How Much Does it Cost to Publish a Book in 2025

Various factors impact the total cost of publishing a book, from editing and design to marketing and distribution.

Whether considering self-publishing or aiming for a traditional route, understanding these costs will help you plan and avoid unexpected expenses.

Let’s explore what you can expect to spend and how each stage of the publishing process contributes to the final price tag.

Keep in mind that you can use Squibler to create an entire book in minutes, format, edit, and make a book cover. Finally, you can even get a hard copy of your new book right at your doorstep.

With that out of the way, let’s go over the traditional publishing routes.

Key Factors Affecting the Cost of Publishing a Book

Several factors determine how much it will cost to publish a book, and understanding these can help you plan. Here are the main considerations:

Book Type

The genre and format of your book impact publishing costs.

For example, illustrated books like children’s books, graphic novels, or cookbooks require high-quality design and artwork, which adds to the budget.

In contrast, text-only novels or nonfiction works tend to have lower design expenses.

Additionally, niche genres may require specialized marketing approaches or specific formats, such as hardcovers, which can also increase costs.

Production Quality

Investing in experienced editors, designers, and print services is another price bump.

High-quality production may involve developmental editing, advanced cover design, or premium printing options like hardcover binding and special paper types.

While these raise upfront costs, they can enhance the book’s appeal and durability, ultimately making it more marketable.

Lower-budget options, like free design tools or skipping professional editing, can reduce expenses but may impact the book’s overall quality.

Publishing Goals

Self-publishing involves taking on most production expenses, including editing, design, and marketing. This path offers more creative control and higher royalty percentages but requires a larger initial investment.

In contrast, traditional publishing covers most production expenses and typically provides an advance, but royalties are often lower, and the publisher controls much of the creative and marketing process.

Deciding on your publishing goals upfront prepares you for the associated financial commitments.

Self-Publish Cost Breakdown

The estimated cost of self-publishing a book is $1,000 to $20,000, depending on the professional services and marketing level involved. The following factors impact the price:

Writing and Content Creation

If hiring a ghostwriter or collaborating with co-authors, you may need to allocate a portion of your budget to content creation. Depending on the project’s complexity, ghostwriting can cost anywhere from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.

Alternatively, if you’re writing the book, you might still invest in tools such as writing software, grammar checkers, or subscription-based content organizers to streamline the process.

Editing Costs

Editing is essential for producing a polished, readable book. There are different levels of editing, each with its costs:

• Developmental editing: A comprehensive review of structure, flow, and content, often costing between $0.04 and $0.12 per word.
• Copyediting: Focuses on grammar, punctuation, and style consistency. It costs between $0.02 and $0.05 per word.
• Proofreading: A final pass to catch any remaining errors, usually costing around $0.01 to $0.03 per word.

For a complete editing process, you may need to budget anywhere from $500 to $3,000 or more, depending on the manuscript’s length and the level of editing required.

Book Design Costs

Professional design can make your book more visually appealing. Key areas to consider include:

• Cover design: A custom cover design can range from $200 to $1,000+, depending on the designer’s experience and the complexity of the design.
• Interior layout and formatting: Proper formatting enhances readability, and the cost ranges from $100 to $500 for standard text-only books. Illustrated or complex layouts may cost more.
• Illustrations and photography: If your book requires custom illustrations or photos, prices vary widely, from $50 per image to several hundred dollars, depending on the artist or photographer.

ISBN and Barcodes

An ISBN is necessary for selling your book through bookstores and online retailers. In the United States, a single ISBN costs around $125, and bundles can be purchased at a reduced price.

You may also need a barcode, which some publishing services include, while others may charge an additional fee of around $25.

Printing Costs

Printing expenses depend on book format, color options, and quantity. Print-on-demand (POD) services allow you to print books as ordered with minimal upfront costs.

However, bulk printing can reduce the per-book cost if you’re confident about demand:

• Black and white printing: Costs about $2–$5 per book for standard paperback novels.
• Full-color printing: Ranges from $10–$20 per book, especially for illustrated books or children’s books.
• Bulk printing discounts: Printing 500 or more copies can lower the per-unit cost, though it requires a larger upfront investment.

Distribution and Sales Channels

You’ll need to consider distribution fees to make your book available to readers. Popular self-publishing platforms like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) or IngramSpark have specific pricing structures:

• Amazon KDP: Offers free distribution, with a royalty split based on book pricing.
• IngramSpark: Charges a setup fee (around $50) and a print fee, with options for expanded distribution to bookstores and libraries.

Additional Costs for Book Marketing and Promotion

Here are some of the main costs involved in promoting a self-published book:

Book Marketing Strategy

Creating a successful book marketing strategy involves planning a book launch, press releases, and other promotional activities.

Depending on the campaign’s scope, hiring a professional marketer or publicist can cost from $500 to $5,000 or more. DIY marketing options are available, but professional help can enhance reach and impact.

Paid Advertising

Investing in paid advertising can help increase your book’s visibility. Popular platforms include Amazon, social media ads (e.g., Facebook, Instagram), and Google Ads. Here’s an overview of average costs:

Depending on targeting and bid strategies, Amazon ads range from $50 to $500+ per month.

Social media ads vary widely, from $100 to $1,000+ per month, depending on audience size and ad frequency.

Author Website and Social Media Presence

Having an author website and maintaining an active social media presence can help build your brand and connect with readers. Website creation costs vary:

DIY websites with templates (e.g., Wix, Squarespace) can cost around $100 to $500 annually, including hosting.

On the other hand, custom-built websites by a designer typically cost $1,000 to $5,000.

In addition, many authors invest in social media management tools or hire assistants to manage their online presence, with monthly costs ranging from $50 to $500.

Alternative Cost-Saving Tips for Publishing on a Budget

Fortunately, publishing a book doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some ways to minimize expenses without compromising too much on quality:

DIY Options for Cover Design and Formatting

If you’re comfortable with design tools, consider creating your cover or formatting the interior layout.

Platforms like Canva and Adobe InDesign offer affordable templates for cover design, while tools like Vellum and Reedsy are popular for book formatting.

These DIY solutions can save hundreds of dollars compared to hiring professionals, though they may require a learning curve.

Use Beta Readers for Initial Feedback

Instead of paying for a full developmental edit, consider gathering feedback from beta readers. Beta readers are volunteers or readers from platforms like Goodreads who provide honest feedback on the story, pacing, and character development.

This can help improve your manuscript before paying for professional editing, potentially saving on extensive editing costs later.

Leverage Affordable Tools and Resources

Many budget-friendly tools and resources can support self-publishing:

Grammarly and ProWritingAid are affordable alternatives to professional copyediting, providing basic grammar and style checks.

Fiverr and Upwork are platforms for finding freelance editors, designers, and for matters at various price points.

BookFunnel and Mailchimp are great for email marketing and distributing digital copies for reviews at a fraction of the cost of a professional marketing campaign.

Overview of Traditional Publishing Costs

The publisher covers most production expenses in the traditional publishing route, including editing, design, and distribution. Here are some key aspects to consider:

Advances and Royalties

A major benefit is the advance. Publishers offer an advance payment to the author upon signing a contract.

Advances vary from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the author’s platform, genre, and publisher.

This payment is an advance against future royalties, meaning the author only earns additional royalties after the book’s sales cover the advance amount.

Costs Covered by the Publisher

Traditional publishers handle all major production costs, such as:

• A professional editor who does comprehensive editing, including developmental, copyediting, and proofreading.
• Publishers provide professional cover and interior design services.
• Traditional publishers manage printing and have established distribution channels to reach bookstores, libraries, and online retailers.

Author-Borne Costs

While the publisher covers production, authors may still need to invest in some areas:

Many traditional authors work with a literary agent who takes a commission (usually around 15%) from the advance and royalties.

While publishers often handle initial marketing, many authors supplement this with personal promotional efforts, such as social media ads, book tours, or a personal website, which may require extra spending.

Traditional publishing offers fewer upfront costs but involves lower creative control and royalty rates than self-publishing.

However, for many authors, a traditional publisher’s professional backing and distribution network can outweigh these trade-offs.

Comparison: Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing

Deciding between the two options involves weighing costs, control, and potential earnings. Here’s a closer look at the pros and cons of each approach:

Self-Publishing

Let’s cover the pros and cons of publishing yourself first.

Pros

One of the most significant advantages is the creative control it offers. Authors retain full authority over the book’s content, cover design, pricing, and marketing strategies, allowing them to make decisions that align with their vision. This control level can appeal to authors with a clear vision or niche audience.

Self-publishing also provides higher royalties per book sale. Authors who self-publish through platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or IngramSpark often earn between 40% and 70% of the retail price, higher than traditional royalties.

Another benefit is the flexibility in timing. Authors can publish their books on schedule without waiting for approval or a spot on a publisher’s release calendar.

This can be advantageous for timely topics or authors with established platforms.

Cons

Self-publishing requires authors to cover upfront costs. Expenses such as editing, cover design, interior formatting, and marketing all fall on the author, which can add up quickly.

Marketing responsibility is another major drawback. Authors must handle most, if not all, of the promotional activities for their book.

Without the marketing support of a publisher, self-published authors often need to invest time and money to reach their target audience effectively.

Finally, self-published books may have limited distribution reach. Many bookstores and libraries hesitate to carry self-published titles, making it harder for authors to gain visibility beyond online platforms. This limited access can impact potential sales and long-term reach.

Traditional Publishing

Next, let’s cover the pros and cons of the traditional route.

Pros

The main advantage is the lack of upfront costs. Traditional publishers cover production expenses, including editing, design, printing, and distribution, reducing the author’s financial risk. This financial support allows authors to focus on their writing without worrying about covering these costs.

Traditional publishing also offers professional support. Authors work with experienced editors, designers, and marketers provided by the publisher, which can result in a more polished and market-ready book.

This team effort can be invaluable for first-time authors or those seeking to enhance the quality of their work.

Finally, traditional publishers have established distribution channels, which means wider access to bookstores, libraries, and media outlets.

Cons

However, traditional publishing usually offers lower royalty percentages. Authors often earn royalties between 5% and 15% of the book’s retail price, which is significantly less than the percentages available in self-publishing. This can impact the author’s earnings, especially for lower-priced books.

It also involves a loss of creative control. Publishers have significant influence over aspects of the book, including title, cover design, and marketing strategies.

While this oversight can enhance a book’s marketability, it may not always align with the author’s vision.

Lastly, the traditional route has a longer timeline from submission to release. The process can take 12 to 18 months, as publishers often plan their release calendars well in advance. This extended timeline may be challenging for authors looking to release their work quickly.

FAQs

Here are the most frequently asked questions about the cost of publishing a book.

How much does it cost to publish a book?

The cost to publish a book can vary significantly depending on the quality and type of services you choose, but many authors spend around a few hundred dollars for basic services. This may cover essentials such as formatting, basic editing, and cover design. However, if you seek high-quality services like professional editing, premium book cover design, and marketing assistance, you may spend substantially more, even thousands of dollars.

What should I expect to pay for a professionally designed book cover?

A professional book cover can range from a few hundred dollars to over a thousand dollars, depending on the designer’s experience and the complexity of the design. Since the book cover is one of the most crucial aspects influencing sales, many authors consider it a worthy investment. The cover is often the first impression readers get, so allocating part of your publishing budget to this area can be beneficial.

Is it possible to publish a book on a budget?

Yes, it is possible to publish a book on a budget. Many platforms allow you to publish at minimal cost, with options to DIY certain aspects like formatting and design. You can keep costs down by doing some parts yourself and selectively investing in professional help where it matters, like a book cover. However, be mindful that competing in the publishing industry often requires some investment in quality to attract readers.

How does self-publishing help me start my own business?

Publishing your own book can be a great way to launch your own business, especially if you plan to write multiple books or create a brand around your writing. With control over your book sales, pricing, and marketing strategy, you are essentially running a small business. Many authors create successful careers and even expand into other business ventures, such as offering consulting, creating courses, or speaking engagements related to their book’s topic.

Does investing in high-quality services impact book sales?

Investing in high-quality services, such as editing, a captivating book cover, and marketing, can positively impact sales. A well-presented book stands out in a competitive publishing industry, increasing its chances of attracting readers and generating positive reviews. Readers tend to view books with high-quality covers and editing as more credible and are more likely to recommend them, boosting sales over time.

Are there specific book publishing costs associated with publishing historical fiction novels?

Publishing historical fiction novels can sometimes entail additional costs, especially if you want to ensure historical accuracy in your content. Some authors may choose to hire researchers or editors with expertise in the genre to help verify details, which can add to the overall publishing budget. Additionally, designing a cover that captures the essence of a historical period may require a specialized designer, potentially increasing the cost. Despite these expenses, a well-researched and visually appealing historical fiction novel can stand out in the market and enhance reader engagement.

Josh Fechter

Josh is the founder and CEO of Squibler. He's authored several best-selling books and created one of the largest communities of writers online.