Print Cost Calculator
Estimate the print cost and your royalty for a paperback. Adjust page count, interior colour, list price, and the retailer discount.
Rough estimate. Real costs depend on your printer, paper, trim size, and territory.
How print-on-demand pricing works
With print on demand, each copy has a manufacturing cost driven mostly by page count and whether the interior is black-and-white or colour. Your royalty is what's left after the retailer's discount and that print cost: list price − retail discount − print cost.
That's why a sensible trim size and an efficient page count matter, and why paperbacks are priced higher than ebooks. See how printing costs are calculated in the help center. These figures are estimates — your printer's exact rates apply.
Frequently asked questions
What drives print-on-demand cost?
Page count is the biggest factor, followed by interior colour. Black-and-white interiors are far cheaper than colour. Trim size has only a small effect on cost.
How is my print royalty calculated?
Roughly: list price minus the retailer's discount (often 40%) minus the print cost. So a higher list price and a lower page count both increase your royalty.
Should ebook and print be priced the same?
No. Print has a real manufacturing cost, so paperbacks are priced higher than ebooks. Price your paperback in line with comparable print books in your genre.
Publish paperbacks and ebooks in one place.
Chiify offers print on demand plus distribution to 400+ stores.
Start freeEstimates only. Actual print costs, discounts, and royalties vary by printer, trim, paper, and territory. Not financial advice.