Format Earnings Calculator
Ebook vs paperback vs audiobook per sale
The same book earns very differently depending on the format. An ebook is pure margin; a paperback earns less after printing; an audiobook can earn the most per sale but costs the most to produce. This calculator lines up your per-sale earnings across formats so you can plan which to make.
Which book format earns the most per sale?
Per sale, audiobooks often earn the most because their price is high, followed by ebooks, which carry no production cost per copy, then paperbacks, which earn least after printing is deducted. But volume differs too: ebooks usually sell most copies, so the format that earns most per sale is not always the one that earns most overall.
Is it worth producing every format?
Ebook and paperback are near-essential and cheap to produce, so most authors do both. Audiobook is the big decision, because it costs the most up front. It usually makes sense once a book already has steady ebook and print sales that suggest an audio edition will find an audience and earn back its production cost.
How do multiple formats add up?
Offering every format captures readers who prefer each one, and the earnings stack. A reader who would never buy an ebook might buy the audiobook; a gift buyer wants the paperback. A multi-format catalogue does not just add a format, it reaches audiences the other formats never would, which is why serious authors produce all three over time.
Frequently asked questions
Which format earns most per sale?
Usually audiobooks, then ebooks (no per-copy cost), then paperbacks (least after printing). But ebooks often sell the most copies.
Should I make every format?
Ebook and paperback are cheap and near-essential. Audiobook usually makes sense once a book has steady ebook and print sales.
Why offer multiple formats?
Each format reaches readers who prefer it, so the earnings stack and you capture audiences the others would miss.
Is this free?
Yes, and it runs in your browser.