IngramSpark Printing Cost Calculator
Per-copy print cost for wide distribution
IngramSpark is the print-on-demand service authors use to reach bookshops, libraries and online stores beyond Amazon. Its printing cost is calculated from page count and ink type, similar to KDP but with its own rates and a wholesale discount model. This gives you a working estimate.
How does IngramSpark printing cost work?
Like other print-on-demand services, IngramSpark charges a per-page cost plus a fixed amount, with black and white far cheaper than colour. What differs is that IngramSpark sells to bookshops at a wholesale discount you set, usually around 55%, from which the retailer and IngramSpark take their share, so your margin per bookstore sale is thinner than a direct online sale.
IngramSpark vs KDP: which should I use?
Many authors use both. KDP prints your Amazon paperbacks cheaply and is simplest for online sales. IngramSpark reaches physical bookshops, libraries and non-Amazon retailers, and offers more trim sizes, hardcover and binding options. Using KDP for Amazon and IngramSpark for everywhere else is a common, effective combination.
What is the wholesale discount?
When you distribute through IngramSpark, you set a wholesale discount, the cut a bookshop keeps when it orders your book. A higher discount makes shops more willing to stock you but lowers your earnings per copy. It is the key number that determines whether bookstore distribution is worth it for your title.
Frequently asked questions
How much does IngramSpark cost to print?
It charges a per-page cost plus a fixed amount, similar to KDP, with black and white far cheaper than colour. Bookstore sales also carry a wholesale discount.
Should I use IngramSpark or KDP?
Many use both: KDP for cheap Amazon paperbacks, IngramSpark for bookshops, libraries and more binding options.
What is the wholesale discount?
The cut a bookshop keeps when ordering your book, usually around 55%. Higher makes shops more willing to stock you but lowers your margin.
Is this free?
Yes, and it runs in your browser. Figures are estimates.