Book Printing Services for Self-Published Authors

From one print-on-demand copy to a 2,000-copy run for your launch event. We prepare print-ready files, choose the right trim, paper and binding, check your proof copy, and set up printing on Amazon KDP and IngramSpark, or quote an offset run.

Calculate Print Cost

Files that pass printer checks
No inventory needed
Paperback and hardcover

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Choose your method

Print-on-Demand vs. Offset Book Printing

Most authors use print-on-demand for online sales and add a bulk run when they need many copies at once. Here is how the options compare.

Print-on-demand, short-run digital, and offset printing compared
Comparison point	Print-on-demand (KDP, IngramSpark)	Short-run digital printing	Offset printing
Best quantity	1 copy at a time	About 25 to 500 copies	About 500 copies and up
Cost per copy	Highest per copy, no upfront cost	Middle	Lowest per copy at volume
Inventory	None. Printed when a reader orders	You store and ship copies	You store and ship copies
Special finishes	Matte or gloss cover	More paper and finish choices	Foil, embossing, spot gloss, custom paper
Best for	Amazon and online bookstore sales	Launch events, book clubs, ARCs	Speaking tours, retail orders, gift editions

Print-on-demand (KDP, IngramSpark)

Best quantity: 1 copy at a time
Cost per copy: Highest per copy, no upfront cost
Inventory: None. Printed when a reader orders
Special finishes: Matte or gloss cover
Best for: Amazon and online bookstore sales

Short-run digital printing

Best quantity: About 25 to 500 copies
Cost per copy: Middle
Inventory: You store and ship copies
Special finishes: More paper and finish choices
Best for: Launch events, book clubs, ARCs

Offset printing

Best quantity: About 500 copies and up
Cost per copy: Lowest per copy at volume
Inventory: You store and ship copies
Special finishes: Foil, embossing, spot gloss, custom paper
Best for: Speaking tours, retail orders, gift editions

Print options

Choose the Right Size, Paper and Binding

Each choice changes how your book feels in a reader's hands and what it costs to print. We recommend the specs your genre's readers expect.

Trim size
- 5" × 8" / 5.5" × 8.5"
  Novels, memoirs, poetry
- 6" × 9"
  Nonfiction, business, longer fiction
- 8.5" × 11"
  Workbooks, journals, picture books
Paper
- Cream
  Easier on the eyes for long reading. Standard for fiction.
- White
  Sharper contrast. Best for nonfiction, images and color.
Interior ink
- Black
  Text-only books. Lowest cost.
- Standard color
  Books with occasional charts or photos.
- Premium color
  Picture books, cookbooks and art books.
Binding & finish
- Paperback
  Perfect bound, matte or gloss cover.
- Hardcover
  Case laminate on KDP. Dust jackets through IngramSpark.
- Matte vs. gloss
  Matte for literary and nonfiction; gloss for bright, colorful covers.

What's included

What Our Book PrintingService Covers

Print-ready interior
A PDF built to the printer's trim, margins and bleed, with fonts embedded.
Full-wrap cover file
Front, spine and back sized to your exact page count, with barcode placement.
Cover design
Proof copy review
We order and check a physical proof for color, trim, spine alignment and print quality.
KDP & IngramSpark setup
Print-on-demand on Amazon, plus IngramSpark so bookstores and libraries can order.
Amazon publishing
Bulk & offset quotes
Quotes from short-run and offset printers for launches, events and retail orders.
ISBN & barcode
An ISBN for each print format in your name, with a print-ready barcode.
ISBN & copyright

Six steps take your book from the first spec choice to a printed copy, and a reorder when you need more.

How we get yourbook into printProcess

01
Spec consultation
We choose trim size, paper, ink and binding for your genre and budget.
02
File preparation
Your interior and full-wrap cover are built to the printer's exact specs.
03
Printer upload
Files go to KDP, IngramSpark or your bulk printer and pass their checks.
04
Proof copy
A physical proof is printed and reviewed before anything is approved.
05
Go live or print the run
Your book goes on sale, or your bulk order is printed and shipped.
06
Reorders
Author copies and reprints at print cost whenever you need them.

Free tool

Book Print Cost & Cover SizeCalculator

Enter your book's specs to see the spine width, full cover size, Amazon KDP print cost and your royalty per sale.

Full cover wrap

With 0.125" bleed

Cover
Spine
Bleed

Royalty per Amazon sale

$5.59

60% of $16.99 minus print cost

KDP print cost

$4.60

Regular trim, 300 pages

Author copy cost

$4.60

Plus shipping and tax

Spine width

0.750"

Spine text allowed

Full cover size

13.000" × 9.250"

Including 0.125" bleed

Expanded Distribution

$2.20

40% minus print cost

Amazon.com paperback estimates. Print cost, the 60% and 40% royalties, and spine thickness follow KDP's published formulas. Author copies add shipping and tax, which vary by order.

frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to print a book on Amazon KDP?

A black-ink paperback on Amazon.com costs $1.00 plus $0.012 per page for regular trim sizes over 110 pages. A 300-page 6" × 9" paperback costs $4.60 to print. Books of 110 pages or fewer cost a flat $2.30.

How do I calculate my book's spine width?

Multiply your page count by the paper thickness. On KDP, that is 0.0025" per page for cream paper, 0.002252" for white paper and 0.002347" for color. A 300-page book on cream paper has a 0.75" spine.

Can I put text on my book's spine?

On KDP, only if your book has more than 79 pages. Thinner spines are too narrow for text to print reliably.

What is the cheapest way to print copies of my own book?

For a few copies, order author copies through KDP at print cost plus shipping. For hundreds of copies, a short-run or offset printer usually costs less per copy.

Should I choose cream or white paper?

Cream for fiction and memoirs, since it is easier to read for long stretches. White for nonfiction, workbooks and any book with photos or color.

Can I print a hardcover book?

Yes. KDP prints case laminate hardcovers, where the cover art is printed on the board. For a dust jacket, we set the book up through IngramSpark.

Will bookstores be able to order my printed book?

Yes, when your book is listed through IngramSpark, which supplies bookstores and libraries. We set your wholesale discount so stores can order it.

Frequently asked questions about book printing

Get Started

Hold Your Book in Your Hands

Tell us your book's specs and how many copies you need. We will recommend a printing method and send a full quote.

Prefer to talk?Call +1 469 634 0868

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A Quote

MONARCH BOOKS CO

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At Monarch Books Co, we believe every great idea deserves to become a great book. We are a passionate team of writers, editors, designers, and publishing experts dedicated to helping aspiring authors turn their dreams into published reality.

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Book Printing Services for Self-Published Authors

Award WinningBook PrintingIs Our Forte

Print-on-Demand vs. Offset Book Printing

Print-on-demand (KDP, IngramSpark)

Short-run digital printing

Offset printing

Choose the Right Size, Paper and Binding

Trim size

Paper

Interior ink

Binding & finish

What Our Book PrintingService Covers

Print-ready interior

Full-wrap cover file

Proof copy review

KDP & IngramSpark setup

Bulk & offset quotes

ISBN & barcode

How we get yourbook into printProcess

Spec consultation

File preparation

Printer upload

Proof copy

Go live or print the run

Reorders