How Much Does Professional Book Formatting Cost?
While book cover design costs can be more fixed, book formatting can vary considerably depending on the length and complexity of your manuscript. I’m outlining the variables below so that you can start to understand what to expect! Hopefully it will also become clear what kind of information to include when you are asking for a formatting quote from your chosen designer.
How Long is Your Book?
The first factor is, of course, word count. The longer book, the greater the time it takes to create and check through. A standard book of 40,000 words is often the benchmark, and increases and decreases on a predictable and logical sliding scale from the there.
Word Count Alone Doesn’t Determine Cost
However, word count alone doesn’t determine the book formatter’s final cost. This is because a text-only novel and, say, a practical business book can have the same word count and yet have very different design needs. For a novel, a formatter may choose thoughtful typography, design a decorative chapter heading style, apply clean and consistent styling to the main body of text, and create balance through margins, paragraph and line spacing, and text tracking. A business book needs these things too, but may additionally include elements such as charts, tables, quotations, examples and a more complex hierarchy of headings and subheadings. Those kinds of features affect both the initial design and the time needed to apply and check it throughout the book.
Exactly what elements effect the formatting price?
Illustrations and Images
Placing images and illustrations into your book in an artistic way that also meets technical printer requirements is part of the formatters job. Images may need editing, retouching and cropping to fit the design and look their best! They may also need captions, and be specially enhanced with a border or background. These design needs add to the cost (and beauty!) of the final book.
Charts, Tables, Exercises, Pull-outs
Tables need to be specially formatted to fit the page size of the book. Charts, exercises and case studies may need their own visual treatment, such a box, border, icon, or shaded section. Some books may also benefit from quotes being pulled out and given special emphasis, for instance with larger text and stylized quote marks. If your book contains many of these features, it’s best to include representative examples when you contact your designer asking for a quote. Explain whether graphics are supplied ready to place, or whether they need to be designed in a specific style first.
Print and ebook editions
Print and digital editions have different design and production pathways. A print interior is prepared to looks clean, beautiful and readable on a particular page size. It must also meet all the printer specifications. On the other hand, a reflowable EPUB adapts to the reader’s screen and text settings, and requires features like an interactive Table of Contents, and clickable links and references. Features such as sidebars, notes and images may also need to be differently designed to suit the screen. When you ask for a quote, let your designer know whether you want to publish in print format, ebook format, or both.
The readiness of your manuscript
A complete, edited, and proofread manuscript makes the production process easier to plan and execute efficiently. It’s best not to start with the formatting task if you are still editing and changing the content. Because if you need to change it once the formatting starts, this will add to both time and costs. Get in touch with your designer when you have a date planned for the completion of your editing phase, and start to plan it then. If you finish the editing and proofing first, and only then move on, your journey will be a happy one!
When is specialist formatting worth considering?
A formatting specialist is particularly useful when your project has a dense mixture of text and visual material. For instance, educational resources and text books may combine text with richly coloured pages, illustrations, exercises of different kinds, puzzles, multiple choice quizzese, case studies and worksheets. Cookbooks often have showstopping photography, combined with instructions, charts, recipe lists. And so forth.
These types of books need a high level of design sophistication, and its best to look for someone who has plenty of experience doing exactly that job. Look at portfolio examples of complex book interiors in particular, and ask what the designer’s role was in the projects you like. Give examples of styles that you like, and explanations of your readers needs. With this, you are on a good road to picking the right designer for your precise needs.
How to request a useful estimate
In summary, when getting in touch with book designers for formatting quotes, it’s best to include:
Your word count
Your full manuscript as an attachment (or several example chapters if you prefer)
Example files of any images you intend to include
Example files of any graphs, charts or diagrams you want to include
Details of diagrams, charts, or icons that you want the formatter to design and create
Your branding style (if you have one)
A description of the scope of your project and expected readership
Who you plan to publish with (Amazon, Ingram, or any independent publisher)
For a tailored estimate, explore Starling’s professional book formatting service and get in touch with your manuscript and publishing plans. If you also need a digital edition, ask about ebook design and EPUB formatting so both requirements can be considered in the quotation.
What a written quote should explain
What should you receive back from your designer? A quote should itemize each element to make costing clear and transparent. The quote should outline:
Which manuscript version is being quoted for, including its approximate word count
The editions and final files included, together with any printer or distribution requirements.
Whether illustrations, charts, image preparation or cover design are included or separately priced.
How many approved revision rounds are included
The expected schedule, what the designer needs from you and how any additional work will be agreed.
These details make quotes easier to compare. Keep an eye on the fact that a lower figure may cover fewer editions or a simpler level of service. On the other hand, a larger figure may include work your book does not need. Ask for clarification where the scope is unclear, especially around corrections, digital conversion and final-file support.
Common questions
Is cover design included in book formatting?
It depends on the service or package you choose. Interior formatting and cover design are distinct tasks, so a quote should identify each one explicitly. Tell the designer whether you already have a cover or would like both services.
Can a designer quote before the manuscript is finished?
An early estimate may be possible from a sample and an outline of the work. It should be labelled as an estimate if length, content or formats are still changing. A final quote is more reliable when the designer can review the complete manuscript.
Will a changed manuscript affect the cost?
It can. Adding or removing text after layout begins may affect page breaks, references, tables or other design elements. Agree how those changes are handled before production starts.
Thanks! That helps a lot!