Various Ways to Economically Print Your Own Book

Are you looking to print your book? Book printing can be a cost-effective way to bring your project to life. Naturally, you’ll be curious about the associated costs. In reality, you have control over how high or low the printing costs can be. If you need to adhere to a budget, it’s helpful to understand which factors you can influence. That’s why we’re exploring ways to economically print your book with Doxzoo.

The main factors influencing the price are:

• Margins
• Size
• Type of Paper
• Interior/Printing
• Binding Method

Already know how you want your book printed and ready to take that step? Fantastic! Discover the file specifications you need to meet and get started!

Large or Small Print for Hardcover Books

The printing costs depend largely on the print run you choose. Setting up the printing machines is essential for printing your book, and you can choose to print the exact quantity needed to avoid excess inventory. For a small print run, the cost per copy will be higher. With larger print runs, the costs are spread over more books, thus reducing the cost per copy.

Now you know that opting for a larger print run can reduce costs. But the next question is: can you sell all those copies?

To gauge this, consider using pre-sales. This involves offering your book for sale online before it’s printed. People can order and pay for your book in advance. This provides a preliminary idea of the demand for your book. After a pre-sale period of up to three months, you can print the book, ensuring you sell the ordered print run.

Margins and Paper Types that Determine the Thickness of Your Book

The margins you use on each page affect the thickness of your book. A thicker book is more expensive. By using smaller margins, like tighter line spacing or more text per page, you can make your book thinner. Remember to allow space for page numbers, usually at the bottom of the page, when designing your book.

The Size of Your Book

The larger the book, the more expensive it becomes. For instance, comic books often have specific size requirements that can impact the cost. However, each type of book has its own considerations. For example, children’s and cookbooks are often larger, while novels and travel books are more compact. Reducing the size of your book, even by a few millimetres, can be beneficial as it allows more pages per print sheet, reducing production costs.

Choices in Paper Types

Your choice of paper depends on your book. How thick should the paper be? Which type of paper do you prefer? Heavier paper means a thicker, more expensive book.

Interior/Print Quality

The interior design of a book varies by type. Digital printing offers flexibility for both small and large print runs. A novel usually has black-and-white interiors, while a picture book often features many colours. Black-and-white printing is cheaper than colour. However, a picture book in black and white is less appealing than one with colourful illustrations. You can economise on the interior of your book, as long as it doesn’t diminish the book’s quality.

The Most Economical Perfect Binding Method

There are two common binding methods: gluing or sewing. Perfect binding is a versatile option that offers both soft and hardcover choices. Gluing is cheaper than sewing but still a very effective binding method. Sewing costs a bit more and offers a more elegant appearance. Sewn books also lay flat better and last longer with intensive use. You pay a bit more for these advantages. For more information, visit our binding methods page.

Our Advice: Match Supply and Demand!

Publishing a book independently involves costs. The good news is, by following the tips in this blog, you can influence several factors that determine the price. We also recommend matching supply with demand. This way, you can print your book quite economically!

Assess how many books you think you can sell and base your print run on that estimate. Once you sell this run, you can finance a reprint with the proceeds. A softcover book is often printed within just six working days, minimising your risk.

Print and publish your book your way with Doxzoo!