How Much Does It Cost to Have Books Printed?

Three print shop workers, one male and two females, inspecting softcover books in the bindery department.

estimated reading time: 5 minutes

How much does it Cost to Print a Book?

A wide variety of individuals and organizations rely on book printing services. While the books may serve different purposes - from personal development and education to marketing or storytelling - every book project will trigger the same question at some point: "How much will it cost to print my books?"

The truth of the matter is that when it comes to the cost of having books printed, there isn't a one-size-fits-all answer. This is because the printing costs are dependent upon a variety of factors, which are outlined below.

An employee handbook for Maverick Industrial lying on a gray counter next to a pair of work gloves and safety glasses — *Many businesses have books printed for a variety of organizational needs, such as employee handbooks, operation manuals, annual reports, marketing catalogs, and training guides.*

The Printing Cost Depends on the Book's Specifications

If you walked through the lots of some auto dealerships and compared different vehicles, you would notice the window stickers don't all display the same price. The prices are different because they are based on the unique specifications of each vehicle, such as the make, model, and optional features.

Just like with cars, the cost of custom printed books can vary greatly. Because the specifications of every book project are unique, the price must be calculated on a project-by-project basis.

Having said that, here are the main factors that affect the price of custom printed books…

1. Order Quantity

Like most manufactured products, the order quantity is one of the biggest drivers of cost. Due to the economies of scale, a larger production run of books will yield a much lower unit cost than a smaller production run.

For example, an order for 25 softcover books might cost $10-$20 per book, whereas an order for 2,500 of the same book might only cost $2-$3 per book. The more books you print at one time, the lower the cost per unit.

2. Book Size

The physical dimensions of a book also play a significant role in its production cost. Larger books will naturally require more paper and ink to create, thus incurring more expense for these materials.

In addition, standard book sizes - such as 5.5" x 8.5", 6" x 9," or 8.5" x 11" - are often less expensive to produce than non-standard dimensions. Also, keep in mind that oversized books or unusual formats can increase the cost because they may require specialized production.

3. Page Count

Obviously, the more pages in a book, the more paper and ink it will consume during production. Hence, the unit price of the book goes up incrementally as its page count increases.

For example, a 400-page novel will cost significantly more than a 100-page handbook, even if the width, height, and all other specifications are the same.

4. Binding Style

The binding style is often determined by the page count. The most affordable binding style for books with a low page count is Saddle Stitching. The Saddle Stitch method uses wire staples to secure folded sheets within a folded outer cover.

The most affordable binding style for books with medium to high page counts is Perfect Binding. The Perfect Binding method uses a hot melt glue to secure the book's pages within a wraparound cover. Perfect Binding is extremely popular because it produces a flat spine which can be printed with the book's title, author name(s) and other information.

Punch-and-Bind methods, such as Spiral Coil Binding, Comb Binding, and Wire-O Binding use a plastic or metal spine element that is installed through holes or slots punched along one edge of a book's pages and cover. The spine element joins the book together as a unit but allows the pages to turn freely. Although these Punch-and-Bind methods cost more than both the Saddle-Stitch and Perfect Binding methods, they allow a book to lie perfectly flat and can be used for books with low, medium, or high page counts.

Hardcover binding provides a durable option, but it is the most expensive type of book binding because it requires a more involved fabrication process. The heft of hardcover books also makes them more expensive to ship.

A softcover book entitled WWII The Pacific Theatre lying on a wooden desk next to a pipe in a glass ashtray — You've invested a lot of time creating content for your book, so naturally you want it look great and function well. Professional book printing ensures your hard work is presented in the best possible way.

5. Paper Type

Since each book project is unique, the paper's thickness, sheen level, texture, color, opacity, grain direction, and other attributes are chosen on a project-by-project basis. These characteristics, as well as the availability of the paper, are what determine its cost.

Specialty and premium quality papers can enhance the look and feel of a book but also carry a higher price tag. Also, if your project doesn't require a specific brand of paper, you can use one of your printer's house sheets. A house sheet refers to a frequently used paper type a printing company keeps in stock. Since house sheets are readily available, they are a very cost-effective option.

6. Ink Color(s)

Printing with black ink is far less expensive than printing with colored inks. This is why many individuals and organizations choose to print the interior pages of their books using black ink for the text and grayscale for the images, while using full color printing only on the cover. This combination provides a very professional appearance while keeping the production cost low.

Of course, some books - such as comic books, children's books, magazines, and product catalogs - generally require the use of full color printing throughout.

7. Optional Features

There are many finishing operations available to enhance the look, feel, and/or function of printed books. For example, gloss, matte, and soft touch coatings or laminates are popular options for the cover of books.

Other options used to give books a distinctive look include spot UV, metallic foil stamping, die cutting, and embossing/debossing. Although these enhancements come with an additional cost, they can really elevate the appearance and feel of a book.

Don't be shy about requesting a Book Quote!

Since every book project is unique, requesting a custom quote is really the only way to get an accurate cost for your specific project.

Color Vision is always happy to provide quotes for your book projects. Just give us a call at 800-543-6299 to discuss your needs. Or, if you prefer to communicate online, use our Quote Request form to send us your specifications and we will email a custom quote to you.

Color Vision specializes in books, so we've been printing and binding all types of books and booklets for decades. If you are looking for quality print services at affordable rates, don't hesitate to get in touch.

As always, we hope to hear from you soon and look forward to assisting you!