim, binding, interior colour and quantity, so price your exact specification with our free calculator.
- Printing falls as the run grows, and depends on page count, trim, binding, colour and quantity.
- You keep 100% of your royalties on every package.
What each piece of publishing costs
Buy the pieces separately and these are the ranges you will see in 2026. Bundled, they cost less — which is why our package prices below are lower than the sum of their parts.
| Piece of work | Typical range | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Cover design | $399 | A bespoke cover designed for your book, delivered as print-ready files with a full wrap (front, spine, back). |
| Interior formatting | $200 – $280 | Typesetting the pages, running heads and front matter: $200 up to 150 pages, $240 for 151–200 pages, $280 for 201–250 pages. Above 250 pages we quote it. |
| ISBN and barcode | $99 | Your own ISBN with the barcode block that goes on the back cover. |
| Printing | Priced per copy | Priced per copy and depends on page count, trim size, binding, interior colour and run size — so there is no single figure. Use our free printing calculator for your exact specification. |
Package prices
Each package bundles the services most authors need at that stage. All prices are in US dollars. Every tier includes cover design, interior layout, ISBN and barcode, distribution setup, and you keep 100% of your royalties.
Essentials
$699
Go for this if your book is already well-edited.
- Basic cover design
- Book interior design
- ISBN assignment
- Account setup and full publishing submission (KDP / IngramSpark)
- Distribution network worldwide
- 100% royalty to the author
Complete
$1,299
The essentials for a professional book release.
- Proofreading
- 25 paperback books
- eBook conversion and distribution
- Print-on-demand distribution
- ISBN barcode
- Standard cover design
- Printed book and eBook interior formatting
- Book promotion
- 100% royalty to the author
PremiumMost popular
$2,499
The best way to print, publish and promote your book.
- Professional copyediting and proofreading (up to 60,000 words)
- 50 paperback books
- eBook conversion and distribution
- Print-on-demand distribution
- ISBN barcode
- Deluxe cover design
- Printed book and eBook interior formatting
- Creatives for social media
- Amazon listing SEO optimisation
- Facebook and Instagram advertising campaign development
- Media and press release placement
- AI visibility (Google AI, Copilot and ChatGPT)
- Book promotion
- 100% royalty to the author
Rockstar
$4,999
Position yourself as a thought leader in your niche.
- Comprehensive developmental and editorial review (up to 80,000 words)
- 100 paperback books (no hardcover)
- eBook conversion and distribution
- Print-on-demand distribution
- ISBN barcode
- Deluxe cover design
- Printed book and eBook interior formatting
- Book indexing
- Creatives for social media
- Advanced Amazon listing SEO and A+ content strategy
- Facebook and Instagram advertising campaign development
- Custom author website (1-year hosting included)
- 30-day post-launch marketing management window
- Media and press release placement
- AI visibility (Google AI, Copilot and ChatGPT)
- Book promotion
- 100% royalty to the author
Legend
$9,999
Designed for top CEOs, executives and senior citizens documenting their experiences, ideas and legacy.
- Ghostwriting service (up to 50,000 words / 200 pages)
- 200 hardcover and 300 paperback books
- eBook conversion and distribution (including Amazon)
- Print-on-demand distribution
- ISBN barcode
- Deluxe cover design
- Printed book and eBook interior formatting
- Book indexing
- Author website
- Book launch plan
- Media outreach, article pitching and 4 press releases with media placement
- Audiobook production
- Professional video trailer
- Book signing and VIP event planning
- Advanced social media management and targeted ad campaigns
- Monthly analytics and reporting, and private author consultation
- 100% royalty to the author
Get an instant printing figure
Printing is priced per copy, so the honest way to budget is to price your exact specification. Our free calculator does that in a few clicks — choose your trim size, page count, binding and quantity, and it shows the price and the production time.
Open the free printing calculator →
What drives the printing price
Printing is the line that changes most between books, because it is priced per copy and depends on the physical specification:
- Page count. More pages means more paper. A 60-page book and a 400-page book at the same quantity are different jobs.
- Trim size. A larger trim uses more paper per copy. Standard sizes such as 6x9in (152x229mm) and 5.5x8.5in (140x216mm) are the most economical.
- Binding. Perfect binding is standard for paperback. A hardcover adds a rigid board case and case-making.
- Interior colour. Black-and-white interiors print on text stock. Colour interiors print on art paper with four-colour impressions, which is more per page.
- Print quantity. The unit price falls as the run grows, because setup is spread across more books.
Deciding between formats? Read paperback vs hardcover. For trim sizes, see book trim sizes. The other lines in the bill are explained on ISBNs for books and eBook conversion, and the package prices are on self-publishing costs.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to publish a book?
For most authors it falls between $700 and $5,000, depending on how much of the work is done for you. Our packages run from $699 (Essentials, for an already-edited manuscript) to $9,999 (Legend, our complete programme, including ghostwriting). Printing is charged per copy on top and depends on the physical specification. Editing, cover design, interior layout, ISBN and distribution can also be bought separately.
Do I have to pay everything at once?
No. Pay in full online, or call us to discuss a deposit.
Is printing included in the package price?
The packages include a set number of printed copies (25 to 500 depending on tier; Essentials has none). Printing beyond those copies is priced per copy, and the price falls as the run grows.
How is printing priced per copy?
Printing is quoted per copy and depends on five things: page count, trim size, binding, interior colour and print quantity. A shorter paperback with a black interior costs less per copy than a longer hardcover with a colour interior. Because it depends on your exact specification, our free printing calculator gives you the figure for your book.
Why is a hardcover more expensive than a paperback?
A hardcover needs a rigid board case, case-making and an adhesive case-bound block, and it takes longer to produce. It also ships heavier, so distribution costs more. See our paperback vs hardcover comparison for the full breakdown.
What is the cheapest way to publish a book?
If your manuscript is already edited, the Essentials package at $699 covers cover design, interior layout, ISBN and distribution. Doing your own editing and cover brings the price down further, but a book that is edited and designed professionally sells better and reviews better.
How much should I budget for marketing?
Marketing is separate from publishing. Many authors start with a modest launch budget — email, social and a few review copies — and reinvest royalties from the first months. Premium and above include marketing work (social media creatives, advertising campaign development, press release placement); Rockstar adds a 30-day post-launch marketing window and Legend a full launch plan.
How long does publishing take?
Editing and design typically take four to eight weeks depending on the manuscript. Printing adds two to nine working days for short runs. Allow time for shipping and for your own review passes at each stage.
Not sure which package fits your book?
Tell us the manuscript length and what you have already done, and we will tell you plainly which tier you need — or that you do not need one.
Talk to us →