Every writer’s wish is to hold their book in their hands, enjoying its velvety pages and bright book cover. To make this dream come true, indie authors can use print-on-demand or traditional printing services.
Today we want to share a list of the 13 best book printing services for self-published authors. You’ll find out the pros and cons of each service, which one is the perfect option just for you, and how much it costs to print a book there.
But first, do you know why it’s an excellent idea to print books as an indie author?
- You’ll stand out from the crowd of self-published authors
- Book bloggers like to show printed books in their reviews, so it can be an extra promotional opportunity for you
- You’ll reach readers who don’t read ebooks.
Thus, indie authors benefit significantly from printed books, so let’s dive into the topic.
Traditional printing vs. Print-on-demand
As an indie author, you usually have two options to issue your books in paper format: traditional printing and printing on-demand. Each has its pros and cons, which we’ll cover in a moment.
Traditional printing
It means that you immediately order and pay for the print run of your books. Choosing such an option, you better be sure of your reader community and its number; otherwise, printed copies can simply lie at home for years. Therefore, traditional printing is not always suitable for aspiring authors who have not yet had the opportunity to assess their prospects. Another option is to avoid printing a significant run at once but to get by with several hundred books. But this can be less beneficial per one copy.
Pros:
- Traditional printing companies boast excellent quality
- It’s cheaper if you order many copies at once
- You can manage many characteristics of your books
Cons:
- There is a risk that you won’t sell all the printed books
- You need to store printed books somewhere.
Print-on-demand
Unlike traditional printing, you don’t have to print any copy at all or order a minimum number of books in this case. Such companies print your book only if someone buys it, for example, on Amazon or other retailer bookstores.
Pros:
- You don’t have to store books
- It helps to test how big is your target audience for the future
- You don’t spend money on printing unsold books
Cons:
- You have fewer book characteristics to choose from
- Quality can be worse.
List of printing services for indie authors
Most printing companies offer both traditional and on-demand printing. At the same time, each service has its requirements for the particular type of printing, which may differ within the same company.
Some companies do not make hardcover books or print illustrations, so pay attention to this. Therefore, list the parameters your book should have before choosing a service. It will help to concentrate on the most suitable companies.
Now, let’s get to the list.
1. IngramSpark
Type: On-demand
Location: Worldwide
Price: You have to pay $49 as an entry fee, no matter what book format you want to choose. IngramSpark will then charge separate payments from your royalties for each printing and distribution unit. This amount depends on the selected printing parameters, for example, trim size, binding type, page count, laminate type, etc.
For: Novelists, scientific and historical writers
Pros:
- The company has access to over 40,000 retailers, and libraries, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble
- It provides high-print quality
- You can order hardcover, paperback, or both
- There is a variety of trim sizes, binding, paper, and color option
- You can manage everything from a single platform and get online sales reports.
Cons:
- IngramSpark works well for novel writers but can be unsuitable for authors who need many pictures in the book. You won’t have an opportunity what the final product will look like.
- You need to pay $25 each time if you want to edit something in your book.
2. Draft2Digital
Type: On-demand
Location: Worldwide
Price: There is no entry fee. You will make about 45% of the list price of your print book minus the base printing cost.
For: Fiction and non-fiction writers
Pros:
- The company creates paperbacks for any books generated through their conversion service
- You can use their free templates to make your paperback look professional
- Draft2Digital lets you choose trim sizes, matte or glossy finish, and cream or white paper.
Cons:
- It lacks paperback distribution. It’s possible but not automatically. You may need to contact physical stores and ask them to order your books.
3. Acutrack
Type: Traditional, On-demand
Location: Worldwide
Price: Cost depends on book format and size. For example, a 6”x9” book with 200 pages, b/w print, and perfect bound can cost $5.85. If you decide to print over 2,000 copies, the price will be $3.25.
For: Fiction and non-fiction writers
Pros:
- The company offers a variety of options for printing your book
- It creates various formats
- You can order from 1 to 1000 copies at a time.
Cons:
- Print runs of less than 50 copies in a month may be less profitable.
4. Amazon KDP
Type: On-demand
Location: Worldwide
Price: Amazon also provides a detailed guide on paperback printing costs based on book parameters.
For: Fiction and non-fiction writers
Pros:
- Amazon gives you a free ISBN with your paperback sale
- You can use their Expanded Distribution Network
- The book is ready within 24-48 hours
- You can print paperback or hardback and choose from five trim sizes.
Cons:
- You will face a lack of control over price points.
5. Lulu
Type: Traditional, On-demand
Location: Worldwide
Price: It depends on book format and size. You can use its pricing calculator to find out print costs.
For: Fiction and non-fiction writers. It is also great for authors who need many illustrations or photos
Pros:
- It offers a wide range of options to print, so you have over 3,000 possible formats, colors, and size combinations
- Lulu prints different formats, even comic books and magazines
Cons:
- High distribution fee in comparison with other printing services (50-60%).
6. BookBaby
Type: Traditional, On-demand
Price: The setup fee is $399. The printing price depends on the book’s format and size.
Location: Worldwide
For: Fiction and non-fiction writers
Pros:
- The company creates high-quality paperback and hardback
- The distribution fee is taken from the setup fee.
Cons:
- You must order twenty-five books before print-on-demand comes into play.
7. Matador
Type: Traditional, On-demand
Location: UK
Price: It depends on the book format and size. One copy on demand starts from £3,48. If you order 100 copies at once, it can cost from £340,00.
For: Fiction and non-fiction writers
Pros:
- It’s a part of Troubador Publishing Ltd, and it has been offering self-publishing services since 1999
- Matador provides excellent quality printed books.
Cons:
- The company accepts books they feel are good from a content point of view that can be subjective
- It suits only UK-based authors.
8. The Book Patch
Type: Traditional, On-demand
Location: Worldwide
Price: It starts from $3.10. You can use its online calculator to find out the printing costs.
For: Fiction and non-fiction writers
Pros:
- There is no minimum number of orders
- The book is ready within 3-5 business days
- The company provides high print quality.
Cons:
- It has a limited number of parameter options.
9. Blurb
Type: Traditional, On-demand
Location: Worldwide
Price: It depends on book format and size, so you can see their detailed guide on pricing on the website.
For: Fiction and non-fiction writers. It is also great for authors who need many illustrations or photos
Pros:
- Blurb prints in different formats, including magazines, notebooks, trade books, etc.
- You can sell your book in its store without a fee or through Amazon, Barnes & Nobles with extra pay
- The platform provides many tools for editing your manuscript before printing.
Cons:
- This service provides limited style options.
10. Trafford
Type: Traditional, On-demand
Location: Worldwide
Price: The company offers various printing packages at different prices. For example, On-demand package starts from $699.
For: Fiction and non-fiction writers
Pros:
- The company has been offering on-demand printing since 1995, and it has served more than 17,000 writers
- Trafford creates high-quality books
- You can set up different parameters for your book.
Cons:
- The packages usually include extra services you may not need but must pay for.
11. Diggy POD
Type: Traditional, On-demand
Price: You can use its book printing quote to estimate the price, as it depends on the book format and size
Location: Worldwide
For: Fiction and non-fiction writers
Pros:
- Your book is ready within 48 hours
- The company provides free shipping for orders of over 100 for USA-based authors.
Cons:
- You need to print at least 24 copies in one order.
12. Espresso Book Machine
Type: Traditional, On-demand
Location: USA
Price: It depends on the book format and size
For: Fiction and non-fiction writers
Pros:
- There is no minimum number of copies in one order
- The company prints on acid-free paper, so your book won’t deteriorate with the time
- You can choose different characteristics of your book.
Cons:
- You need to have a ready PDF file only
- The company doesn’t create hardbacks
- You have to control everything on your own.
13. 48hr Books
Type: Traditional, On-demand
Price: Visit its website to estimate the price using an online calculator. The costs depend on parameters.
Location: Worldwide
For: Fiction and non-fiction writers
Pros:
- They print different formats and provide various book cover options
- Your book is ready within 24-48 hours
- If you order more than 100 books, you get 25 free.
Cons:
- One order must contain at least ten books.
Conclusion
Today, you can easily publish your book in paper format as an indie author. When choosing between traditional and on-demand printing services, focus on your capabilities. If you are an experienced author with a large readership, you may choose traditional printing and order many copies at once. Aspiring authors should stop at print on demand.
And which printing service do you prefer? Tell us about it in the comments.
