Book Printing Cost Calculator
Per-copy printing cost at current KDP rates
Printing cost is deducted before your royalty, so it decides your minimum viable price. On a print-on-demand paperback it is driven almost entirely by page count and whether the interior is black and white or colour.
How does KDP calculate printing cost?
The cost is a fixed charge plus a per-page charge. In the US marketplace, black and white on white or cream paper is $0.85 fixed plus $0.0120 per page for books over 108 pages. Standard colour is $0.85 plus $0.0255 per page, and premium colour is $0.85 plus $0.0850 per page.
Why do colour books cost so much more?
Colour print-on-demand uses different presses and more expensive stock. A 100-page premium colour book costs about $9.35 to print against roughly $2.05 in black and white. For children's books and cookbooks this is the single biggest constraint on pricing.
What is the minimum price I can set?
Amazon requires your list price to cover printing cost within the 60% royalty structure. In practice your list price must be at least printing cost divided by 0.6. A book that costs $4.45 to print needs a list price of at least $7.42.
Can I reduce printing cost?
The three levers are page count, ink and trim. Choosing a larger trim size reduces page count. Using black and white where colour is not essential saves the most. Tightening leading and margins helps, but never at the cost of readability.
Frequently asked questions
How much does KDP charge to print a 300 page book?
In black and white on the US marketplace, about $4.45 per copy ($0.85 fixed plus 300 x $0.0120).
Is colour printing worth it?
Only when colour carries the content, such as children's books, cookbooks and photography. Otherwise the extra cost rarely returns.
Does KDP charge for printing up front?
No. Print-on-demand means the cost is deducted per sale, so there is no inventory and no up-front print bill.
Do author copies cost less?
Author copies are sold to you at printing cost plus shipping, with no royalty, so they are the cheapest way to buy your own book.
Is IngramSpark cheaper than KDP?
For most standard black and white paperbacks KDP is cheaper per copy, but IngramSpark offers wider bookstore distribution and more trim and binding options.