Print-on-Demand Books: A Guide to POD Services (2026)

You don’t need a publishing contract or professional writing experience to publish a book. Print-on-demand services let you go from finished manuscript to live listing without buying inventory upfront or managing storage.

The global print-on-demand book market reached $6.8 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to $15.5 billion by 2033, according to DataIntelo.

This guide covers the most popular print-on-demand book services, including production times, publishing options, and additional services to help you choose the right platform.

What is print-on-demand book publishing?

Print-on-demand book printing services produce a copy of your book only after an order is received. That means titles can remain available without maintaining physical inventory. By applying your design software skills to your manuscript, you can produce books formatted for commercial printing and sell them on a marketplace or your own website. 

It’s a useful method for self-published print books, which are fueling growth in the publishing industry alongside their ebook counterparts. In 2025, the total number of books published with ISBN numbers in the US jumped 32.5% from 2024 to more than four million books, according to Publishers Weekly. More than 3.5 million of these titles were self-published, a growth of 38.7% year-over-year.

POD is one of two main book production methods. The other is offset printing, used for high-volume runs of hundreds or thousands of copies. With POD, books are printed when someone buys one, so there’s no unsold inventory held in storage. Any errors can be fixed later by uploading a new file. 

The trade-off is a higher cost per book. A 200-page book might carry a print cost of $3.40 on a $14.99 Amazon listing, which leaves roughly $5.59 per sale after printing and marketplace fees. 

Offset printing lowers unit costs at runs of 500 or more and opens up additional production options like specialty inks, foil covers, or sewn binding, but requires paying for a full stock of books upfront and taking on storage and fulfillment.

How print-on-demand book publishing works

Print-on-demand book publishing follows three steps:

1. Create your book. Write and format your manuscript, then design a cover using standard file types like PDF or EPUB. You can hire a designer or use templates built into platforms like Canva or Adobe InDesign.
2. Upload to a POD platform. Submit your files, set your retail price, and choose your sales channels: your own store, a marketplace, or both. Most platforms include a preview tool for checking formatting before your book goes live.
3. Sell and fulfill automatically. When a customer orders, the platform prints and ships the book directly to them. You don’t handle inventory, packaging, or postage.

Top print-on-demand book services compared

When choosing a print-on-demand publisher, cost is among the most important factors. “Some platforms have higher printing costs, which eat into your profit margin,” says Shaun Quarton, a writer who has sold about 1.2 million copies of books in different formats.

You also want to consider usability and how these platforms can help you market your book. “You want a dashboard that makes it easy to upload, format, and preview your books,” Shaun adds. “Many platforms also offer native marketing tools, which can be really helpful when you’re launching your first title and not sure where to start with promotion.”

Explore this list of top book printing services to choose an option that fits your self-publishing needs:

1. Lulu Direct

Lulu Direct is a print-on-demand self-publishing service with multiple book formats, including hardcover and paperback. It can also print black-and-white and color prints using various paper types. Binding options include perfect bound, coil, saddle stitch, hardcover case wrap, and hardcover linen with dust jacket.

Content marketer Braveen Kumar chose Lulu Direct to self-publish his poetry because of the platform’s profit margins. His book, which he sold for $20, cost $3 to print and $9 to ship.

Using Lulu Direct also let Braveen sell his book on his Shopify store, supporting his goal of building a brand and selling other products. By connecting his store to Instagram, he could tag his book in posts and give customers the option to buy while browsing social media.

• Who it’s for: Authors who want to sell directly on their websites.
• Production time: Three to five business days.
• Royalties: 100% of profits.
• Available formats: Hardcover, paperback, comic book, magazine, ebook.
• Binding options: Perfect bound, coil bound, saddle stitch, case wrap, linen wrap.
• Price per 200-page paperback: About $6.99 for a US trade paperback, perfect bound, black-and-white interior. Varies by specs. Use Lulu’s pricing calculator.

2. BookBaby

BookBaby offers black-and-white and full-color printing for both paperback and hardcover books, plus ebook publishing.

It’s one of the few POD platforms that can also turn your manuscript into an audiobook narrated by AI voices, a professional voice actor, or your own recording. Digital audio revenues reached $1 billion in 2025, up 2.1% year-over-year, according to the Association of American Publishers.

You can sell through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, wholesale distributors, and BookBaby’s own online shop. BookBaby also provides editing services, including line editing, proofreading, and synopsis writing.

• Who it’s for: Authors who want to sell print and audiobooks.
• Production time: Two to five business days.
• Royalties: 100% of profits on self-distributed sales. The BookBaby Bookshop distribution plan costs $199 and includes 50% royalties. The Global Distribution plan costs $399 and covers Amazon, Powell’s, Barnes & Noble, and more. You keep net sales after printing and shipping fees.
• Available formats: Paperback, hardback, ebook, audiobook.
• Binding options: Perfect bound, adhesive case wrap, dust jacket.
• Price per 200-page paperback: Around $12.27 per unit for 25 standard softcover books with perfect binding and natural paper stock.

3. IngramSpark

A key feature of IngramSpark is its distribution network. It connects with more than 45,000 independent bookstores, chain stores, and libraries to expand retail and library distribution.

“One key benefit of Ingram is access to brick-and-mortar stores, as many of them order through Ingram’s catalog,” Shaun says. “If you’re looking to expand beyond online sales, IngramSpark can help you add a new revenue stream.”

• Who it’s for: Authors who want to sell to brick-and-mortar stores.
• Production time: Three to five business days for paperback; seven to 10 business days for hardcover.
• Royalties: 100% of profits. If you use Ingram Spark’s distribution network, you’ll pay a market access fee of 1% of the local list price at the time of sale.
• Available formats: Paperback, hardcover (with dust jacket), ebook.
• Binding options: Perfect bound, case laminate, with or without a dust jacket.
• Price per 200-page paperback: Printing and shipping costs vary by factors like trim size, materials, quantity, and shipping location. A standard-size 200-page paperback costs $4.25 to print up to 99 copies, with discounted rates for higher quantities. Use IngramSpark’s pricing page.

4. Blurb

Blurb has a dedicated print-on-demand service with a wide selection of paper types and its own design software, BookWright, to help you lay out your book to meet bookseller standards. Photo books, trade books, and magazines are among the available formats, each tailored for different types of content. 

Blurb’s Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop integrations make it suitable for photo books and visual projects alongside text-heavy trade books. If you plan to sell to a wider audience, Blurb’s integrated bookstore and network of thousands of retailers lets them order and stock your books directly. While there’s no dedicated Shopify app, you can direct customers from your Shopify store to Blurb to place an order.

• Who it’s for: Authors and visual creators who want templates and Adobe integration.
• Production time: Five business days.
• Royalties: 100% of profits. No distribution fees when selling in the Blurb Bookstore.
• Available formats: Trade book, magazine, notebook, photo book, ebook.
• Binding options: Perfect bound.
• Price per 200-page paperback: A six-inch by nine-inch black-and-white trade book starts at $13.03; the color option starts at $15.55. Volume discounts apply.

5. Kindle Direct Publishing

If you plan to sell primarily through Amazon, Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) provides digital and print publishing with direct access to Amazon’s Kindle store. KDP is the largest self-publishing service in the world, with more than one million authors publishing through the platform.

“Most of your book sales will likely come through Amazon,” Shaun says. “They offer better royalty rates if you sell exclusively through them via KDP Select,” which is a 90-day program that requires separate enrollment.

Listing titles is free, with printing costs deducted from royalties on each sale rather than charged upfront—a lower barrier to entry than platforms that charge per unit regardless of sales. 

The trade-off is reach: KDP Select’s exclusivity requirement means your ebook can’t be listed on other platforms for the duration of each enrollment period. KDP doesn’t support magazines, periodicals, or spiral-bound notebooks either, but you can convert existing books into Amazon ebooks or paperbacks for additional visibility.

• Who it’s for: Authors primarily interested in selling ebooks through Amazon.
• Production time: Varies based on book type.
• Royalties: 60%.
• Available formats: Paperback, hardcover, ebook, ebook series.
• Binding options: Perfect bound.
• Price per 200-page paperback: $1 for regular trim sizes.

6. Bookvault

Bookvault is a United Kingdom–based print-on-demand book publisher that connects to your Shopify store. It also has its own store, The Great British Bookshop. Bookvault users who want to sell on The Great British Bookshop can retain up to 90% royalties.

UK authors can use BookvaultBespoke to add special features, like gold foiling and ribbon bookmarks.

• Who it’s for: Authors in the UK, the US, Canada, and Australia who want to sell through their own store or The Great British Bookshop.
• Production time: Five to seven business days.
• Royalties: 100% profits on self-distributed sales.
• Available formats: Paperback, hardcover.
• Binding options: Perfect bound, saddle stitch, case bound, wire bound, spiral bound.
• Price per 200-page paperback: £19.95 upfront fee, then $4.01 per book to print in the US.

7. Barnes & Noble Press

Barnes & Noble Press (B&N Press) is a free print-on-demand and ebook self-publishing platform that makes titles available to Barnes & Noble’s retail audience. Ebooks earn a flat 70% royalty on list price, with no stated exclusivity requirement or additional platform fee in this context. Print books are available as paperback or hardcover, with interiors and covers printed in color, standard color, or black and white.

Publishing through B&N Press doesn’t automatically place your book in Barnes & Noble stores, though authors can apply separately for in-store placement. B&N Press doesn’t support audiobooks, magazines, or periodicals.

• Who it’s for: Authors who want to reach Barnes & Noble readers without exclusivity restrictions.
• Production time: Ebooks go live within 72 hours of approval; print books within 96 hours.
• Royalties: 70% on ebook list price. Print book royalties range from 55% to 65% depending on price and printing method.
• Available formats: Paperback, hardcover, ebook.
• Binding options: Perfect bound.
• Price per 200-page paperback: Users must establish an account with B&N before using their calculator tool. 

Popular types of print-on-demand books

POD works across a wide range of book formats. Some rely on standard text layouts; others require precise color management or custom interior design:

• Fiction. Adult fiction is the most published traditional category, with nearly 40,000 titles released in 2025, according to Publishers Weekly. Standard text layouts and black-and-white interiors keep per-page print costs low for most fiction formats.
• Self-help and nonfiction. Self-help was among the top categories driving the 2025 increase in book output, according to Publishers Weekly. Nonfiction titles often include charts, callout boxes, or custom formatting—elements that require careful file preparation to reproduce accurately in print.
• Children’s books. This format depends heavily on full-color illustration across every page. POD handles full-color printing, but color interiors carry a higher per-page cost than black-and-white formats.
• Photo books and art books. These require premium paper stock and precise color reproduction. Blurb offers paper and binding options designed for image-heavy layouts, including photo book formats not available on some general POD platforms.
• Journals, notebooks, and planners. These low-content books have interiors made up of lined pages, grids, prompts, or trackers, which means no text to write or edit and a low production cost. Generic low-content books face significant market saturation, but niche-specific products continue to perform well.
• Coloring books and activity books. Coloring books consistently show the highest search interest among low-content formats, with peak demand in November and December. Black-and-white interiors keep print costs low, though interior line art needs to be high resolution to reproduce cleanly.
• Cookbooks. Full-color food photography and custom layouts make cookbooks among the more design-intensive POD formats. Some platforms offer lay-flat binding options for this format.

Benefits of print-on-demand books

ALLi’s 2025 Indie Author Income Survey found that the median self-published author income was $13,500, growing at 6% year over year, while the typical traditionally published author earned $6,000 to $8,000 and was trending down. Print on demand contributes to that income gap in several ways:

• No inventory costs. Books are printed only when orders come in, so you never pay upfront for stock that may not sell. “Once you’ve written your book and got yourself a cover, that’s it,” Shaun says. “No upfront or hidden costs. Just hit Publish and your book will live on the website within a few hours for people to order.”
• Never out of stock. Because books are printed to order, your titles stay available indefinitely without the risk of a print run selling out or going out of print.
• Automated fulfillment. POD platforms handle order receipt, packaging, and direct shipping to customers. “I’ve looked into traditional bulk printing on a few occasions,” Shaun says, “but once you factor in the cost of a print run, storage, packaging, shipping, and tracking stock levels, it just doesn’t seem worth it.”
• Global reach. Services like Blurb and IngramSpark connect directly with wholesalers and booksellers, putting titles into retail channels.
• Full creative control. You set the price, own the rights, and can update files after publication, subject to platform processes. “If I want to update one of my POD books—tweak the cover, fix a typo, change the blurb—I can do it in a few hours,” Shaun says.
• Easy customization. Some platforms support ebooks, audiobooks, and translation services from the same dashboard. “A translated version is much more likely to sell well in those markets than the English version,” Shaun says.
• Better sustainability. Printing only what sells reduces overproduction and the waste that comes with unsold inventory.

There are some trade-offs. Per-unit print costs are higher than offset printing, marketplace fees reduce per-sale margins, and distribution through POD platforms doesn’t guarantee placement in physical stores.

How to choose a print-on-demand book service

• Review their processes
• Decide what kind of book you want to print
• Check pricing and commissions
• Determine if they can grow with you
• Check their reputation and connections
• Review print file requirements

For some authors, the decision starts with the sales channel. 

“I just wanted to bet that Shopify would become book friendly sooner than the book industry would modernize, and so far that’s been an OK enough bet,” says Jazzy McGilbert, founder of Reparations Club. 

Here are the key criteria to evaluate when choosing between POD book publishers:

Review their processes

Production speed, shipping partnerships, and international fulfillment capabilities vary across platforms. Check whether a service has an exclusivity clause or allows distribution across multiple channels.

For bookstore distribution, two requirements apply to your POD service:

• Wholesale discount: Bookstores buy your book at a reduced price to make a profit on resale. The industry standard is a 55% wholesale discount.
• Returnability: Bookstores need the option to return unsold copies for a refund. When a book is returned, you’re charged the wholesale cost of that book.

On a platform built for bookstore distribution, like IngramSpark, you set these options yourself, choosing a discount between 40% and 55% and deciding whether returned books are shipped back to you or destroyed. Most bookstores and major chains won’t order a book that isn’t returnable and offered at a standard discount.

Decide what kind of book you want to print

The format of your book determines which platforms are viable. “If your book needs something more specialized, like a particular binding style or an unusual trim size, you’ll need to seek out the platforms that cater to your specific needs,” Shaun says.

Children’s books, for example, require full-color printing across every page. Look for platforms that support multiple sizes and paper weights. Bookvault recommends 150 grams per square meter coated paper for children’s books.

Check whether the platform issues or supports ISBNs. Some platforms assign a free ISBN tied to their imprint; others let you supply your own, which gives you more control over your book’s metadata and distribution. Interior formatting requirements also vary. Confirm the platform accepts your file type and trim size before committing.

For cover design, check whether the platform provides templates or a built-in design tool. Cover specifications like spine width, bleed, and dimensions based on page count and paper type. Having accurate templates from your chosen platform before you design saves significant rework.

Check pricing and commissions

POD services have different payment structures. Some charge no upfront fees but take a cut of each sale; others charge setup fees with higher per-sale margins.

Working with multiple platforms is one way to maximize per-sale earnings. Shopify’s print-on-demand app directory lists POD services that connect directly to your store for automated fulfillment.

Avoid these pricing mistakes:

• Pricing too low. Amazon KDP, for example, has a minimum list price based on your book’s print cost. Pricing too close to that minimum can reduce your royalty to zero.
• Ignoring the fine print. On KDP, your royalty for Amazon.com sales may be 60%. Sales through Expanded Distribution, which sends your book to other retailers, carry a 40% royalty.
• Forgetting fees on direct sales. When selling from your own store, profit is the list price minus print cost, shipping, and fulfillment fees.
• Using one price for all channels. Margins differ across Amazon, IngramSpark, and direct sales. Setting a different list price per channel can help maintain margins across channels.

Determine if they can grow with you

Look for platforms that provide real-time sales data. If you plan to expand into ebooks, audiobooks, or print-on-demand merchandise, choose a service that supports those formats from the same account.

Check their reputation and connections

For bookstore distribution, confirm the platform has established retailer and wholesaler relationships. Author communities, reviews, and case studies are useful for assessing print quality and fulfillment reliability across platforms.

Review print file requirements

File requirements vary by platform, so confirm specs before finalizing your book’s design. Check these key things:

• Image resolution. Print-ready images need a resolution of 300 dots per inch (dpi) at final printed size.
• Bleed and margins. Any image or color that extends to the page edge needs a bleed—an extra margin of artwork, usually 0.125 inches (three millimeters), beyond the trim line. Keep all text inside the safe margins.
• File format. Interior and cover files are submitted as separate print-ready PDFs. Confirm whether the platform requires a specific preset, such as PDF/X-1a, and that fonts are embedded.
• Color space. Screens display color in RGB; printers use CMYK. Export cover files and color interior pages in CMYK to avoid color shifts in the final print.
• Cover file. The cover is submitted as a single full-wrap file including front, back, and spine, with bleed on all sides. Spine width is calculated from your final page count and paper type. Use the platform’s official templates to get this right.
• Cover design. Beyond technical specs, check whether the platform provides design templates or a built-in tool. Some platforms, like Blurb with BookWright and KDP with Cover Creator, include cover design tools at no extra cost. Others require you to supply a finished file.

Selling your print-on-demand books

POD books can be sold through your own store, major marketplaces, or both.About 30% of indie authors already sell direct from their own site or store, and among those who don’t, about 30% plan to start within the next 12 months, according to Written Word Media’s 2025 Indie Author Survey. Among authors earning $10,000 or more per month, roughly half sell direct.

Sell through your own store

Selling direct through a Shopify store gives you full control over pricing, customer data, and margins. 

Direct sales may yield higher margins per sale than through a marketplace, allow you to build an email list from buyers, and aren’t subject to platform policy changes. “I can’t rely on other people’s marketing completely,” says Louise Verity, owner of Bookishly. “I’ve now got staff and responsibilities, and this is part of my household income. It didn’t feel right to be completely reliant on somebody else’s website.” 

Shaun uses this channel alongside marketplaces: “When I launch a new book, I always give my list early access and a very generous discount. That initial boost often pushes the book to the top of the bestseller charts.”

Sell on Amazon and other marketplaces 

Marketplaces like Amazon give you access to large existing audiences without needing to drive your own traffic. KDP is the entry point for Amazon sales, while IngramSpark and Blurb connect to wider retailer and bookstore networks. The trade-off is lower per-sale margins and less control over the customer relationship.

Sell on both

Most authors use a combination of selling direct and selling on marketplaces.

“I publish through Ingram to get it into bookstores, I publish through KDP for Amazon, and then for my Shopify store, I use Bookvault,” says Julie Broad, author of Self-Promote & Succeed and founder of Book Launchers. Each channel reaches a different audience and carries different margin calculations. Setting a different list price per channel keeps each one profitable.