There’s no doubt that writing your book was an investment of days, weeks, months, and possibly even years of your life. But now that the manuscript is finished and ready for print, a more tangible cost rears its head.

Whether you’re a first-time author who can’t wait to see your hard work immortalized between two covers, or a nonprofit organization anxious to get information out to your members – everyone with a PDF-ready document tends to have the same major question: how much does it cost to print a book?

And, of course, the answer no one wants to hear is almost always the first out of the gate: It depends.

It’s not a cop-out. Even the best digital printers will tell you that many factors contribute to the cost of printing your book. But there are some usual suspects you should consider.

It is important to note that printing a book involves a lot of fixed costs determining the final price tag. These include:

  • Quantity: This is perhaps the biggest factor driving printing costs. Are you printing one copy of your book for yourself or 1,000 for your fans? Printing just one book, alone, is an expensive process. But good news: by the time you reach 1,000 copies, the unit price diminishes dramatically.
  • Page count: A 150-page softcover is going to be considerably less expensive than the same style of book at 450 pages. More pages mean more paper, ink, and press time.
  • Materials: From paper stock to ink to cover boards to binding and beyond, your finished book comprises many different components – each with its price point. When it comes to paper stock, for example, a standard, 50-lb white offset is easier on the wallet than an 80-lb. glossy enamel stock.
  • Text color: Do you want your copy conveyed in simple black, or will you make things really pop with color text? Color, not surprisingly, costs a bit more.
  • Trim size: Will your book be 6 x 9” or 8 ½ x 11”? Smaller? Bigger? There are plenty of options to choose from – all of which impact price along the way.
  • Binding style: Perfect bound (softcover) books are always more economical, from assembly to shipping. Case-bound – or hardcover – books combine durability, elegance, and customization, making them more expensive. Hardcover, alone, can add several dollars per unit to your printing price.
  • Cover treatments: Regardless of the interior text, publishers and authors typically want their cover image to be four-color and eye-catching. To that end, custom special effects, like foil stamping or embossing, tack additional costs onto your finished printing project.
  • Matte or gloss finish: Matte, which offers a dull, somewhat velvety feel, costs more than a glossy finish.
  • Orientation: Do you envision your book in portrait or landscape (oblong) format? With a portrait, the dimension of your book’s spine will be greater than the width of the book. Landscape is the opposite and is typically more expensive to produce.

Gasch Printing is in the business of producing beautiful books. It’s what we do. In fact, it’s the only thing we do. Here, customers print only what they need, when they need it, leveraging our state-of-the-art digital printing equipment. We can deliver high-quality, one and four-color text and covers, and have the tools and the talent to provide the customization you desire, from gorgeous dust jackets to multiple laminate finishes.

When it comes to cost, however, every printer has its sweet spot. Gasch’s key differentiator is quantity. We specialize in printing runs of 50 to 1500 softcover books in one or four-color on 50 to 60-pound offset paper. That being said, we can deliver hardcover printing projects economically, too. So, how much does it cost to print a book? Chances are good we have an answer you’ll be happy with. Contact our team to further explore how we can best serve you.