How Much Does It Cost to Self-Publish a Book?
Uploading a book to Amazon KDP or IngramSpark is free. What costs money is making the book good: Reedsy's August 2026 data, from over 230,000 freelancer quotes, puts a typical professionally produced book at $2,940 to $5,660. Editing is the biggest share, and the right figure for you depends on your word count and what your manuscript still needs.
Typical costs at a glance
For an 80,000-word book, based on Reedsy's marketplace data:
| Service | Typical cost | Needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Developmental editing | $2,880 | If structure, plot or argument need work |
| Copyediting | $2,160 | Recommended for almost every book |
| Proofreading | $1,600 | Recommended as a final check |
| Cover design | $930 median (most $630–$1,200) | Yes |
| Interior formatting | $800 average (most $475–$1,275) | Yes for print |
| ISBNs | $0–$295 | Yes for print; free options exist |
| Uploading to KDP or IngramSpark | $0 | Yes |
| Printing (print on demand) | $0 upfront; deducted per sale | Yes for print |
| Marketing | $60–$1,500 | Optional but recommended |
You rarely need every type of editing. A well-revised manuscript may need only a copyedit and proofread.
Editing: what drives the price
Editors usually charge per word. The Editorial Freelancers Association's 2026 rate survey of more than 1,100 editors found these ranges for fiction:
| Edit type | Per word | 80,000 words |
|---|---|---|
| Line editing | 2.7¢–3.5¢ | $2,160–$2,800 |
| Copyediting | 2.0¢–2.7¢ | $1,600–$2,160 |
| Proofreading | 1.2¢–2.0¢ | $960–$1,600 |
Nonfiction usually costs more per word because of fact-checking, citations and technical terms. Price rises with word count, a tight deadline, and how much the manuscript needs.
Cover design
Reedsy's median is $930, with genre making a big difference: memoir and children's covers average about $740, fantasy about $1,370. A premade or novice-designer cover can cost $300–$500, but the cover is your book's main sales tool, so it's rarely where to save.
Print covers cost more than eBook-only covers because they include the spine and back cover, sized to your page count.
Formatting and interior design
Interior layout averages about $800. Simple text-only novels cost less; books with images, tables or children's picture-book layouts cost more. You'll need separate files for print and eBook.
ISBNs
KDP and IngramSpark (for US authors) give free ISBNs that only work on their own platforms. Buying your own from Bowker costs $125 for one or $295 for ten. Our ISBN guide explains which to choose.
What publishing itself costs
- KDP and IngramSpark: Free to upload and free to revise.
- Print on demand: No upfront printing cost; the printing cost comes out of each sale.
- Author copies: Typically a few dollars each for a black-and-white paperback.
Three example budgets
| Budget | What it covers | Typical total |
|---|---|---|
| Lean | Proofread, premade cover, DIY formatting, free ISBN | $1,300–$2,100 |
| Standard | Copyedit + proofread, custom cover, professional formatting | $3,700–$6,200 |
| Full service | Developmental edit, copyedit, proofread, custom cover, formatting, setup and launch support | $8,000+ |
These totals combine the market figures above for an 80,000-word book. Shorter books cost less.
What we charge
Every manuscript needs something different, so we quote each project individually rather than selling fixed packages. After a free consultation, you get a written scope and a flat quote before any work starts, and you only pay for the services your book actually needs. You keep 100% of your rights and royalties.
How to keep costs down without cutting corners
- Revise before you hire an editor. A cleaner draft needs a lighter, cheaper edit.
- Get a sample edit first. Compare editors on a short sample before committing.
- Decide your formats early. Paperback, hardcover and eBook each need their own files and, in print, their own ISBN.
- Get everything quoted in writing. Itemized quotes make comparison easy and protect you from upsells.
- Be wary of very cheap all-in-one packages. They often cut corners on editing.
Get a quote
Send us your manuscript and we'll reply within 24 hours with a written scope and quote, with no obligation.