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Last updated on Apr 08, 2024

How Much Does it Cost to Publish a Book in 2024?

According to Reedsy data, it costs independent authors between $2,820 and $5,360 to publish a book in 2024. This can include everything from editing, book design, and marketing and will vary significantly depending on your genre and word count.   

In this post, we’ll break down the average costs of various book publishing services based on more than 230,000 recent quotes provided by thousands of freelancers on Reedsy. They are some of the world's best and most experienced professionals in the publishing industry, so the quotes reflect this level of quality. 

An infographic breaking down the costs to publish a bookWhile the numbers presented in this post are based on real market data, they are still only indicative of the final price tag, not a guarantee. Ultimately, the best way to determine your book's costs is to send a request to professionals and evaluate their specific offers.

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Editing: $1,900–$4,440

The cost of professional editing for an 80,000-word book ranges between $1,900 and $4,440. The lower end of the price range assumes that you have only had one round of copy editing done, while developmental editing would set you back a bit more. The upper range reflects the cost for a manuscript that undergoes a comprehensive editing process that includes both services.

Pricing calculator

Calculate the average cost of editing services for your genre.

Editorial Assessment

Developmental Editing

Copy Editing

Proofreading

Editing is a critical investment that improves every aspect of your manuscript, including the structure, plot, dialogue, language, tone, grammar, and the overall quality of your writing. By having it professionally edited, you make sure that your work is ready to hit the shelves. 

If you’re not familiar with the different types of editing, here’s a quick breakdown with average prices for an 80,000-word book:

Editing service

Description 

Average Cost

Editorial Assessment

A comprehensive review for early-stage rewrites, providing a report on story, structure, commercial viability, and suggestions to guide your rewrites.

$1,830

Developmental Editing

A nose-to-tail structural edit offering recommendations on characterization, plot, pacing, and craft, including in-line suggestions for authors who've taken their book as far as possible by themselves. 

$2,540

Copy Editing

Detailed sentence-level revisions focusing on prose clarity, eliminating repetition, and correcting inconsistencies to fine-tune the manuscript. 

$1,900

Proofreading

The last step in editing focuses on catching spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors and ensuring consistency.

$1,360

🖋️

What kind of editing does your book need?

“Takes one minute!

It’s strongly recommended that you go through the editing process in this order. It'll save you from having to backtrack and pay more later down the line. If, for example, you decide to get a copy edit, but you discover that you have broader issues and have to rewrite whole sections of text, you will not only have to pay for a developmental edit, but you will also probably have to pay for a second copy edit once the rewrite is done.

Your final costs will also depend on the state of your manuscript — you can expect to pay less if you go through multiple rounds of revisions rather than handing in a super-rough draft. 

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There are two other editing services you may want to consider: 

Indexing: $1,070 on average

If you’re publishing nonfiction, your book must include an index: an alphabetical list of sources, studies, and people you mentioned, referencing the pages where you mentioned them. It’s a laborious, time-consuming process that’s commonly outsourced to a professional. 

Query Letter Review: $250 on average 

If you’re pitching your book to agents, you can increase the chances of getting noticed by having a professional editor assess your query letter, offering advice on its structure, tone, and content to make it more compelling. 

Your genre affects your editing costs

Genres requiring more intensive editing and research usually result in more expensive quotes. 

For example, Historical Fiction requires a strong focus on fact-checking and historical accuracy. Fantasy and Sci-Fi books often require reviewing complex new worlds, magical or political systems, and sometimes invented languages. Plus, they tend to be longer than the average book

Biographies and Memoirs must strike a delicate balance of factual accuracy and engaging storytelling, while Nonfiction books require an editor with expertise in the book's specific subject matter and thorough fact-checking, further contributing to higher per-word editing rates.

Picture books, despite their short length, demand impeccable storytelling and age-appropriate wording, with each sentence undergoing thorough scrutiny. They have the highest cost per word, but overall they cost much less than other genres. For more details, check out our dedicated post on the cost to publish a children’s book.

Q: Apart from the word count, what factors affect how much you quote for an editing project?

Suggested answer

Apart from word count, several factors influence how editors quote for an editing project.


One major consideration is the type of service being requested. For instance, line editing, which focuses on enhancing sentence structure, clarity, flow, and style, requires more detailed attention and time compared to basic proofreading, which is primarily about correcting last grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.


The condition of the manuscript is another key factor; a polished draft may need fewer adjustments, while a manuscript requiring heavy edits will involve more in-depth work. Editors also factor in the number of rounds of edits included in the quote—some projects may require multiple rounds of feedback and refinement, which will impact costs.


Additionally, the turnaround time plays a role, as expedited projects often demand concentrated focus and dedicated scheduling to meet deadlines. Altogether, these variables ensure that quotes are fair, tailored to the project's unique needs, and reflect the scope of work needed.

Eilidh is available to hire on Reedsy

Word count and type of service (developmental edit, editorial assessment, copy edit, proofread) are my only metrics. (I used to also go by genre, but I decided to just streamline my process by sticking to word count and type of service.)

Brett is available to hire on Reedsy

The shape of the manuscript also has a lot to do with the quote. A cleaner manuscript will usually take less time to read and won't require as many suggestions. Stopping to make corrections and/or suggestions is what takes the most time, so this time needed has to factor into the quote.


But word count plays the biggest role in the quote.

Melody is available to hire on Reedsy

Answers provided by professionals available on reedsy.com

Before we continue, a word on traditionally published books…

Traditional publishing isn’t always cost-free

If you plan to traditionally publish your work, you won’t be expected to pay a single dime out of your pocket. In fact, not only do publishers cover all costs to get your book ready to hit the shelves, but they also pay you an advance on royalties. That said, some authors still choose to pay for a few editing or marketing services independent of their publisher. 

Submitting to agents and publishers doesn't require a perfectly edited manuscript — just one with potential. So, if you're confident in your book after several rounds of self-editing and positive feedback from beta readers, you're ready to pitch it! But if you've already faced multiple rejections or still feel unsure about your story, you can consider either an editorial assessment or developmental edit. 

Moreover, If your manuscript is solid but you feel your query letter isn't effective enough, you can have it reviewed by editors and former agents

Back to self-publishing, let's find out what it costs to make your book beautiful inside and out.

Cover design: $860 on average

The average price of a professional book cover design is $860. Over 50% of the cover design collaborations on Reedsy cost between $500 and $1,000. Fantasy and Science Fiction genres tend to be on the higher end, with averages just above $1,000, while Romance and Poetry are usually less expensive, rounding up just above $700.

Example of professional book covers made with Reedsy
Covers by designers on Reedsy. Browse more examples

The range of quotes you may receive from cover designers can vary enormously, depending on a few key factors.

Your designer’s relative experience. A novice book cover designer might charge between $300 and $500 per project. 

The style and complexity of the design. An elaborate illustrated cover (like you might see on a Fantasy novel) would cost more than one that involves working with stock images — if only because of the different skills and time requirements. To find out more about why certain styles cost more, take a look at our guide to cover design.

Q: As a standard, how many concepts and rounds of revisions do you offer in your quote?

Suggested answer

I provide a minimum of three distinct initial concepts, each showcasing a unique design approach. This variety allows the author to explore different creative directions. Occasionally, if inspiration strikes, I may offer additional concepts, but three original designs are always guaranteed to start the process. Once the author selects their preferred concept, we refine it through up to three rounds of revisions, though many projects require only one or two rounds to achieve the final design. If multiple initial concepts resonate, we combine elements—such as typography, color palettes, or layouts—from several designs to create a cohesive and tailored final cover.

Rachel is available to hire on Reedsy

As a standard, my process includes three main stages, each with clear steps and opportunities for feedback and revisions to ensure the final design meets the client’s expectations.

For concepts, I offer three black-and-white thumbnail sketches in the first round. These serve as the foundation for the design, allowing him to select one concept to move forward with. If necessary, he can request revisions during this stage, with up to three revision rounds included. Additional rounds are available for a fee, though most clients are satisfied with the initial sketches.

Once a concept is chosen, we move to the Detailed Sketch Round, where I refine the selected design, adding more clarity and, if relevant, suggesting a color scheme. The client is entitled to two revision rounds at this stage, with extra revisions available for an additional fee. Revisions during this phase should be smaller and align with what was approved in the previous round to avoid production delays.

Finally, during the Final Cover Round, I produce the polished, final version of the design. One last minor revision round is included to ensure all details are perfect.

This structured process allows for clear communication, minimizes unexpected delays, and ensures both the client and I are happy with the final product.


Carl is available to hire on Reedsy

Typically up to three revisions included. However, I want you to REALLY love the end product. Additional revisions are case by case :)

Michael is available to hire on Reedsy

The short answer is two per round.

 

I have several rounds during a project, and before I start each round, I ask for and read through all the authors' notes about what they are looking for. If I've forgotten something that they specifically asked for in the beginning, I won't count that as part of a revision. If the author has changed their mind about something or updated the manuscript in a way that requires changes to the artwork, that will count as a revision. After two revisions, I will do more, but it will be at an additional cost.

I send my clients a PDF of my work process before we start a project. It outlines all the steps/rounds in the project and the revisions allowed in each. It also goes over the additional fee that will be added to the project budget if the revision amount is exceeded. It's important to always be on the same page from the very beginning about this. If an illustrator doesn't mention revisions, it's something I would bring up before starting a project. It's frustrating as an illustrator to have endless revisions without additional pay for extra time spent on the project. It's also frustrating for an author to suddenly be asked to pay more when they weren't aware that was the expectation.

Danika is available to hire on Reedsy

I supply a minimum of 3 different concepts but I often give a few more if the books subject has inspired me or I've come up with more valid designs than the standard 3.

I carry out 3 rounds of revisions to the client's chosen preferred front cover option. Another 3 rounds for the combined back cover and spine. And if I'm commissioned to design the interior, 3 rounds to revise that too.

Wayne is available to hire on Reedsy

I think my method is a little different from most as I offer different rates depending on how much/how often the client wants to potentially make changes/revisions. Sometimes a client is happy for me to describe how I envision each illustration, do very rough sketches (stick-man level!) and then leave me to outlining, painting etc until they get the final image. Other clients want to see the final outlines (second stage); while others may want to be able to make changes even once I've painted (this is usually only clients where the characters in the book are people they know, I've found).


So each rate has a different number of rounds of revisions included. The higher the rate the more rounds of revisions. Most authors go for the mid-rate, which includes revisions at sketch stage, and at final pencil outline stage.

Siski is available to hire on Reedsy

I usually invite the client to give feedback at every stage of the process, thumbnail, sketch and final, ensuring that there's no miscommunication throughout. If there is a situation where the feedback stage becomes drawn out, I limit myself to a maximum of two rounds of revisions before additional fees get added. However, I try to remain flexible when responding to client feedback, with my goal always being to end up with a result the client is happy with. Extra fees are normally only added if the revisions cause serious delays or are outside the scope of what the client is paying for.

Torbjörn is available to hire on Reedsy

For each project, whether it's a book cover or interior illustrations, I provide multiple initial concepts to ensure we capture the right direction for the author's vision. For book covers, this typically includes 2-3 distinct concept designs, while for interior illustrations, I present detailed sketches for each scene or character to be illustrated.


I believe in transparent pricing and clear expectations, which is why I include two rounds of revisions as standard in all my packages. This approach has proven highly effective, as it encourages focused feedback and efficient collaboration. The first revision usually addresses major elements and overall direction, while the second allows for fine-tuning details to achieve the perfect result.


Communication is key throughout this process, which is why I establish clear guidelines and timelines for feedback at the beginning of each project. This structured approach, combined with my included revision rounds, helps ensure both author satisfaction and professional quality while maintaining project momentum.

Sergey is available to hire on Reedsy

Answers provided by professionals available on reedsy.com

The number of book formats you need. While ebooks only require a front cover, print formats require attention to dimensions as well as a spine and back cover design, which can add to the cost. If you are publishing in multiple formats (perhaps even audiobook), you can expect your designer's quotes to increase in line with the additional work required.

Hire an expert

Arjan V.

Available to hire

Easy-going and highly experienced designer / art director with many professional accolades and experience under his belt.

Anna P.

Available to hire

Award-winning book and cover designer, specialising in lifestyle, cooking, art and travel. My style is contemporary, clean and fresh.

Pascale H.

Available to hire

I am a graphic designer, art director and illustrator with decades of experience in designing book covers.

However, the cover isn't the only part of a book that requires design.

Illustrations: $1,540–$4,950

If you’re a children’s writer, you may need to hire an illustrator to bring your words to life. The cost to hire a freelance illustrator for a 24-page children’s book ranges between $1,540 and $4,950. Again, the final quote will depend on the illustrator’s experience, the number and type of illustrations you need and so on, so the best way to figure out the number for yourself is to request an actual quote from a professional. 

Illustration of a cat from Alice’s Adventures in WonderlandThere are other types of books that may require illustrations, such as Fantasy and Middle Grade, which sometimes include interior illustrations to enhance the narrative. This could include worldbuilding maps or some story scenes, like John Tenniel’s drawings in Alice in Wonderland. For Fantasy illustrations, you can expect to pay on average $1,300 while for Middle grade novels around $2,370. 

Book interior design: $550 on average (...or $0)

The interior design of a book, also known as typesetting, can usually be done for free. For any type of book that is primarily words, like a novel, short story collection, or nonfiction title, you can get professional-grade results using the free Reedsy Studio app.

However, if your book requires a lot more specialist formatting — for example, a cookbook or an educational book packed with pictures and graphs — then you may need to invest in a professional book formatter. Around 50% of book interior design projects on Reedsy cost between $275 and $825.

Once your book is all polished up, the next type of cost to consider is printing costs. 

Printing: $0–$295

If you’re going to publish your book independently, you're likely going to use print-on-demand book services that only produce and ship copies when customers buy them. On most of these services, you can list your book for free, while the printing costs and distribution fees are subtracted from your sales revenue, meaning there are no upfront costs involved.

However, there are a few other costs to consider…

ISBN barcode: $0 to $295

Several services, from Amazon to Draft2Digital, will offer you free ISBN barcodes, but if you’re planning to distribute widely on both Amazon and other platforms, and you want to maintain control over your work's distribution rights, we recommend buying your own. The cost for acquiring ISBN numbers independently is $295 for a bundle of 10 (you’ll need different ISBNs for different formats) or $125 for a single ISBN.

Speaking of different formats, you may want to create an audiobook version of your book.  

Audiobooks: $50–$2,000+

The production cost of an audiobook varies depending on the path you choose from the three available options. First, you can hire professional narrators, who typically charge between $200 and $400 per hour and can record about 8,000 words in that timeframe. So, for a manuscript of 80,000 words, the cost would range from $2,000 to $4,000. On platforms like ACX, you can choose not to pay upfront, but split your royalties 50-50 (or negotiate a hybrid solution). 

You could also record the audiobook yourself, though renting the studio and necessary equipment may end up costing you a similar amount. Lastly, for those willing to trade quality for savings, AI narration tools are available for around $50/month.

The next costs to consider are those to promote it. 

Marketing: $60–$1,640

While paying for marketing is optional, and you may opt to do it yourself, without marketing the reach of your book will likely be limited. That's why many authors treat marketing as an investment and hire professionals to maximize their book’s chances of success.

Author website and newsletter: $60–$500/year

One of the cornerstones of book marketing is building your author website and newsletter list so that readers can easily find you and receive direct updates from you. Overall, you should set aside a budget between $60 and $500/year to host and manage an author website and newsletter. The costs vary significantly depending on the services you use and the size of your following. For example, the email provider Mailchimp is free for up to 500 contacts, but it quickly gets expensive once you surpass that. 

Here’s a quick breakdown: 

Service

Examples

Cost/year

Domain host

Namecheap, GoDaddy

$8–$12

Website builder

Wordpress, Squarespace

$48–$300

Email marketing platform

Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign

$0–$300

If you are not tech-savvy and dread the idea of building your website on your own, you can always hire a web designer. On average, the cost to have a web designer create your author website from scratch is around $1,640.

Editorial reviews: $50 

Editorial reviews are a potent word-of-mouth marketing strategy that can help you sell more copies of your book during the launch phase, before readers start reviewing it. Although it's possible to receive these organically, opting to pay for a review before your book's launch can help with making the first sales, as it will give you quotes to put in your blurb, on your sales page, or on your cover (if you do it early enough). On Reedsy Discovery, you can submit your book to hundreds of reviewers for $50.

Targeted digital ads: from $5/day

Digital advertising is one of the few ways indie authors can quickly reach new audiences. If you’re fairly good with ‘the interwebs’, you can learn some of the basics of ad testing with our free courses on Facebook ads (here) and Amazon ads (here). You can test out your potential audience with a $5 daily budget on Facebook and Amazon ads, then scale up your budget once you see some success.

Price promotion slot: $15–$120

You can also run a price promotion to temporarily discount your ebook to drum up some interest. While that’s free to do, you need to make sure people will know about it! For that, you may want to pay for listings on free/discount book sites that alert voracious readers to your promo. The actual cost will vary depending on the size of the promotion site and how competitive your genre is, but it’s usually under $100.

Hiring marketing experts: $700–$1,200

Finally, if you don’t have the patience or time to learn about marketing strategies, or if you really want to invest in your marketing, you can hire a book marketer who can help you with different services. Here are the main ones and their average cost. 

Service

Description

Cost

Marketing Strategy

Receive a comprehensive marketing plan based on the best channels that are likely to work for your project.

$1,200

Advertising

Learn to set up your ad campaigns and how to maintain them.

$1,080

Metadata & Blurb Optimization

Get your book’s metadata, keywords, and product pages optimized.

$770

Email Marketing

Create a mailing list and learn to grow your subscribers.

$700

These services not only help you boost your launch, but they will give you the skills to continue your marketing efforts on your own. Even traditionally published authors often use these services, as publishers often create a minimal marketing plan and then abandon projects that don't sell.

🚨 Be careful: Indie book marketing is a grind. Anyone who offers a ‘magic bullet’ solution that promises you success with no work is likely scamming you.

Other potential book publishing costs

Publishing a book can entail various additional costs, depending on the author’s preferences and needs. For example, you may have more expenses if you register an LLC to manage your business, use proofreading tools like Grammarly or join a course on novel writing to help you finish your manuscript. 

While we won't delve into the granular details of all potential costs to avoid overcomplicating this post, we will touch on some other services authors might need, like book coaching, translation, and ghostwriting. 

Book Coaching: $100–$250/session

Hiring a book coach typically costs between $100 and $250 per hour-long session, though the price varies depending on the type and frequency of the mentoring required. The coach will usually support you in crafting and completing your manuscript, as well as reaching your publishing goals.

Meet writing coaches on Reedsy

Industry insiders can help you hone your craft, finish your draft, and get published.

Learn how Reedsy can help you craft a beautiful book.

Translation costs: $4,980 on average

On average, translating a book of 80,000 words costs $4,980, though the price varies depending on the genre. Picture books, due to their brevity, average around $150 for translation. Meanwhile, genres such as Mystery & Crime, Historical Fiction, and Contemporary Romance can approach the $7,000 mark due to their length.

Book ghostwriting: $6,500–$42,000 for nonfiction books

Finally, if you have a great book idea but don’t want to write it yourself, hiring a ghostwriter is an option. However, be prepared for a significant increase in costs, as ghostwriting is a premium service. Again, your genre will significantly impact your costs. Read our comprehensive posts for a detailed breakdown of the costs of ghostwriting.


That's quite a bit of math to work through! As it turns out, the expense of self-publishing a book really depends on what you're able and willing to spend, alongside your literary ambitions. Publishing your book on a budget is an option, but you can also invest significantly in it to increase its chances of success.

For the last part of this guide to self-publishing, we'll look to the stars and meet some authors who have found great success as indie publishers.

 

RBE | Foxtrot (Format)

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