List of Print Book Distributors

As a self-published author, finding the right book distributors can be overwhelming. eBook distribution is relatively simple, as almost anyone can list their books on the world's largest retailers. But if you want people to find your title on the shelves of your local bookstore, you need a distributor. And depending on your genre, some might be better for you than others.

Well, we’re here to help! Below, we’ve put together a list of book distributors — some of which are also wholesalers — to help you get your book on the shelves. But first, let’s nail down what a book distributor is and why it might be important in your author journey.

What are book distributors?

Book distributors are companies that pitch and sell books directly to wholesalers, bookstores, libraries, and other retailers through sale representatives and catalogs. If you’re a self-publisher, that means that you don’t need to worry about marketing your book to bookstores — your distributor will do that for you. And depending on whether you're using print-on-demand services or printing in bulk, the wholesaler might also take care of warehousing your title.

In exchange, though, you may need to sign an exclusivity agreement, meaning your distributor is the only one that can sell your books to retailers and can charge a lot for their service (about 55% or more of the book’s cover price).

Note: if you haven't figured out how you're going to print your book yet, check out this post comparing the major print-on-demand services available to indie authors.

Distributors often specialize in a specific market (such as fiction, travel books, or children’s books), which is why it’s important that you do research based on your book’s genre in order to find a distributor that best fits your needs. Some are also more indie-friendly than others — an important factor for self-publishers to take into account, as some distributors may not work with single-title authors.

What is the difference between book distributors and book wholesalers?

You might also see the word “book wholesaler” pop up every so often when you’re doing your research. There is a difference between the two. Book wholesalers also buy books in bulk and store them. However, unlike distributors, they will not market or pitch your title to bookstores. Instead, they simply accept and fulfill requests when bookstores and retailers order titles directly from them.

To get your book onto the shelves, there’s no getting around the need of a middleman between you and the retailers. It’s physically impossible for a self-published author to distribute their book nationwide, much less globally.

Therefore, it’s up to you to figure out what kind of middleman you want. If you deal directly with a distributor, you only need to worry about getting your book in the distributor’s hands. The distributor will then take charge of the actual distribution process. Wholesales, on the other hand, merely stock your book for you. You’ll need to do all the marketing and pitching to bookstores yourself.

How does this affect you?

If you are a self-published author who’s looking to get your book onto the shelf of a bookstore (or maybe even into The Guardian), getting set up with the right distributor is vital. Start off by going to their website and reading their services information. You should be able to get an idea of 1. How the company works and 2. What kind of books they distribute. An ideal match is a distributor that specializes in your particular genre — you will want them to have the appropriate experience marketing and selling your kind of book, after all.

You’ll then need to download and fill out their application — yes, even indie-friendly distributors don’t work with everybody. If you don’t find one on their website, emailing an inquiry is usually the best option. This goes without saying, but read carefully whatever you are required to sign as this will have a direct impact on your royalties.

With that in mind, here’s list of distributors to get you started.

List of Print Book Distributors in the United States

AK Press

Independent publisher and book distributor specializing in radical left and anarchist literature. Specialized genres: Radical left and anarchist literature. Website: https://www.akpress.org/ E-mail: info@akpress.org

Alibris

Premier online marketplace and distributor for independent sellers of new and used books, music, and movies, as well as rare and collectible titles. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: https://www.alibris.com/

Anchor Distributors

Family owned distributor of Christian books and church supplies. Specialized genres: Religious — Christian. Website: https://www.anchordistributors.com/default.aspx E-mail: anchor.customerservice@anchordistributors.com

American West Books

A major, nationwide supplier to warehouse clubs, specialty grocers, and national booksellers. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: https://americanwestbooks.com/ E-mail: Info@AmericanWestBooks.com

Baker & Taylor 

A leading distributor of books, video, and music products to libraries, institutions, and retailers. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: http://btol.com/index.cfm E-mail: btinfo@btol.com

BCH Fulfillment & Distribution

Independent book distributor and fulfillment house focusing on Small Presses, particularly with 10 or fewer titles. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: http://www.bookch.com/home.taf E-mail: customerservice@bookch.com

Bella Distribution

Distribution to independent and chain bookstores for small publishing and bookstore communities. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: http://www.belladistribution.com/index.htm E-mail: info@belladistribution.com

BookBaby

Offers on demand printing and book distribution services. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: https://www.bookbaby.com/book-distribution E-mail: info@bookbaby.com (Learn more about BookBaby here!)

C&B Books Distribution

Supports self-published and first-time authors, specializing in urban authors. Specialized genres: Urban books and African American authors. Website: http://www.cbbooksdistribution.com/home E-mail: cbbookdist@aol.com

Cardinal Publishers Group

National book distributor serving independent presses. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: http://cardinalpub.com/ E-mail: info@cardinalpub.com

Casemate

Major specialist publisher and book distributor specializing in the producing and printing of military books. Specialized genres: Leading publisher of military books but also covers more genres. Website: https://www.casematepublishers.com/ E-mail: casemate@casematepublishers.com

Consortium Books Sales & Distribution

Works with independent publishers as well as academic, library, wholesale and specialist markets. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: https://www.cbsd.com/ E-mail: cbsdinfo@ingramcontent.com

DeVorss & Company

Book publisher and distributor of Metaphysical, Inspirational, Spiritual, Self-Help, and New Thought titles. Specialized genres: Metaphysical, inspirational, spiritual, self-help, and new thought. Website: http://www.devorss.com/ E-mail: service@devorss.com

Diamond Comic Distributors

The world’s largest distributor of English-language comics, graphic novels and pop-culture related merchandise. Specialized genres: Comics, graphic novels, pop-culture. Website: https://www.diamondcomics.com/Home/1/1/3/103 E-mail: newaccounts@diamondcomics.com

Gem Guides Book Company

Book publisher and distributor of books on rocks, minerals, gemstones, fossils, and crystals. Specialized genres: Rocks, minerals, gemstones, fossils, and crystals. Website: http://www.gemguidesbooks.com/ E-mail: info@gemguidesbooks.com

Greenleaf Book Group

A publisher and distributor dedicated to helping independent authors and small presses getting their work published. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: https://greenleafbookgroup.com/ E-mail: contact@greenleafbookgroup.com

Independent Publishers Group

Distributes in the United States for large and small independent publishers and for publishers in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, Spain, Israel, and elsewhere. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: https://www.ipgbook.com/ E-mail: frontdesk@ipgbook.com

Ingram Content Group

The world’s largest distributor of books to online and retail stores, schools, and libraries. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: https://www.ingramcontent.com/ E-mail: online.marketing@ingramcontent.com

IngramSpark

IngramSpark is Ingram’s platform for indie publishers, offering distribution, production, and book assembly. (For more info, read our IngramSpark review.) Specialized genres: Variety. Website: http://ingramspark.com E-mail: ingramsparksupport@ingramcontent.com

Midpoint Trade Books

A full-service book distribution company that represents independent publishers across the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: http://www.midpointtrade.com/ E-mail: orders@midpointtrade.com

National Book Network

An independent, full-service sales, marketing, and distribution company serving book publishers from around the world. Specialized genres: Non-fiction, fiction, and children's titles. Website: http://nbnbooks.com/ E-mail: customercare@nbnbooks.com

New Leaf Distributing

The world's largest wholesale distributor of books, recorded media and sidelines related to the subject areas of Spirituality, Metaphysics, Natural Alternative Wellness, and Conscious Living. Specialized genres: Spiritual, metaphysics, natural alternative wellness, and conscious living. Website: https://newleaf-dist.com/

New Shelves Books

Distribution company that offers their experience to small publishers and self-published authors. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: http://www.newshelves.com/ E-mail: info@newshelves.com

Publishers Group West

One of the top book distribution companies in the world. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: http://www.pgw.com/

Readerlink Distribution Services

The largest full-service distributor of hardcover, trade and paperback books to non-trade channel booksellers in North America. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: http://www.readerlink.net/Default.aspx E-mail: Info@Readerlink.com

SCB Distributors

An independent, full-service distributor to the book trade. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: https://www.scbdistributors.com/index.shtml E-mail: scb@scbdistributors.com

Simon & Schuster

Offers a full range of distribution services to independent publishers, including but not limited to sales, fulfillment, production, and digital support services. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: http://www.simonandschusterpublishing.com/sns-distribution/index.html

Small Press Distribution

Currently the only distributor in the country dedicated exclusively to independently published literature. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: https://www.spdbooks.org/ E-mail:  acquisitions@spdbooks.org

Sunbelt Publications

Publishes and distributes books specializing on the land and its people, natural science, outdoor guides, and cultural histories and regional references of the southwest. Specialized genres: Natural science, outdoor guides, cultural histories, regional references of the southwest. Website: https://sunbeltpublications.com/ E-mail: sunbeltbook@sunbeltpub.com

TAN Books

A traditional Catholic American book distributor and publisher. Specialized genres: Religious — Catholic. Website: https://www.tanbooks.com/ E-mail: CustomerService@TANBooks.com

List of Print Book Distributors in the United Kingdom

Allsorted

Distributor of gift books & stationery in Britain & Ireland. Specialized genres: Gift books. Website: http://www.allsorteduk.com/ E-mail: customerservice@allsorteduk.com

Baker & Taylor

The world’s largest distributor of physical and digital books and value added services. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: http://www.baker-taylor.co.uk/

CBL Distribution Ltd

A book, digital media & strategy guide marketing and distribution company. CBL represents publishers across the United Kingdom & Europe. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: https://www.cbldistributionltd.co.uk/ E-mail: sales@cbldistributionltd.co.uk

CLC Wholesale (CLC International)

An international organization committed to the distribution of the Bible, Christian books and a variety of Christian media. Specialized genres: Religious — Christian. Website: https://clcwholesale.com/index.php?route=common/home E-mail: sales@clcwholesale.com

Combined Book Services Limited

One of the leading independent UK book distributors. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: http://www.combook.co.uk/ E-mail: info@combook.co.uk

Gardners Books

Britain's leading independent book and DVD wholesale distributor of books, eBooks, music and film. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: https://www.gardners.com/ E-mail: sales@gardners.com

Macmillan Distribution

Distributes globally to an extensive mix of UK and overseas customers, including booksellers, wholesalers, institutions and members of the public. Although they tend to deal directly with booksellers, they do receive orders and queries from individuals. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: http://www.macmillandistribution.co.uk/ E-mail: mdlqueries@macmillan.co.uk

Motilal Books

A specialized distributor for all Indian publishers of English language books. Specialized genres: Indian titles (also selling books from Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka & More). Website: https://www.motilalbooks.com/ E-mail: barbara@motilalbooks.com

Publishers Group UK

Offers sales, marketing and distribution services to publishers from the USA, Europe and the UK to all chain and independent booksellers in the UK. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: http://www.pguk.co.uk/ E-mail: info@pguk.co.uk

Oxbow Books

The world's leading publisher, distributor and bookseller in archaeology and the ancient world. Specialized genres: Archeology and the ancient world. Website: https://www.oxbowbooks.com/oxbow/

List of Print Book Distributors in Australia

Brumby Sunstate

A leading wholesaler that supplies books into all States and Territories and specializes in Cooking, Children's, Style and Design, Quirky, Gift, Stationery, Gardening, Health and Mind, Body, Spirit. Specialized genres: Cooking, children's, style and design, quirky, gift, stationery, gardening, health and mind, body, and spirit. Website: https://www.brumbysunstate.com.au/

Dennis Jones & Associates

Represents, distributes and provides consulting advice on publishing for hundreds of Australian publishers and self-published authors, and offers digital publishing and distribution solutions. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: http://www.dennisjones.com.au/distribution.html E-mail: theoffice@dennisjones.com.au

Woodslane

A leading publisher and distributor of technical, business, travel and trade nonfiction books in Australia. Specialized genres: Technical, business, travel and trade nonfiction books. Website: https://www.woodslane.com.au/ E-mail: info@woodslane.com.au

List of Print Book Distributors in Canada

Heritage Group Distribution

A leading Canadian book distributor and is one of Canada's largest independent book suppliers. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: http://www.hgdistribution.com/ E-mail: orders@hgdistribution.com

Publishers Group Canada

An award winning, Canadian-owned book wholesale and distribution company offering full-service Canadian distribution to over 150 independent and specialty publishing houses worldwide. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: http://www.pgcbooks.ca/ E-mail: info@pgcbooks.ca

Raincoast Book Distribution

Full-Service Book Distribution who works with major chains and independents, library, and online retailers. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: http://www.raincoast.com/ E-mail: distribution@raincoast.com

Sandhill Books

Marketing Distribution for Small Press and Independent Publishers. Specialized genres: Variety. Website: https://www.sandhillbooks.com/?q=h E-mail: info@sandhillbooks.com

---

Do you know any other distributors that we missed? Let us know in the comments below!