This refers to the dimensions of your physical book, as well as your page size. The two may or may not be the same, depending on if you are doing a hardcover (hardback) with a dust jacket or a softcover (paperback). While there are standard sizes for books (that fit well on most shelves and are easy to hold and read), there really is no “standard size." We'll discuss what your best options are, of course. Sometimes they're based on the type of printer you choose, other times they're determined by the orientation of images in your book or other design and layout considerations.
General Rates
We work within many budgets. These are our typical offerings.
- Basic
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starting at$750*-$1,500
- Our basic package for book cover design.
- 3-6 unique cover concepts
- 3 rounds of revisions
- Preparation of press ready files
- *Author provides images/art or clear direction for cover concept for our lowest rate
- Step Up
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starting at$3,000+
- Our most common cover and layout package.
- 3-6 unique cover concepts
- Text book layout design (no images, 200 pages)
- 3 rounds of revisions of both the cover and layout
- Preparation of press ready files
- Moon Walk
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starting at$5,500+
- Great for cookbooks, coffee table books, family histories...
- 6+ unique cover designs and layout to match
- Explore unique printing/packaging
- Develop various marketing/sales tools
- Preparation of press ready files
The above rates reflect our most common fee structures, we would be happy to discuss your project in detail to get a better sense of
your unique needs and provide you a custom estimate. Take a look below to see other services that may be useful to you.
The Straight FAQs
- How long does the entire design process take?
Typically we will have a cover concept for you to review 3–5 days before starting the project. After that, we will go back and forth a few times to try to achieve the desired result. Once we have approval on a cover, we will create a sample interior design for your review. This typically takes 3–5 days. Once again, we will go back and forth with you a few times before continuing on to the full layout, which typically takes about 1–3 weeks depending on a number of factors (e.g., design complexity and extent of feedback/changes). Most simple, text-driven books will be a 1- to 2-month process from start to finish.
- How much will the fee be for me to design and print 50-500 copies of my book?
Our general design rates would apply, so starting at $750 with additional fees depending on the inclusion of certain options and services. To be clear, we are not printers. However, we work with many printers, and while we'll look for a perfect printer for you, most of them won't handle small print runs. The cost of printing is not included in our basic fee structure. It is quoted from one of our trusted printing vendors. If you are looking for a small run, your best bet is using a POD (print on demand) service like Lighting Source, Lulu or Createspace. They will be able to accommodate a small print run, and we are more than capable of getting your files ready for POD printing. Companies like Blurb may also offer options for smaller custom print runs. We do work with Edition One Books, who specialize in high-end custom printing, binding, and small print runs.
- Are there any additional fees that we should expect to encounter throughout the design/layout process?
Occasionally a project goes beyond our estimated parameters and the need arises to expand the initial budget to cover our additional time. This scenario is rare, as we take necessary precautions to ensure it doesn't happen. It is possible, however, though you would be notified of any additional fees well in advance. Other costs that may be incurred relate to the licensing of images (often photography or illustration) from outside sources such as stock-image agencies or commissioned independent artists. If the need arises for such work in your project, we'll consult with you and present a revised estimate before proceeding.
- Do you provide information about the copyright page/barcode/ISBN number?
No, we request that it be provided to us. bowkerbarcode.com is a good resource from which to obtain ISBN numbers with barcodes.
- Are your rates industry standard?
Yes. In most cases, professional book cover design fees start at $1,500. But the general range is $800–$1500 for a book cover, and about the same for a simple text-driven layout design. While there are many companies and freelancers that may offer significantly lower rates, it's usually very apparent in the final product. With nearly 20 years of experience in publishing, we pride ourselves on a thorough knowledge of the publishing industry. We work with many of the top publishing houses and have helped countless indie publishers get the exposure they deserve. Many of our indie clients take advantage of our other services as well, as they find it's convenient and results in a more consistent visual tone for all of their various marketing needs. We'd love to discuss your specific needs and see how we can work together to create something we're all proud of.
- What do these terms mean:
Throughout the process of designing your book, you will often hear a few of the following terms. If you are uncertain about what they mean, please ask us! We love to shed light on the workings of our industry and craft. Here are a few terms that you may find useful.