Have you ever wondered how much it costs to publish a book, whether you choose self-publishing or work with a traditional publishing house? Many aspiring authors want to know the estimated book publishing costs, including editing, proofreading, cover design, formatting, printing, and marketing, before starting their book writing and publishing journey.
This guide will walk you through the realistic costs of publishing a book so you can plan your publishing budget wisely. Writing a manuscript is already a challenging process, but turning it into a published book can feel even more overwhelming. It takes time, effort, professional services, and financial investment to create a high-quality book that has the potential to become a bestseller.
If you’re an author aiming to share your work with thousands or even millions of readers, the first step is to understand the factors that influence the cost of publishing a book. Key expenses include professional book editing and proofreading, custom book cover design, proper interior formatting, and effective book marketing strategies.
On average, the cost to publish a book ranges anywhere from $450 to $5,000 or more, depending on the quality of services, book length, genre, and whether you pursue traditional publishing or self-publishing.
In this article, we’ll break down the major components of book publishing costs and show you how each element — from cover design to printing and advertising, affects your overall publishing budget.
Major Components for High-Quality Book Published
The most crucial elements that make your book worthy, engaging, and captivating are listed below;
- Create a professionally designer cover
- The book cover must be eye-catchy
- Make captivating & engaging content
- Do strong & fluid writing
- Free from typos & grammatical errors
- Do thorough editing for syntax, grammar, & word choice
- Consider professional formatting design (cut-offs awkward pages, extra spacing, etc.)
- Add illustration and high-quality images
Once you determine what thing makes your book enthralling and fascinating, it will let you start with a better idea. Everybody knows writing and publishing a book is not easy. Whether you are writing a fiction book or a comic book, each of them requires lots of attention. Even budgeting is one of the important parts that a writer needs to consider.
Besides that, there are some hidden factors that affect the overall cost, such as the book publishing type you choose, book genre, book writing or editing team, the cost to hire illustrators, etc. So, if you are here to find out the real cost to publish a book, then read this guide thoroughly.
What’s The Difference In Between Traditional & Self-Publishing Book?
1. Traditional Publishing
Traditional publishing means they are published by reputable and recognized book publishing companies. Such organizations cover everything from editing, cover designing, proofreading, and formatting. They even help to advertise your book on different social channels.
Benefits Of Traditional Publishing
- You get a team of experienced and creative book writers & publishers
- Have the potential to get your brand
- It lets you build up your writing career & increase your audience
- You can avoid the overhead book publishing cost
2. Self-Publishing Book
The word self represents what does self-publishing book means. It is the process where an author publishes his work without hiring the traditional book publisher. From controlling the creative decisions to publishing costs, each activity control on its own.
Let’s Have a Look on Different Book Genre & Their Publishing Cost
The estimated cost based on different book genres may vary from $1000 to $3000. Here you will read some of the most famous book writing genres.
Nonfiction Books
Non-fiction books are literature-based books. It is one of the wide-ranging & extensive categories of literature. The non-fiction book cost $950 to $2000. Due to the fastest-checking and higher editing fees, its cost will be increased gradually.
Fantasy/Science Fiction
This book genre is usually lengthy when compared to a typical novel. On average, it has almost 120,000 words which is why it costs double for formatting, proofreading, & editing. Fantasy and science fiction ranges from $1500 to $3500.
Children’s Books
Generally, children’s book has a lower word count, which is why their editing and proofing rates are not too high. But they need to hire illustrators who cost thousands of dollars to create attractive and attractive illustrations to make highly eye-catching and captivating books. The children’s book costs $1000 to $3200.
Comic Books
Comic books have extremely lower editing costs. However, illustrators cost a high amount to craft perfect images for your book. The cost of a comic book ranges from $1300 to $2500. Similar to children’s books, the profits will be divided between illustrators & authors.
| Book Publishing Cost by Different Genre | |
| Book Genre | Average Cost |
| Nonfiction Books | $950 to $2000+ |
| Fantasy/Science Fiction | $1500 to $3500+ |
| Children’s Books | $1000 to $3200 |
| Comic Books | $1300 to $3000 |
| Novel | $1500 to $2500 |
| Memoir | $2500 to $3800 |
| Action & Adventure | $1700 to $4000 |
| Romance | $1000 to $3000 |
📖 Book Publishing Cost by Page Count
“Publishing costs don’t just vary by genre — page count plays a huge role too. A longer book requires more editing, formatting, and design work. Here’s a detailed breakdown by page length:”
Factors On Which Book Publishing Cost Depends
| Factors On Which Book Publishing Cost Depends | Details | Cost Range in USD ($) |
| Professional Cover Design | People always judge a book by its cover. That is why it is crucial to have a professional design cover for it. A book cover needs a good investment, so your book can stand out. | $250 – $2500 |
| Author Tools | Authors must need a set of writing tools to create highly intriguing & engaging content. It includes some book writing courses, writing software, etc. | $70 – $600 |
| Professional editing | Editing helps to design your content more professionally. Even the best book writers are looking for fresh content. So, they need an editor who edits readable content that surely loved by your readers. | $1000 – $3500 |
| Formatting | A best-selling book always styles and formats properly, whether it is a paper book or an eBook. Your book must look great from the inside or outside. Formatting also charges some amount to add graphics, color photos, tables, etc. | $1100 – $2200 |
| Book launch | Book launching & advertising are other factors that offer huge costs. You can buy some interesting book promo services to boost sales and help to garner the reader’s attention. | $300 – $2000 |
Steps to Publish Your Book & The Average Cost
When you write your first draft that’s the right time to think about what steps to follow for book publishing and how much each of them will cost.
Although it is highly appreciated that you write a book, and it is one of my biggest achievements ever. If you have decided to come in front of your potential readers, it is another challenge, especially for first-timers.
The authors generally prefer to traditionally publish their books by hiring the best book publishing agency. These agencies can manage their overall work from book writing and editing to advertising and publishing. If you dream of your book among the top-selling books and watch it sitting on bookshelves, you have to adhere to the right book publishing criteria. Below you will read the steps, so keep reading it!
1) Self-Editing for Your Book
Self-editing is crucial. As an author, you should read your book twice to make sure that everything you want to discuss in your book is mentioned flawlessly. Your story characters’ plot idea is narrated exactly as per the demand of readers.
When you have decided to publish your first book, you have to do brainstorming first. It is the only way that show whether you are committed to writing your book impeccably or not. Without a doubt, brainstorming is the most crucial factor in ranking your book among the best sellers. You just need to ask a few questions such as;
- Your story is properly discussed
- Have you structured each sentence properly
- You give attention to every detail
- Communicate each scene in an enthralling manner
- Good grasp of your language and grammar
- Ensure your story gives the perfect picture to your readers
| Tip for self-editing before publishing
Consider 7 to 8 pain points of your story and make sure each point is perfectly elaborate to your readers. |
2) Send Manuscripts to Early Readers
Another thing you need to consider for your book publishing is beta readers or you can say, early readers. Many of you don’t know who are beta readers then here you go, “they are simply the test readers of your unreleased and unpublish work related to your book or any kind of literary work.”
In other words, you can say someone who first read your manuscript and gives feedback to the authors. You can hire beta readers to ensure that your book is perfectly designed or well-formatted. You need to take their suggestions and recommendations into consideration to perform another round of editing.
However, beta readers do thorough and immaculate editing to make your story enthralling, fascinating, and captivating. They try every bit to keep the attention of your readers in your story. You can even use beta-readers software for this.
Bear in mind that writing tips come from anybody. It is better if it comes from the first-time readers of your book. They give some new perspective & ideas to your book that makes your story idea more amazing. Before you hire professional editors, get in touch with a beta reader where you don’t need to pay for editing.
| Tip to hire beta readers
Anyone can be a beta reader. But for unbiased feedback, it’s better to reach out to your friends who read each chapter of your book and give the right suggestions. |
3) Must Hire the Professional Book Editor
Let’s move towards another step: hire a professional book editor before book publishing. However, professional book editors generally offer high costs and it also depends on the length of your entire book and its word count. As per the different resources, the book editors will cost $1000 to $3500 on average. If you prefer to hire an experienced one, they may cost more than $4000.
The book editor cost will depend on several factors such as total word count, the project timeline, book complexity, the experience of an editor, etc. So, if you want to save a huge amount of money, you can hire a book editor from your circle. Make sure the person you prefer to hire for editing purposes has some basic editing knowledge. Must check some previous portfolios to get an idea if their working style meets your demand or not.
| What to consider for a book editor?
Contact with book editing and proofreading agency to check out their previous work. And arrange meeting sessions to discuss your perspective, so their criteria meet your requirements. |
4) Index Your Non-Fiction
Book indexing is essential to give a roadmap to your book, especially in non-fiction books. You need to list the name and other things in alphabetical order and add a page number that is linked with each topic. However, a non-fiction book is packed with valuable and credible information based on real-life stories. That is why a well-made index help to direct your readers to the relevant information they are looking for.
Without a doubt, indexing helps readers locate the data through a database rather than searching in every row. The most common myth about indexes is they are created by computer systems. But in reality, the top-quality index needs a human touch.
According to Mulvany writes;
“An index is an organized arrangement and classification that results from an in-depth and detailed analysis of a text. It gives synthesized access to the main points of all the information contained in the text.”
However, book indexing costs $65 to 2000. If you hire a professional book formatting expert its cost might increase. It costs depend on the length of your book. According to different surveys, the typical average cost is $1000 you need to pay to an indexer.
5) Consider Book formatting
Another thing that comes into the limelight before book publishing is the formatting of your book. The book formatting is another essential factor, where you need to check out the headers, spacing, page numbers, etc. If you don’t consider them thoroughly, and these elements give an unprofessional look, then many book readers will put down your book and end up with bad reviews. That is why book formatting plays an essential role in setting up your book among the best-sellers.
Book formatting doesn’t ask for too much amount. You can even use some software to perfectly align your book. Otherwise, you can hire proficient book writers who save you time and effort. It even lets you focus on your other book-writing projects. According to rough estimation the cost to format a book range from $1100 to $2200.
6) Hire Out the Graphic Designers
Hiring graphic designers and illustrators is another important aspect of your book writing and publishing. If you are writing a book and dream to publish it, you must contact graphic designers. They know how to impeccably design your book cover.
Everybody knows people usually purchase a book due to its attractive cover design. So, designing a mesmerizing and appealing book cover plays a mind-blowing role in garnering the attention of your targeted readers. For such reason, you should get in touch with professional and experienced book cover designers.
A book cover is also considered a marketing tool that increases book sales worldwide. Although, a book cover designer costs $250 to $2500. Bear in mind that if your book cover looks messy and unprofessional, then your whole book is recognized as amateurish.
If you are tempted, when will your book cover design get more expensive? Then have a look at this!
- If you want a more intricate & complex design
- Special character design with every single detail
- Request for a few more edits
- Cover for both eBook & print book cover design
- Customized your book cover design from a proficient & experienced artist
7) Advertise Your Book
Adverting and book marketing helps to increase your book sales worldwide. It is one element that you should consider before it gets printed out and even after it’s been published. However, there are loads of inexpensive and budget-friendly marketing solutions. But on average, book marketing costs $300 to $2000. Sometimes it cost more amount when you spend more time conquering different markets etc.
Therefore, if you are looking for a free and handy book marketing solution and don’t want to spend a huge amount on it, then check the below suggestions;
- You need to check set up a professional page on social media such as Facebook, Instagram, etc. Here you can advertise yourself as an author and book as well.
- You can post interesting and relevant images related to your book and add hashtags for authors to increase your prominence.
- Drop your book on the most relevant Facebook groups and subreddits.
- Write the most captivating and killer book description professionally. Use solid words that instantly grab the reader’s attention.
- Contact local booksellers who allow you to set your book in their stores.
- At every social gathering mention your book name and encourage them to read it.
✅ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the average cost to publish a book?
A: The cost to publish a book can range from $450 to $5,000 or more, depending on factors like book length, genre, editing needs, cover design, formatting, and whether you choose self-publishing or traditional publishing.
Q2: What are the main components of book publishing costs?
A: Key cost components include professional editing, cover design, interior formatting, indexing (for nonfiction), illustrations (for children’s and comic books), and marketing or promotion.
Q3: How much does it cost to hire a professional book editor?
A: A professional book editor typically charges between $1,000 and $3,500, but fees may go beyond $4,000 for experienced editors or complex manuscripts.
Q4: Is self-publishing more affordable than traditional publishing?
A: Self-publishing gives you more cost control, but you must cover all services yourself. Traditional publishing often absorbs these costs, but it’s harder to access and offers less creative control.
Q5: How does book genre impact publishing costs?
A: Genre significantly affects cost. For example, children’s books and comics may require expensive illustrations, while fantasy and science fiction books are typically longer, leading to higher editing and formatting fees.
Final Thoughts
Publishing a book is undoubtedly the enormous and most hectic undertaking, whether you opt for traditional publishing or self-publishing. However, traditional publishing will help to gain credibility in a competitive market. They even have industry knowledge and know how to control creativity impeccably. Without a doubt, traditional publishing will surely increase your niche and help you evaluate your book publishing journey thoroughly.
