How To Print Your Own Book in 2025: Complete Guide

Dreaming of writing a book? While you might picture your manuscript being scooped up by a big publishing house like Penguin Random House or Simon & Schuster, the reality is you’ll need an agent to get your work in front of those publishers—and they accept only a tiny fraction of the manuscripts they receive.

Self-publishing is a powerful alternative for getting your story into readers’ hands, and it’s more accessible than ever. 

Self-publishing success stories are no longer rare exceptions. Colleen Hoover started as an indie author before signing with a traditional publisher, and has now sold more than 35 million books globally.And authors like Sarah J. Maas, Freida McFadden, and others built audiences through self-publishing are bestselling names.

Ready to take control of your publishing journey? Here’s how to bypass the gatekeepers and print your own book on your own terms.

How to choose a printer for your book

Before browsing the list of self-publishing services, learn what to look for when selecting a publishing partner.

Research book printing options

Research means more than scanning a few price lists. It can get tricky because not all book printers disclose specs like ink types, machine capabilities, or environmental certifications.

Do your best to consider criteria like:

• Types of printing: Offset printing uses metal plates for high-volume runs, while digital printing works like a computer printer for smaller orders.
• Print methods: Print-on-demand services create books only when ordered. Bulk printing produces large quantities at once for a lower per-unit cost.
• Specializations: Different printers specialize in books like cookbooks, art books, or textbooks.
• Location: Local printers offer quick access and easy communication but cost more, while overseas printers provide lower prices but involve longer wait times and complex shipping.

One way to approach this step is by asking fellow authors. A printer might claim they are the best, but first-hand testimonials will tell a truer story. Work with a company with a known, reliable track record for your book format type or genre.

Evaluate print quality

Print quality isn’t just about how pretty the pages look. Top quality book printing services cover elements like:

• Paper stock: Thickness, finish, and sustainability certifications (e.g., FSC).
• Ink and color consistency: Checking proofs to see if colors are accurate and consistent throughout the run.
• Binding: Durability, spine alignment, and overall construction.

You also need to know what top quality means for you. If you’re printing a children’s book, tear-resistance and child-safe inks might matter as much as color vibrancy.

Even if your test copy looks perfect, printing quality can vary across your order, especially if the printer needs to adjust its machines during printing. Multiple proofs or references from past clients could be more telling than a single, possibly “cherry-picked,” sample.

Cost considerations

Look beyond the price per unit. A straightforward quote comparison is not enough. Some printers can lure you in with low base prices, then tack on extra charges.

Printer A’s base cost might be lower, but if shipping or set-up fees are higher, the final bill could exceed Printer B’s quote. The cheapest quote may also have potential trade-offs like lower print quality and missing deadlines.

When reviewing custom book printing costs, consider:

• Base printing costs, setup fees, shipping, taxes, or tariffs (if printing abroad)
• The possibility of bulk discounts
• Any hidden costs like rush fees, proofing costs, or file conversion fees

Turnaround time

Turnaround time is how quickly the printer can complete and deliver your books.

Custom book printing turnaround time includes:

• Production time: Printing, binding, and packaging.
• Shipping and logistics: Customers or port delays can affect international shipments.
• Seasonal fluctuations: Some printers might have longer wait times during peak publishing season (generally September to November).

You might assume that speed is everything. However, rushing a job can lead to higher fees or mistakes. Regardless, always build in buffer time, because printers can rarely guarantee 100% on-time performance.

Customer service and support

In custom book printing, customer support refers to communication and guidance. You want to work with a partner that responds quickly to questions and clarifies requirements. It’s also nice if they help with file formatting, cover design, and effects like foil stamping and embossing.

It’s hard to determine the level of support you’ll get upfront. Review sites often show only the most extreme cases, good or bad. To get a clearer understanding of your options, check references from trusted industry sources about your potential printers as well.

6 websites to help print your own book

Choosing a company to help you self-publish involves many factors. Here’s an overview of the top book printing services that can help you produce a high-quality book.

*Comparison cost is per individual book for:

• 200 Pages
• 6-inch by 9-inch size
• Black and white ink
• Paperback
• 50-pound white paper

Pro tip: Most websites provide a printing discount for bulk orders of more than 50 paperbacks. 

1. IngramSpark

Established in 2013, IngramSpark promises high-quality books indistinguishable from traditionally published ones.

IngramSpark offers:

Consider your primary sales channels when choosing between IngramSpark and KDP:

• IngramSpark offers better royalty rates for books sold through its distribution network of bookstores and other sellers.
• KDP provides higher royalty rates for books sold on Amazon.

2. Lulu

Lulu stands out with its extensive options in custom book printing services and a Shopify integration.

Lulu’s book printing services offer:

• More than 3,000 book format options
• Templates or fully custom designs
• On-demand printing or bulk order discounts
• A price calculator to determine per-book costs
• Distribution through the Lulu Bookstore, online retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and your own website

While Lulu may offer lower earnings from external marketplace and bookstore sales compared to KDP and IngramSpark, it provides unique advantages like:

• Ability to publish coil-bound and saddle-stitched books
• Seamless integration for selling directly through your website

3. Blurb

Blurb is a woman-founded service that offers a range of tools and services for both novice and experienced creators.

Blurb’s services include:

• A free, user-friendly book design software (BookWright) with customizable templates and layout suggestions
• Plug-ins for Adobe InDesign and Lightroom Classic
• Access to Ingram’s global retail network, including more than 39,000 retailers like Barnes & Noble
• A variety of book format options, including photo books, trade books, magazines, and notebooks

When you order 10 or more copies of your book from Blurb, you get a discount. For very large orders of more than 750 copies, Blurb can use a different printing method called offset printing, which saves you more money.

Since acquiring MagCloud in 2014, Blurb can also help folks make and share magazines to print or read online.

4. BookBaby

Originally inspired in 2009 by indie music distributor CD Baby, BookBaby offers support for every stage of the book printing process.

BookBaby’s book printing services provide:

• Line editing, copy editing, and proofreading
• Professional cover design and interior formatting
• Design services for print and ebooks
• Print-on-demand services (no bulk buying or inventory management)
• Global distribution through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and the Ingram Network
• Advertising to help readers find your book

You need to pay BookBaby before it starts any editing or book design work, which can cost a bit at first. But after paying distribution fees, BookBaby lets authors keep all their sales money, unlike other companies that take a cut of each sale.

5. Barnes and Noble Press

B&N Press lets authors publish print and digital books through Barnes & Noble’s online store.

You can make ebooks, paperbacks, and hardcover books with dust jackets or printed covers. Books can be printed in color or black and white, and their page count must be between 18 and 800 pages long.

B&N Press also offers:

• Distribution through www.barnesandnoble.com, the B&N app, and NOOK e-reader devices
• 70% of each ebook sale when priced at 99¢ or higher
• Extra services like editing, cover design, and marketing
• B&N Press is available to authors in select countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Ireland. Print books can only ship within the United States.

6. Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)

Launched in 2007 alongside the Kindle e-reader, KDP is a self-publishing platform for both digital and print books.

KDP’s beginner-friendly offerings include:

• A useful cover creator tool
• Print-on-demand services
• Instant access to Amazon and Kindle’s marketplace (in exchange for a percentage of your book’s sale price)
• Free publishing (printing fees are deducted from royalties upon sale)

Royalty percentages vary based on book type (ebook, hardcover, or paperback) and whether you choose to sell exclusively with Amazon.

Examples of royalty percentages include:

• Paperback sold exclusively on Amazon: 60% royalty
• “Expanded Distribution” plan (available to bookstores and other booksellers): 40% royalty for non-Amazon sales
• Option to bulk order at print cost and sell on your own (upfront payment and self-managed shipping required): No royalty payments, but you keep all profits after upfront print costs

KDP is ideal for authors focusing on Amazon sales, but consider other options if you’re targeting bookstores or your own website with a print-on-demand model.

What does it cost to print your own book?

The cost of printing your book depends on several factors:

• Page count
• Trim size (the height and width of you book)
• Binding style
• Cover type
• Paper quality
• Black-and-white or color ink
• Print run (how many books are printed at one time)

Print-on-demand costs per copy

The cost to print a book depends on its length, format, and finish. A short black-and-white paperback under 108 pages can cost as little as $2.30 per copy on KDP. At the other end of the spectrum, an 8.5-inch by 11-inch 100-page photo book with a hardcover, premium color, and the highest quality paper costs $29.69 on Lulu. Your choices around trim size, binding, and paper quality make a big difference in cost per unit.

Print-on-demand also makes it possible to order just one copy. It’s perfect for printing a thesis, a family history, or even a hobby project like a poetry chapbook or cookbook. While the per-unit cost is higher for a single copy than for bulk orders, it’s a low-risk way to see your work in print without committing to large quantities.

Bulk printing vs. single copy pricing

Some platforms offer discounts for bulk orders, so you can save money by ordering a larger quantity at once.

For example, Blurb offers 10% off when you order 10 or more copies. IngramSpark reduces per-unit costs by 2% when you order 100 or more copies and 5% for 300 or more copies. 

If you plan to sell at events, through your own website, or to local bookstores, bulk printing can bring your unit cost down significantly compared to single print-on-demand orders. It’s worth running the numbers with each platform’s calculator to see how your margins improve at different order sizes.

Hidden costs of self-publishing

Keep in mind that beyond initial publishing costs, there may be additional expenses when selling your book. For instance, if you self-publish a paperback with KDP and sell it on Amazon, your royalties will be 60% of the sale price, minus the printing cost. You’ll also have to shoulder any marketing or promotional costs yourself.

9 steps to print your own book

Congratulations on finishing your book! While the hardest part might be behind you, there are still a few critical steps to bring your creation to life.

Let’s walk through the book printing process in nine straightforward steps.

1. Decide on a book printing method

There are two main book printing methods for self-publishing authors: offset printing and digital printing.

Offset printing is for making many books at once (hundreds or thousands). This type of book printing process initially costs more to set up, but it makes the cost of each book cheaper when you print lots of them. The quality is typically very good.

Digital printing (or print-on-demand) lets you print books one at a time, only when someone orders them. This is cheaper to start with and you don’t need to store your books.

2. Select a book trim size and format

Your book needs a size and style. Most books, like novels, use standard sizes (5.5 inches by 8.5 inches or six inches by nine inches). Art books or children’s books are often bigger or use more irregular sizing conventions.

You can make your book hardcover or paperback. Hardcovers look fancy and last longer but cost more. Paperback books are cheaper and lighter to carry.

For the cover finish, you can pick glossy (shiny) or matte (smooth). Glossy works well for bright artwork, while matte finish gives a modern look.

3. Pick your binding style

Your binding style affects your book’s appearance, durability, and cost. Consider your book’s length when considering binding options.

Here are the most common types of binding options:

• Perfect-bound bindings: Found on most commercially published paperback books, featuring a flat glued spine.
• Case-wrap bindings: Used for hardcover books, with pages sewn or glued together and protected by a hard outer shell. This is the most durable option.
• Saddle-stitch bindings: Ideal for smaller books, where pages are stacked, stapled down the center, then folded. This is a cost-effective method.
• Coil-bound bindings: Allow books to lie flat when open, making them great for reports, presentations, and cookbooks. Book pages are hole-punched and bound with a metal or plastic spiral binding.

4. Consider paper types and ink options

Keep in mind most printers charge extra for internal color printing. You’ll likely have a choice of paper types, available in various weights and finishes.

If you’re unsure which to choose, consider industry standards as guidelines. For novels, standard black-and-white pages are reader-friendly and cost-effective. For photo books or graphic novels, opt for heavier paper and color printing to showcase your artwork.

5. Choose your typeset

Experiment with different options to ensure your custom book pages are easy to read. Reference similar books or guides for ideas, or check the front and back matter of your favorite commercially published books, as they sometimes note the typeface used.

Keep these best practices in mind:

• Font: Most books use a serif font (like Times New Roman) for body text, as the tiny decorative lines can enhance readability. Sans-serif fonts (like Helvetica) can add a modern touch and work well for headings.
• Letter and line spacing: Adequate spacing between letters (tracking) and lines (leading) improves readability, but too much spacing can increase your page count unnecessarily.
• Margins: Standardize your margins, and ensure your text doesn’t appear cramped on the page.
• Justification: Many novels use fully justified text for body copy. Consider using center-justified text for elements like chapter headings and captions.

6. Design your book cover

Don’t judge a book by its cover? In reality, potential readers often do. Your cover should be eye-catching and convey the book’s purpose and tone. If your budget allows, consider hiring a professional graphic designer to create a high-quality book cover that aligns with your genre and stands out from competition.

7. Prepare your files

To make your book look good, you’ll need to format it correctly. Use a program like Adobe InDesign or Microsoft Word to create your book, then save it as a PDF.

Leave enough space around the margins so nothing gets cut off when printing. If you have pictures, they should be high quality images (300 dpi) to look clear when printed.

8. Select an ISBN

Before printing, consider your book’s ISBN (International Standard Book Number). Publishers like Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and IngramSpark offer free ISBNs, but using these limits your book to their distribution networks.

For example, if you use a KDP-assigned ISBN, that version of your book is restricted to KDP’s distribution channels. Buying your own ISBN allows you to print the same version with multiple publishers, potentially giving you access to a wider range of marketplaces. However, even with a free ISBN, you retain the intellectual property rights to your book.

9. Review your proof

Always order a test copy of your book before printing more or selling it online.

Check that everything looks right: The colors should be accurate, the paper should feel good, and all the text should be in the right place.

Make sure the cover looks perfect too. The front, spine, and back should all line up properly.

Understanding the different types of book printing techniques

There’s more than one way to bring your book to life. Each printing technique comes with its own strengths, costs, and best-fit scenarios, from centuries-old letterpress to modern print on demand. 

Here’s a breakdown of the most common options so you can decide which one works best for your project.

Letterpress printing

Letterpress is an old way of printing that started in the 1400s. It works by pressing raised letters and designs into paper, leaving a mark you can feel with your fingers.

People mostly use letterpress for special projects because it has a handmade, artistic look. It’s popular for wedding invitations, poetry chapbooks, and other types of fancy books or stationery, because each print has a unique, textured feel. The downside of letterpress is that its process takes longer and costs more than modern printing methods.

Some key things to know about letterpress printing:

• You can feel the print with your fingers because it makes small indents in the paper.
• It’s done by hand on special printing presses, often using old equipment.
• It works best with simple designs and just one or two colors.
• Each print takes time to make, so it’s usually saved for special projects.

Offset lithography

Offset printing is a modern way of printing that’s great for making lots of copies. It’s called “offset” because the ink doesn’t go straight onto the paper. It first goes into a rubber sheet and then onto the paper.

The process uses water and oil-based ink. They naturally push away from each other, which helps keep the printing clean and precise.

This type of book printing is best when you need:

• Large quantities (like books or magazines)
• Very clear, colorful, high-quality images (like for graphic novels or photo books)
• Professional-looking results

The main drawback of offset printing is that it’s expensive to get started. You have to make special metal plates first. But once everything is set up, it’s cheaper per page than most other types of printing. That’s why it’s used for magazines, textbooks, and catalogs where you need thousands of copies.

Digital printing

Digital printing is a newer way to print. It doesn’t use metal plates or stamps. Books are printed directly from a computer file.

There are two main types of digital printing:

• Laser printing, which uses a powder called toner. It’s faster and better for text-heavy documents.
• Inkjet printing, which sprays tiny dots of ink. It’s ideal for photos and color accuracy, but takes time to dry.

Digital printing is perfect when you:

• Need something printed quickly
• Only want a small number of copies
• Want to personalize each copy

The downside is that digital printing gets expensive if you need lots of copies. It’s also not quite as precise with colors as other printing methods. 

But for most regular printing jobs, like books, brochures, or business materials, it works great. That’s why it’s popular with self-published authors and businesses needing quick, small-print batches.

Print-on-demand

Print-on-demand (POD) book services are popular for authors and small publishers. Instead of printing hundreds or thousands of books at once and storing them in a warehouse, a POD service prints and dropships the book when someone orders it.

Here’s how POD book services work:

1. You upload your book file to a service like IngramSpark.
2. When someone orders your book, it gets printed and shipped directly to them.
3. You don’t have to handle any book printing, storage, or shipping yourself, which saves you tons of time and money compared to other bookselling methods.

With POD services, authors can publish books and sell them worldwide without spending thousands of dollars upfront or worrying about making room for inventory storage.

How to sell books in your own ecommerce store

Congratulations! You’ve crafted the perfect book, from font selection to cover design. Now it’s time to sell your book online.

While tapping into new audiences through distributors like Barnes & Noble is valuable, don’t overlook the power of selling through your own website.

An online store helps you establish brand ownership and build community around your work. Plus, you get full control over the buying experience, from product presentation to customer service.

Example of indie book ecommerce store

See how Morgana Best sells her paranormal cozy mysteries online.

From the moment you land on her website, a striking illustration of a black cat with glowing eyes against a moonlit backdrop sets the paranormal mood. This same imagery carries through her logo and branding. It’s clear—if you’re looking for witchy mysteries, you’re in the right place.

Want an ebook? Audiobook? Large print? Each format has its own section on Morgana’s website—a smart move for reaching different reader preferences. 

When selling in your own store, you keep a larger portion of each sale compared to traditional distribution channels. You can bundle books with exclusive experiences, source complementary products from other brands, or create fun promotion packages you couldn’t through major retailers.

Once your book is available on your website, develop a strategy to promote it online.

Consider these marketing tactics:

By combining the reach of major distributors with the control of your own ecommerce store, you can maximize your book’s potential and build a direct relationship with your readers.

Create reader loyalty programs

Loyalty programs aren’t just for major retail brands. They can work effectively for authors too. By rewarding readers for repeat purchases, reviews, or referrals, you encourage them to return for your next release and spread the word about your books.

With Shopify apps like Smile and Yotpo, you can:

• Offer points for purchases that readers can redeem for discounts on future books
• Reward referrals when readers recommend your work to friends who makes purchases
• Provide early access or exclusive content to your most loyal fans, like bonus chapters or signed copies of your book

A simple loyalty program helps turn one-time buyers into long-term supporters.

Common mistakes to avoid when printing your own book

Here are the most common pitfalls that trip up first-time (and even seasoned) self-publishers. They’re easy to miss and expensive to fix—think odd trim sizes, missing ISBNs, or files that don’t meet printer specs. 

Use the checklist below to avoid reprints, protect your budget, and ship a book that looks professional from day one.

Choosing the wrong trim size

Picking the wrong trim size for your book can be costly. Standard sizes are cheaper and look more professional.

For example, a novel usually works best at 5.5 by 8.5 inches, while A4 photobooks might be 11.69 by 8.27 inches. Using odd sizes can increase your book printing costs and make your book look awkward on a shelf.

Overlooking the importance of ISBNs

An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is important for selling your book. It’s how bookstores and libraries track and order it.

New authors sometimes skip getting their own ISBN, which can limit where they can sell their book. While some services offer free ISBNs, owning your own gives you more control and makes your book look more professionally appealing.

Ignoring printing specifications

Printers need specific file setups to print your book correctly. Things like margins, paper type, and file format must match their requirements exactly. Taking time to understand and follow these specifications will save you from printing problems later and help you build stronger relationships with printers.

Underestimating printing costs

Printing a book involves more than just the basic printing cost. Don’t forget about editing, cover design, shipping, and marketing costs. Many authors get surprised when these extra costs add up. Budget at least 20% extra for unexpected expenses.

Failing to review proof copies thoroughly

This is like sending an email without proofreading, except much more expensive. Always order a proof copy and check everything: the cover, every page, the spine text, and even how the book feels in your hands.

Take your time with this step. It’s your last chance to catch errors before your book goes public.