Understanding book printing costs is the key to either making or breaking your project’s budget. To accurately price your rewards and reach the funding goal, you should be aware of the estimated costs for prototypes, mass production, shipping, and fulfillment. These services are key no matter what type of book you wish to create. In this guide, we break down all essential costs — such as printing, shipping, tariffs, and fulfillment — so you can plan a reliable and realistic budget for your Kickstarter or other crowdfunding book project.
Book Sample Costs for Kickstarter Projects
Producing a high-quality book sample can significantly boost backer confidence, especially if you are a first-time creator. Showing real photos or videos of the physical product during your campaign demonstrates professionalism and trust.
Common sample types include:
- Digital print sample: Best for color-rich or fully illustrated books. They are affordable with a fast turnaround.
- Dummy with specialty cover: For books with cloth, faux leather, or foil stamping, you may request a dummy with the actual cover and blank interior pages to showcase surface finishes without printing the entire book.
Typical sample cost range:
- Paperback (digital print): $25–$150 + FedEx shipping
- Hardcover (digital print): $35–$250 + FedEx shipping
- Self-cover board book: $60–$100 + FedEx shipping
- Hardcover board book: $70–$120 + FedEx shipping
Optional upgrades:
- Gold/silver foil (≤90mm x 90mm): +$100
- Other color foil (≤90mm x 90mm): +$180
- Gold/silver gilded edges: +$180
- Other color gilded edges: +$220
- Varnish: +$30
- Textured surface: +$50
- Spot UV: +$50
- Embossing/debossing: +$50
Tip: If you’re on a tight budget, start with a simple digital proof. You can choose to upgrade if your campaign gains traction later on.
Offset Book Printing Costs for Mass Production
Once your campaign is funded, the next step is mass production. For this step, offset printing offers the best value for printing quantities over 200 copies, and the unit price drops as quantity increases. Standard book sizes such as A4 or 8.5″ x 11″ are also more cost-effective.
Hardcover vs Paperback for Kickstarter
If you’re producing a premium gift or a collector’s edition, a hardcover adds value and durability, while paperback is a more economical choice for mass distribution or budget-friendly campaigns. Many creators choose to offer both options as different reward tiers.
Below are reference cost examples for printing books with basic specs.
Basic Specs:
• Size: 8.5″ x 11″
• Interior: 157 gsm matte art paper, 200 pages
• Cover: 300 gsm matte art paper with matte laminated for paperback, 157 gsm matte art paper with matte lamination mounted on 2.5mm gray board for hardcover.
| Quantity | Paperback | Hardcover |
|---|---|---|
| 500 copies | $4.51 (unit), $2,256 (total) |
$6.21 (unit), $3,107 (total) |
| 1000 copies | $3.04 (unit), $3,038 (total) |
$4.28 (unit), $4,281 (total) |
| 2000 copies | $2.38 (unit), $4,753 (total) |
$3.41 (unit), $6,811 (total) |
| 3000 copies | $2.18 (unit), $6,536 (total) |
$3.04 (unit), $9,128 (total) |
Premium finishes cost extra. For the same basic specs listed above, the cost with gold foil (90 mm x 90 mm) is as follows:
| Quantity | Paperback | Hardcover |
|---|---|---|
| 500 copies | $4.62 (unit), $2,308 (total) |
$6.34 (unit), $3,169 (total) |
| 1000 copies | $3.12 (unit), $3,118 (total) |
$4.37 (unit), $4,374 (total) |
| 2000 copies | $2.45 (unit), $4,896 (total) |
$3.48 (unit), $6,967 (total) |
| 3000 copies | $2.25 (unit), $6,746 (total) |
$3.12 (unit), $9,345 (total) |
Extra cover finishes incur additional costs. For the same basic specs listed above, adding spot UV will increase the price as follows:
| Quantity | Paperback | Hardcover |
|---|---|---|
| 500 copies | $4.56 (unit), $2,280 (total) |
$6.27 (unit), $3,135 (total) |
| 1000 copies | $3.07 (unit), $3,073 (total) |
$4.32 (unit), $4,322 (total) |
| 2000 copies | $2.41 (unit), $4,814 (total) |
$3.44 (unit), $6,877 (total) |
| 3000 copies | $2.21 (unit), $6,623 (total) |
$3.07 (unit), $9,217 (total) |
Faux Leather/Cloth Cover Add-On Pricing
For faux leather or cloth covers, the additional cost is added on to the base price.
| Quantity | Faux Leather Cover | Cloth Cover |
|---|---|---|
| 100 copies | $23.69 (unit), $2,369 (total) |
$23.69 (unit), $2,369 (total) |
| 200 copies | $13.22 (unit), $2,644 (total) |
$13.22 (unit), $2,644 (total) |
| 300 copies | $9.25 (unit), $2,776 (total) |
$9.37 (unit), $2,812 (total) |
| 500 copies | $6.73 (unit), $3,366 (total) |
$6.86 (unit), $3,429 (total) |
To plan and finalize your printing costs, follow these simple steps:
- Review the different paper options with our sample manual.
- Finalize trim size, page count, binding, and cover treatments.
- Use our online quote tool for specific book printing costs.
Bulk pricing tip: The unit price cost of printing 1000 copies may be only 20–25% higher than 500 copies, while also doubling your supply.
Freight and Delivery Costs for Kickstarter Books
Once your specs and printing quantity are confirmed, we provide a freight quote based on your destination address and zip code.
Freight options:
- Sea freight: Ideal for large orders, and the most economical choice.
- Air freight: Faster, but significantly more expensive. Best for urgent or smaller orders.
Tip: Plan for 35–50 days for sea shipping and one week for air shipment. We will cover shipment insurance for each shipment.
Kickstarter Book Fulfillment and Dispatch Costs
Be sure to budget for fulfillment costs when shipping directly to backers, especially internationally. Common costs include assembly (e.g., adding bookmarks, thank-you cards), packaging (mailing boxes, padded envelopes), and courier delivery (USPS, FedEx, DHL, UPS).
Tip: To save on fulfillment fees, we can pre-assemble and pack your books into final packaging before shipping to your fulfillment center in the U.S., UK, EU, or Canada.
FAQs About Kickstarter Book Printing Costs
What is the minimum book printing order quantity?
100 copies.
Can I print both hardcover and paperback versions of the same book?
Yes, you can use the same interior file, but you will need different cover layouts.
How long does production take?
1 week for paperbacks, 3 weeks for hardcovers (after final proof approval).
Can I receive samples before committing to mass production?
Yes, we offer both hard proofs and physical samples.
Are shipping and customs fees included in the print quote?
No. Our quotes are EXW (Ex Works), so shipping fees are quoted separately based on your delivery address.
Can I split my order into multiple shipping addresses?
Yes, but additional shipping and handling charges will apply.
Do you offer fulfillment services?
Yes! We can fulfill orders directly to backers worldwide, or we can pre-pack all items and ship them to your designated fulfillment center. We are based in Shanghai, China, so we recommend double-checking whether international dispatch fees to your backers’ locations are cost-effective before choosing direct fulfillment.
Can I get help choosing materials or finishes?
Yes! We’re happy to send sample manuals and recommend options based on your design and budget.
Printing your book for a Kickstarter campaign can be a complex process, but clear budgeting and planning can make it both manageable and rewarding. At QinPrinting, we specialize in high-quality offset printing with competitive pricing for independent creators. Whether you’re producing a simple paperback or a deluxe hardcover edition, we’re here to support your journey from idea to printed reality.
Need help calculating your budget or requesting a quote?
Get an instant book printing quote for your Kickstarter book printing project or contact our expert team today!
