📚 KDP Book Printing Cost Calculator
Estimate your Amazon KDP paperback & hardcover printing costs by page count, trim size & ink type
| Page Count | Printing Cost (US) | Min List Price | 60% Royalty at Min |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 pages | $1.14 | $1.99 | $0.05 |
| 100 pages | $2.05 | $3.99 | $0.34 |
| 200 pages | $3.25 | $5.99 | $0.33 |
| 300 pages | $4.45 | $7.99 | $0.33 |
| 400 pages | $5.65 | $9.99 | $0.34 |
| 500 pages | $6.85 | $11.99 | $0.34 |
| 600 pages | $8.05 | $13.99 | $0.34 |
| 828 pages (max) | $10.79 | $17.99 | $0.00 |
| Page Count | Std Color Cost | Premium Color Cost | Recommended List Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 pages | $2.53 | $3.73 | $9.99 |
| 50 pages | $4.35 | $6.55 | $14.99 |
| 100 pages | $7.85 | $12.05 | $19.99 |
| 150 pages | $11.35 | $17.55 | $24.99 |
| 200 pages | $14.85 | $23.05 | $29.99 |
| 300 pages | $21.85 | $34.05 | $44.99 |
| Trim Size | Dimensions (in) | Dimensions (cm) | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 x 8 | 5.00 x 8.00 | 12.7 x 20.3 | Fiction / Novel |
| 5.5 x 8.5 | 5.50 x 8.50 | 13.97 x 21.59 | Fiction / Memoir |
| 6 x 9 | 6.00 x 9.00 | 15.24 x 22.86 | Non-fiction / Business |
| 6.14 x 9.21 | 6.14 x 9.21 | 15.60 x 23.39 | Non-fiction (popular) |
| 7 x 10 | 7.00 x 10.00 | 17.78 x 25.40 | Textbooks / Workbooks |
| 8.5 x 8.5 | 8.50 x 8.50 | 21.59 x 21.59 | Children's / Photo |
| 8.5 x 11 | 8.50 x 11.00 | 21.59 x 27.94 | Workbooks / Journals |
| List Price | Printing Cost (200pp B&W) | 60% Royalty | Your Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| $7.99 | $3.25 | $4.79 | $1.54 |
| $9.99 | $3.25 | $5.99 | $2.74 |
| $12.99 | $3.25 | $7.79 | $4.54 |
| $14.99 | $3.25 | $8.99 | $5.74 |
| $17.99 | $3.25 | $10.79 | $7.54 |
| $24.99 | $3.25 | $14.99 | $11.74 |
The cost of printing books depends more on the way than on simply what you order. The size of the print run makes a big difference… Going from 250 to 500 copies not only doubles your total cost.
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Here because the printing benefits from economies of scale so the price per book drops when you order more. Also small details matter. The shape of the book, weight of paper and other specs can change your budget surprisingly.
What Affects the Cost of Printing Books
The reason that the costs per book drop with bigger print runs lies in the fixed costs. Prep work, like checking files, time for layout and needed gear, all must happen regardless of the amount. When you print more books, those prep costs spread across a much bigger print run, which lowers the price for every unit.
For a basic pamphlet, you should expect between $4.50 and $7 per copy before shipping. A book with 187 pages could cost you around $4.20 for printing. If you choose something heavier, for example a 265-page novel with a half-gloss softcover, you probably will pay close to $4.75 per copy.
A book with 500 pages becomes more expsnsive. With laser printing, coated cover and perfect binding, you will look at roughly $17 to $19 per unit.
Add to that the costs of shipping. For small print runs of 1 to 49 books, expect $9.95 for the delivery service plus $1.20 per book. The British shipping usually costs around £1 per book.
Full printing for a thousand books could cost you from $5,650 at the low end to $8,000 or even $9,000 depending on the specs. Even so, those prices count only for one commercial season, so when you truly order things.
Pamphlets work best if you stay in the bottom range of pages; from 4 to 96 pages. They ideally fit four programs, workbooks, guides or catalogues. Because they use staple binding and fewer materials than softcover books, they truly work for cost, whether for big amounts or for fast delivery.
Standard price for a pamphlet usually covers full-color cover on 10pt coated paper, printed on both sides with bright coating. The typical size for many printers is 5.5 by 8.5 inches with 80 pages inside, all black ink on normal white 50-pound paper.
Want total costs? Bulk pricing works well if you are ready to follow this way. Making titles non-returnable helps also, because returns eat the profit.
There are many reliable online printers for books that focus on small print runs. Print-on-demand options, where the costs come directly from royalties. Also there are free print calculators online that let you compare formats, sizes, papertypes and page counts, to exactly count the printing and shipping costs.
