How much does it cost to publish a book?
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
- Most books cost $700 – $5,000 to publish, depending on how much is done for you.
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Editing | $400 – $3,000+ | Copyediting and proofreading, priced by word count. A 60,000-word novel sits mid-range; a technical or academic manuscript costs more. |
| Cover design | $150 – $1,500 | A pre-made cover is cheapest; a bespoke design with multiple concepts and a full wrap (front, spine, back) costs more. |
| Interior layout | $150 – $900+ | Typesetting the pages, running heads and front matter. Poetry, images and tables cost more than plain prose. |
| ISBN and barcode | $0 – $150 | Free if you use a platform's own identifier; your own ISBN with a barcode block is bought from the national agency. |
| 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. |
| Distribution | $0 – $100/yr | Onward listing to bookshops. Most self-publishing platforms charge nothing upfront; some retailers carry a wholesale discount instead. |
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
- Distribution network worldwide
- 100% royalty to the author
Complete
$1,299
The essentials for a professional book release.
- 25 softcover 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 softcover books
- eBook conversion and distribution
- Print-on-demand distribution
- ISBN barcode
- Premium cover design
- Printed book and eBook interior formatting
- Book promotion and marketing assets
- 100% royalty to the author
Signature
$4,999
For authors who want the full professional treatment.
- Full editorial: developmental, copyediting and proofreading
- 100 softcover books
- eBook conversion and distribution
- Print-on-demand distribution
- ISBN barcode
- Bespoke cover design
- Interior formatting with custom typography
- Launch marketing and author website assets
- 100% royalty to the author
Legacy
$9,999
Our most complete publishing programme.
- Full editorial suite plus manuscript review
- 200 softcover books
- Hardcover edition available
- eBook conversion and distribution
- Print-on-demand distribution
- ISBN barcode
- Bespoke cover design with multiple concepts
- Custom interior design
- Full launch campaign and media outreach
- 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 softcover. 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.
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 (Legacy, a full programme). 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. Publishing is usually paid in stages — a deposit to start, with the balance on approval before printing. The exact split depends on the package.
Is printing included in the package price?
The packages include a set number of printed copies (25 to 200 depending on tier). 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 softcover 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. Our Signature and Legacy packages include launch marketing.
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 →