How To Print Your Own Book in 2026

Getting published through a major house like Penguin Random House or Simon & Schuster means first landing an agent. However, agents accept a small fraction of the manuscripts they receive.

Self-publishing skips those steps and gives you a direct path to readers. It’s becoming more common. According to Bowker data reported by Publishers Weekly, the total number of ISBN-registered titles published in the US in 2025 jumped 32.5% from 2024 to more than four million books. Self-published titles led that growth, reaching more than 3.5 million—a 38.7% increase in a single year.

Colleen Hoover self-published her debut novel, Slammed, in January 2012, signing with Atria Books later that year. She has since sold more than 35 million books globally. 

This guide will show you how to print your own book from start to finish.

How to choose a book printing service

• Research book printing options
• Evaluate print quality
• Consider cost
• Ask about turnaround time
• Assess customer service and support

Take these steps before choosing a printing service:

Research book printing options

When choosing a printer, consider these criteria:

• Types of printing. Offset printing uses metal plates and is designed for high-volume runs. Digital printing skips the plate setup and is suited to smaller quantities.
• Print methods. Print on demand produces books only when an order is placed, eliminating the need to hold inventory. Bulk printing produces large quantities upfront at a lower per-unit cost.
• Specializations. Different printers specialize in book types such as cookbooks, art books, and textbooks. Confirm a printer handles your format before requesting a quote.
• Location. Local printers allow in-person communication and faster turnaround. Overseas printers involve longer lead times and additional shipping logistics.

Evaluate print quality

When assessing a printer, check these quality factors:

• Paper stock. Thickness, finish, and sustainability certifications such as FSC.
• Ink and color consistency. Whether the printer provides proofs to verify color accuracy before the full 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.

Consider cost

When reviewing printing costs, account for:

• Base printing costs, setup fees, shipping, taxes, and tariffs if printing abroad
• Bulk discounts for larger print runs
• Additional fees such as rush charges, proofing costs, and file conversion fees

Ask about turnaround time

Turnaround time is how quickly a printer can complete and deliver your order. When comparing printers, account for:

• Production time. This will include printing, binding, and packaging.
• Shipping and logistics. Customs delays can affect international shipments.
• Seasonal demand. Some printers have longer lead times during busier periods.

Assess customer service and support

Customer support covers communication, guidance, and pre-press services. When comparing printers, check whether they offer:

• Responsive communication on questions and requirements
• File formatting assistance
• Cover design support
• Specialty finishes such as foil stamping and embossing

7 book printing services to print your own book

1. IngramSpark
2. Lulu
3. Blurb
4. BookBaby
5. Barnes and Noble Press
6. Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
7. Draft2Digital

The following print-on-demand platforms each have a pricing calculator where costs vary by page count, trim size, paper type, and binding. 

The figures below reflect a 200-page, six-inch by nine-inch, black and white paperback on 50-pound white paper.

*BookBaby’s figure is for a minimum order of 25 copies and excludes upfront setup fees, which start at $99 per title. Use BookBaby’s quote tool for exact pricing.

Printing costs change. Use each platform’s calculator for current rates before committing.

1. IngramSpark

IngramSpark is a print-on-demand platform with distribution to bookstores, libraries, schools, and online marketplaces, including Amazon. It offers:

• Print-on-demand model
• Customizable binding options, colors, laminate types, trim sizes, and cover styles
• A print cost calculator to estimate printing and shipping costs
• A publisher compensation calculator for estimating earnings through their distribution channels

When comparing IngramSpark and KDP, royalty rates differ by sales channel: 

• IngramSpark returns higher compensation on sales through its bookstore and library distribution network.
• KDP returns higher royalties on direct Amazon sales.

2. Lulu

Lulu is a print-on-demand platform with a Shopify integration via Lulu Direct. When selling through Lulu Direct, authors retain 100% of their revenue, paying only printing and shipping costs. Lulu’s printing services offer:

• More than 3,000 print format options, including coil-bound and saddle-stitched books
• Templates or fully custom designs
• Print-on-demand fulfillment or bulk order discounts
• A price calculator to determine per-book costs
• Distribution through the Lulu Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble, and directly through your own website

For books sold through external marketplaces and bookstores,Lulu returns lower per-sale earnings than KDP or IngramSpark. Selling directly through your own website via Lulu Direct eliminates paying commission.

Shopify store owners can also sell ebooks directly using Shopify Digital Downloads alongside print editions from Lulu or another POD service.

3. Blurb

Blurb was founded in 2005 by Eileen Gittins. Its services include:

• BookWright, a free book design tool with customizable templates
• Plug-ins for Adobe InDesign and Lightroom Classic
• Distribution through the Blurb Bookstore, Amazon, and Ingram’s global retail network
• Book format options including photo books, trade books, magazines, and notebooks
• Volume discounts starting at 10 or more copies, with offset printing available for orders of 750 copies or more
• Magazine publishing via MagCloud, acquired by Blurb in 2014

4. BookBaby

BookBaby launched in 2011 as part of Disc Makers, the independent music and media manufacturer behind CD Baby. Its services include:

• Line editing, copy editing, and proofreading
• Professional cover design and interior formatting
• Print-on-demand fulfillment with no minimum order quantities
• Distribution through Amazon and the BookBaby Bookshop
• Ebook distribution to major retailers including Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo
• Audiobook production and distribution

BookBaby charges upfront fees for editing and design services before work begins.

Royalty rates vary by sales channel: 

• Print books sold through BookBaby Bookshop earn a 50% royalty.
• Print books sold through other retailers return 10% to 30%.
• Ebook sales through retail partners return 100% of net earnings after the retailer takes their share.

5. Barnes and Noble Press

Barnes & Noble Press is Barnes & Noble’s self-publishing platform for print and digital books. Authors can publish paperback books and hardcovers with printed cases or dust jackets, in color or black and white, plus ebooks for sale on barnesandnoble.com, the B&N app, and Nook e-reader devices.

According to B&N Press royalty terms, ebooks priced at 99¢ or higher earn a 70% royalty. Print books earn 55% of the list price minus the per-book printing cost. As of April 2026,print books must be priced at a minimum of $14.99.

B&N Press is available to authors in the US, the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and Belgium, perB&N Press international availability. Print book orders ship within the US only.

6. Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)

Kindle Direct Publishing launched in November 2007 alongside the first Amazon Kindle device. KDP’s services include:

• A cover creator tool
• Print-on-demand fulfillment for paperbacks and hardcovers
• Ebook publishing to the Kindle Store
• Free publishing with no upfront costs (printing fees are deducted from royalties at the point of sale)
• Expanded Distribution, which makes paperbacks available to booksellers and libraries through US and UK distributors

Per KDP’s royalty terms, paperback royalty rates are 50% or 60% of the list price, depending on the marketplace and list price, minus printing costs. Hardcover books earn 50% or 60%, depending on list price, also minus printing costs. Ebooks earn 70% or 35%, depending on list price and territory.

7. Draft2Digital

Draft2Digital is a publishing and distribution platform for ebooks and print-on-demand paperbacks. There are no upfront publishing fees. 

Draft2Digital earns approximately 10% commission on each sale. A one-time $20 account activation fee applies, plus a $12 annual maintenance fee for accounts earning less than $100 per year in sales.

Draft2Digital’s services include:

• Manuscript conversion from Word documents into formatted ebook or print-ready PDF files, available to download at no charge even without publishing through D2D
• Distribution to retailers including Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords, and Bookshop.org, and library services including OverDrive and Hoopla, with per-store opt-in control
• Print-on-demand paperback distribution through Amazon and Ingram’s network, including Barnes & Noble and independent bookstores
• Universal book links via Books2Read, which direct readers to their preferred retailer from a single URL

Ebook royalty rates vary by retailer, ranging from 60% at most major stores to 46% for library services. Print book costs are calculated via D2D’s print price calculator.

What does it cost to print your own book?

The cost to print a book depends on several factors:

• Page count
• Trim size (the height and width of your 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. 

Per KDP’s pricing structure, a black-and-white paperback of 24 to 108 pages has a fixed printing cost of $2.30. A color six- by nine-inch trade paperback on Lulu starts at $13.03, illustrating how format and ink choices affect per-unit cost.

Print-on-demand book platforms allow orders of a single copy, with no minimum print run required.

Bulk printing vs. single copy pricing

Several platforms offer discounts for larger orders. According to Blurb’s pricing page, orders of 10 or more copies receive a 10% discount on trade books and magazines, and 20% on photo books. 

On IngramSpark’s February 2026 rate card, publisher-direct orders of 100 to 299 copies receive a 2% discount, while 300 to 399 copies receive 5%. The maximum discount is 35% for orders of 10,000 or more.

Each platform’s pricing calculator shows per-unit costs at different order quantities.

Hidden costs of self-publishing

Platform fees apply when selling through retailers. On KDP, paperback royalties are 50% or 60% of the list price, depending on list price and marketplace, minus the per-book printing cost. 

Marketing and promotional costs are not covered by any of the platforms listed here and are the author’s responsibility.

9 steps to print your own book

1. Decide on a book printing method
2. Select a book trim size and format
3. Pick your binding style
4. Consider paper types and ink options
5. Choose your typeset
6. Design your book cover
7. Prepare your files
8. Select an ISBN
9. Review your proof

Here’s the process from draft to printed copy:

1. Decide on a book printing method

There are two main printing methods for self-publishing authors: 

• Offset printing 
• Digital printing (including POD)

Offset printing uses metal plates to transfer ink to paper and is designed for high-volume runs. Setup costs are higher than digital printing, but per-unit cost decreases as order quantity increases. It’s cost-effective for runs of 1,000 copies or more.

Digital printing applies ink or toner directly to the page without plates, which keeps setup costs low and makes it practical for smaller quantities. 

Print on demand (POD) is a subset of digital printing where books are printed individually as orders come in, with no minimum print run and no inventory to manage.

2. Select a book trim size and format

Trim size is the finished height and width of your printed book. Common sizes for trade paperbacks are 5.5 by 8.5 inches and six by nine inches. 

Available trim sizes vary by platform, so check your chosen platform’s specifications before finalizing your interior file dimensions.

For binding, paperbacks use a flexible glued cover, while hardcovers use a rigid board.

Hardcovers carry a higher per-unit printing cost than paperbacks across all major platforms.

For cover finish, the two standard options are glossy and matte. Availability varies by platform and format.

3. Pick your binding style

Binding style affects the appearance, durability, and cost of your book. The four main options available on most self-publishing platforms are:

• Perfect bound. Pages are glued to a flat spine inside a flexible cover. This is the standard binding for paperbacks and the most cost-efficient option for print-on-demand.
• Case wrap (hardcover). Pages are glued or sewn into a rigid board cover. Hardcover case binding provides sturdiness and resistance to shelf wear at a higher per-unit cost than perfect bound. It’s available with or without a dust jacket.
• Saddle stitch. Pages are folded and stapled through the spine. It’s recommended for books of 48 pages or fewer.
• Coil bound. Pages are hole-punched and bound with a plastic or metal spiral, allowing the book to lie flat when open.

Not all binding types are available on every platform. Check your chosen platform’s specifications before finalizing your format.

4. Consider paper types and ink options

Most self-publishing platforms offer black-and-white and color interior printing. Color printing costs more per page than black and white across all major platforms.

Paper options typically include:

• White: A standard, versatile option available across most platforms and formats.
• Cream: A warmer-toned paper, commonly used for text-heavy books such as novels.
• Coated: A heavier stock with a smoother surface, used for photo books and color-heavy projects.

Available paper types vary by platform and format. Check your chosen platform’s specifications for the options supported by your trim size and binding selection.

5. Choose your typeset

Typesetting covers the font, spacing, margins, and alignment of your interior pages. The four main elements to configure are:

• Font. Serif fonts lead the reader’s eye from letter to letter along a line of text. Sans-serif fonts are less common in book body text. Both can be used for headings.
• Line spacing (leading). Generous line spacing makes text easier to follow; tight spacing can make pages harder to read.
• Margins. Adequate margins prevent text from falling into the gutter, the inner edge where pages meet the spine. Most platforms provide margin specifications for each trim size.
• Justification. Full justification aligns text to both left and right margins. Left-aligned text has a ragged right edge. Both are standard options across self-publishing platforms.

6. Design your book cover

The cover file must include the front cover, spine, and back cover as a single PDF. KDP requires all images to be at least 300 dpi, with fonts embedded and transparent layers flattened before upload.

IngramSpark requires a bleed of 0.125 inches on all sides, with all text at least 0.25 inches from the trim line. 

Each platform provides a cover template generator to produce a correctly sized file based on your trim size, page count, and binding type.

Cover design options include:

• Built-in cover tools: KDP’s Cover Creator and IngramSpark’s Book-Building Tool allow authors to create covers within the platform at no additional cost.
• Custom design: Authors can upload their own cover PDF created in design software such as Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, or Canva, provided the file meets the platform’s specifications.
• Professional designer: IngramSpark’s publishing guide lists cover design as a service available through their partner directory.

7. Prepare your files

Each platform has specific file format and quality requirements for interior and cover files. The core requirements across major platforms are:

• File format. KDP and IngramSpark both require interior and cover files to be submitted as separate PDFs, with fonts embedded and transparent layers flattened.
• Image resolution. KDP requires all images to be at least 300 dpi. IngramSpark applies the same standard.
• Bleed and margins. IngramSpark requires a bleed of 0.125 inches on all sides, with all text at least 0.25 inches from the trim line. KDP provides a cover calculator and template generator to produce correctly sized files based on trim size, page count, and binding.

Check your chosen platform’s submission guidelines before preparing files, as requirements vary by format and binding type.

8. Select an ISBN

An ISBN (International Standard Book Number) is a 13-digit identifier that links your book’s title, format, and publisher information to booksellers, libraries, and distributors worldwide. 

Each format of a book requires its own ISBN, meaning paperback, hardcover, and ebook editions each need a separate number. ISBNs do not expire. 

There are two options for obtaining an ISBN:

• Free platform ISBN. KDP provides free ISBNs for paperback and hardcover books, but they can only be used on KDP. The imprint on books using a KDP-assigned ISBN appears as “Independently published.”
• Purchased ISBN. In the US, ISBNs are purchased through Bowker, the official US ISBN agency. The cost of a single ISBN is $125; a block of 10 is $295. Purchasing your own ISBN registers you as the publisher of record and allows the ISBN to be used across multiple platforms.

An ISBN identifies a published product. It is separate from copyright, which protects the creative work itself.

9. Review your proof

KDP, IngramSpark, Lulu, and Blurb all offer proof copies, a single printed copy to review before publishing or placing a larger order. KDP proof copies carry a “Not for Resale” watermark and are intended for review prior to publication.

When reviewing a proof, check for:

• Interior. Typos, line spacing, margins, page numbering, and gutter alignment per Lulu’s proofing guidance.
• Images. Color accuracy and brightness, which can differ between screen preview and print per Blurb’s proof copy guidance.
• Cover. Front, spine, and back alignment, and that the spine text sits within the safe area.
• Bleed. That no content has been trimmed at the edges due to incorrect bleed settings.

If corrections are needed, update and re-upload the files before publishing or ordering additional copies.

How to sell your book in an online store

According to Written Word Media’s 2025 Indie Author Survey of 1,346 authors, Amazon remained the top revenue source for 83% of indie authors in 2025, down from 91% in 2023. Among authors not yet selling direct, 30% said they plan to start within the next 12 months.

Selling books directly through a website gives authors control over pricing, formats, and customer relationships. 

Paranormal cozy mystery author Morgana Best sells ebooks, audiobooks, and large print paperbacks directly through her own website alongside major retailer distribution, giving readers multiple format options in one place. 

When selling through a direct store, authors set their own pricing and retain a higher share of each sale than through major retail distribution channels. Direct stores also allow format and bundle options not available through major retailers.

Once a book is available on a website, marketing options include:

• Social media promotion
• Partnerships with book influencers
• Email newsletters for readers in the genre
• Complementary products such as bookmarks, journals, or themed merchandise