If you’re planning to publish a book and want to estimate your profit margins, you should first have a clear idea of the associated printing costs. To help you compare hardcover and paperback printing costs, we’ve provided a series of pricing tables comparing the relative costs by size, page count, and quantity. These tables provide a quick and practical overview of the potential expenses for the two most common book formats.
Hardcover and Paperback Book Printing Specifications (for all tables below):
*All prices are EXW our Shanghai factory price.
Hardcover vs Paperback Printing Prices for 8.5" x 11" Books
Printing Cost Breakdown: 100 Pages
| Quantity |
Hardcover |
Paperback |
| 100 copies |
$13.02 (unit), $1,302 (total) |
$8.08 (unit), $808 (total) |
| 200 copies |
$7.32 (unit), $1,463 (total) |
$4.81 (unit), $962 (total) |
| 500 copies |
$3.59 (unit), $1,796 (total) |
$2.32 (unit), $1,158 (total) |
| 1000 copies |
$2.53 (unit), $2,533 (total) |
$1.50 (unit), $1,500 (total) |
| 2000 copies |
$2.08 (unit), $4,153 (total) |
$1.15 (unit), $2,301 (total) |
| 3000 copies |
$1.89 (unit), $5,678 (total) |
$1.04 (unit), $3,119 (total) |
| 5000 copies |
$1.74 (unit), $8,699 (total) |
$0.96 (unit), $4,818 (total) |
Printing Cost Breakdown: 200 Pages
| Quantity |
Hardcover |
Paperback |
| 100 copies |
$21.22 (unit), $2,122 (total) |
$14.33 (unit), $1,433 (total) |
| 200 copies |
$11.91 (unit), $2,381 (total) |
$8.56 (unit), $1,712 (total) |
| 500 copies |
$5.89 (unit), $2,946 (total) |
$4.23 (unit), $2,115 (total) |
| 1000 copies |
$4.02 (unit), $4,016 (total) |
$2.77 (unit), $2,773 (total) |
| 2000 copies |
$3.15 (unit), $6,302 (total) |
$2.13 (unit), $4,265 (total) |
| 3000 copies |
$2.81 (unit), $8,438 (total) |
$1.94 (unit), $5,807 (total) |
| 5000 copies |
$2.53 (unit), $12,646 (total) |
$1.80 (unit), $8,996 (total) |
Printing Cost Breakdown: 300 Pages
| Quantity |
Hardcover |
Paperback |
| 100 copies |
$30.68 (unit), $3,068 (total) |
$21.10 (unit), $2,110 (total) |
| 200 copies |
$16.84 (unit), $3,368 (total) |
$12.63 (unit), $2,526 (total) |
| 500 copies |
$8.35 (unit), $4,173 (total) |
$6.27 (unit), $3,133 (total) |
| 1000 copies |
$5.54 (unit), $5,540 (total) |
$4.13 (unit), $4,125 (total) |
| 2000 copies |
$4.26 (unit), $8,519 (total) |
$3.16 (unit), $6,314 (total) |
| 3000 copies |
$3.75 (unit), $11,250 (total) |
$2.87 (unit), $8,598 (total) |
| 5000 copies |
$3.33 (unit), $16,670 (total) |
$2.66 (unit), $13,283 (total) |
Printing Cost Breakdown: 400 Pages
| Quantity |
Hardcover |
Paperback |
| 100 copies |
$35.43 (unit), $3,543 (total) |
$24.74 (unit), $2,474 (total) |
| 200 copies |
$19.94 (unit), $3,987 (total) |
$15.08 (unit), $3,015 (total) |
| 500 copies |
$10.01 (unit), $5,003 (total) |
$7.55 (unit), $3,774 (total) |
| 1000 copies |
$6.57 (unit), $6,565 (total) |
$4.99 (unit), $4,991 (total) |
| 2000 copies |
$5.01 (unit), $10,021 (total) |
$3.88 (unit), $7,751 (total) |
| 3000 copies |
$4.38 (unit), $13,127 (total) |
$3.52 (unit), $10,570 (total) |
| 5000 copies |
$3.87 (unit), $19,341 (total) |
$3.29 (unit), $16,467 (total) |
Hardcover vs Paperback Printing Prices for 5.5" x 8.5"
Printing Cost Breakdown: 100 Pages
| Quantity |
Hardcover |
Paperback |
| 100 copies |
$8.69 (unit), $869 (total) |
$4.92 (unit), $492 (total) |
| 200 copies |
$4.82 (unit), $965 (total) |
$2.91 (unit), $582 (total) |
| 500 copies |
$2.28 (unit), $1,141 (total) |
$1.38 (unit), $690 (total) |
| 1000 copies |
$1.58 (unit), $1,582 (total) |
$0.89 (unit), $894 (total) |
| 2000 copies |
$1.30 (unit), $2,603 (total) |
$0.67 (unit), $1,341 (total) |
| 3000 copies |
$1.20 (unit), $3,585 (total) |
$0.60 (unit), $1,804 (total) |
| 5000 copies |
$1.11 (unit), $5,545 (total) |
$0.57 (unit), $2,833 (total) |
Printing Cost Breakdown: 200 Pages
| Quantity |
Hardcover |
Paperback |
| 100 copies |
$12.79 (unit), $1,279 (total) |
$8.05 (unit), $805 (total) |
| 200 copies |
$7.12 (unit), $1,424 (total) |
$4.79 (unit), $957 (total) |
| 500 copies |
$3.39 (unit), $1,694 (total) |
$2.38 (unit), $1,189 (total) |
| 1000 copies |
$2.33 (unit), $2,328 (total) |
$1.57 (unit), $1,567 (total) |
| 2000 copies |
$1.87 (unit), $3,733 (total) |
$1.21 (unit), $2,412 (total) |
| 3000 copies |
$1.68 (unit), $5,043 (total) |
$1.11 (unit), $3,316 (total) |
| 5000 copies |
$1.56 (unit), $7,795 (total) |
$1.04 (unit), $5,207 (total) |
Printing Cost Breakdown: 300 Pages
| Quantity |
Hardcover |
Paperback |
| 100 copies |
$17.55 (unit), $1,755 (total) |
$11.69 (unit), $1,169 (total) |
| 200 copies |
$9.77 (unit), $1,953 (total) |
$6.98 (unit), $1,397 (total) |
| 500 copies |
$4.71 (unit), $2,356 (total) |
$3.50 (unit), $1,749 (total) |
| 1000 copies |
$3.15 (unit), $3,152 (total) |
$2.31 (unit), $2,308 (total) |
| 2000 copies |
$2.46 (unit), $4,916 (total) |
$1.79 (unit), $3,579 (total) |
| 3000 copies |
$2.18 (unit), $6,542 (total) |
$1.63 (unit), $4,893 (total) |
| 5000 copies |
$1.96 (unit), $9,809 (total) |
$1.53 (unit), $7,659 (total) |
Printing Cost Breakdown: 400 Pages
| Quantity |
Hardcover |
Paperback |
| 100 copies |
$19.52 (unit), $1,952 (total) |
$13.01 (unit), $1,301 (total) |
| 200 copies |
$10.94 (unit), $2,188 (total) |
$7.96 (unit), $1,592 (total) |
| 500 copies |
$5.39 (unit), $2,693 (total) |
$4.05 (unit), $2,024 (total) |
| 1000 copies |
$3.63 (unit), $3,629 (total) |
$2.73 (unit), $2,725 (total) |
| 2000 copies |
$2.82 (unit), $5,636 (total) |
$2.15 (unit), $4,300 (total) |
| 3000 copies |
$2.49 (unit), $7,464 (total) |
$1.98 (unit), $5,932 (total) |
| 5000 copies |
$2.22 (unit), $11,123 (total) |
$1.88 (unit), $9,384 (total) |
Hardcover vs Paperback Printing Prices for 6" x 9"
Printing Cost Breakdown: 100 Pages
| Quantity |
Hardcover |
Paperback |
| 100 copies |
$12.56 (unit), $1,256 (total) |
$7.79 (unit), $779 (total) |
| 200 copies |
$7.01 (unit), $1,401 (total) |
$4.61 (unit), $922 (total) |
| 500 copies |
$3.38 (unit), $1,688 (total) |
$2.19 (unit), $1,093 (total) |
| 1000 copies |
$2.35 (unit), $2,348 (total) |
$1.39 (unit), $1,394 (total) |
| 2000 copies |
$1.91 (unit), $3,814 (total) |
$1.05 (unit), $2,094 (total) |
| 3000 copies |
$1.73 (unit), $5,190 (total) |
$0.94 (unit), $2,808 (total) |
| 5000 copies |
$1.58 (unit), $7,914 (total) |
$0.86 (unit), $4,283 (total) |
Printing Cost Breakdown: 200 Pages
| Quantity |
Hardcover |
Paperback |
| 100 copies |
$20.47 (unit), $2,047 (total) |
$13.83 (unit), $1,383 (total) |
| 200 copies |
$11.41 (unit), $2,281 (total) |
$8.21 (unit), $1,641 (total) |
| 500 copies |
$5.55 (unit), $2,777 (total) |
$4.00 (unit), $1,999 (total) |
| 1000 copies |
$3.73 (unit), $3,728 (total) |
$2.58 (unit), $2,577 (total) |
| 2000 copies |
$2.89 (unit), $5,772 (total) |
$1.94 (unit), $3,882 (total) |
| 3000 copies |
$2.56 (unit), $7,678 (total) |
$1.74 (unit), $5,229 (total) |
| 5000 copies |
$2.28 (unit), $11,424 (total) |
$1.60 (unit), $7,998 (total) |
Printing Cost Breakdown: 6" x 9", 300 Pages
| Quantity |
Hardcover |
Paperback |
| 100 copies |
$29.02 (unit), $2,902 (total) |
$20.35 (unit), $2,035 (total) |
| 200 copies |
$16.14 (unit), $3,227 (total) |
$12.11 (unit), $2,422 (total) |
| 500 copies |
$7.87 (unit), $3,936 (total) |
$5.92 (unit), $2,962 (total) |
| 1000 copies |
$5.14 (unit), $5,143 (total) |
$3.83 (unit), $3,834 (total) |
| 2000 copies |
$3.90 (unit), $7,795 (total) |
$2.88 (unit), $5,754 (total) |
| 3000 copies |
$3.40 (unit), $10,213 (total) |
$2.58 (unit), $7,749 (total) |
| 5000 copies |
$3.00 (unit), $15,006 (total) |
$2.36 (unit), $11,818 (total) |
Printing Cost Breakdown: 6" x 9", 400 Pages
| Quantity |
Hardcover |
Paperback |
| 100 copies |
$34.22 (unit), $3,422 (total) |
$23.89 (unit), $2,389 (total) |
| 200 copies |
$19.13 (unit), $3,825 (total) |
$14.47 (unit), $2,894 (total) |
| 500 copies |
$9.45 (unit), $4,726 (total) |
$7.14 (unit), $3,570 (total) |
| 1000 copies |
$6.10 (unit), $6,098 (total) |
$4.64 (unit), $4,640 (total) |
| 2000 copies |
$4.58 (unit), $9,164 (total) |
$3.53 (unit), $7,066 (total) |
| 3000 copies |
$3.97 (unit), $11,897 (total) |
$3.18 (unit), $9,526 (total) |
| 5000 copies |
$3.47 (unit), $17,364 (total) |
$2.93 (unit), $14,649 (total) |
Being assured about pricing and costs is one of the most important steps when it comes to finalizing the printing process. We hope these price tables help you better understand the cost differences between hardcover and paperback book printing across different sizes, page counts, and quantities. If you have a specific project in mind or need a custom quote, feel free to contact us or use our instant quote tool! Our team is always here to help you print high-quality books at the most competitive prices.
Hardcover vs Paperback Printing FAQs
