Editing Cost Estimator
What professional editing will cost by word count
Editing is usually the biggest line in a self-publishing budget, and the price depends on the depth of edit and your word count. This tool gives a realistic range for each type, so you can plan which edits your book actually needs.
How much does book editing cost?
Rates are usually per word. Proofreading runs about $0.01 to $0.02 per word, copy editing $0.02 to $0.03, line editing $0.03 to $0.05, and developmental editing $0.04 to $0.08 or more. An 80,000-word novel might cost roughly $1,200 for a copy edit and considerably more for a full developmental edit.
What is the difference between the edit types?
Developmental editing addresses big-picture structure, plot and character. Line editing works at the sentence level for flow and style. Copy editing fixes grammar, consistency and errors. Proofreading is the final catch of typos before publishing. They are stages, not alternatives, though not every book needs all four.
Which edit does my book need?
A polished draft that has been through beta readers often needs a copy edit and a proofread. A first-time novelist unsure about structure benefits most from a developmental edit first, because fixing the story before polishing the prose avoids paying to perfect sentences you later cut.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to edit a book?
Roughly $0.01 to $0.02 per word for proofreading, up to $0.04 to $0.08 for developmental editing. An 80,000-word copy edit is around $1,200 to $2,400.
What is the difference between copy editing and proofreading?
Copy editing fixes grammar, consistency and clarity throughout. Proofreading is the final typo catch on an otherwise finished file.
Do I need every type of edit?
Not always. Many polished manuscripts need only a copy edit and a proofread. Developmental editing helps most when the story structure is uncertain.
Is this estimate exact?
No. It is a market-rate range. Individual editors price by experience, genre and manuscript condition.