About the Hardcover Pricing Calculator
Hardcovers cost more to print than paperbacks because of the case binding, so pricing one by copying your paperback price usually leaves you with very little royalty. This calculator works out the hardcover printing cost for your book and tells you exactly where the floor is and what price earns the royalty you want.
Enter your page count, trim size, ink and target royalty per copy. You get the printing cost with its working, KDP's minimum list price, a break-even price that covers any ad or other per-copy cost, the price for your target royalty, a recommended .99 price range and a table of price points with the royalty and profit at each.
Hardcover printing costs are configured only for marketplaces where they have been verified, and the marketplace list is built from that configuration. At present that means Amazon.com. For other marketplaces, take the printing cost from your KDP pricing page and use the KDP Pricing Calculator.
How It Works
Hardcover printing cost is a fixed charge plus a per-page charge for your ink type. Shorter books in the lowest page band pay a flat fee instead. Unlike paperbacks, hardcover costs in this tool do not change with trim size.
Royalty is the royalty rate for your list price multiplied by the price, minus printing. The minimum, break-even and target prices are found by working that backwards, allowing for the lower rate at or below the marketplace threshold.
The recommended range starts at the target price rounded up to .99 and runs a few dollars higher. The price point table starts at break-even and steps up one dollar at a time.
Formula
- Printing cost
- Printing cost = Fixed cost + (Page count × Per-page cost)
- Minimum price
- Minimum price = Printing cost ÷ Royalty rate
- Target price
- Price = (Printing cost + Target royalty + Cost per copy) ÷ Royalty rate
Example
A 250-page 6" × 9" black-ink hardcover on Amazon.com
- Printing cost: $5.65 fixed + (250 × $0.012) = $8.65.
- Minimum list price: $8.65 ÷ 0.60 = $14.42. That is above the $9.98 threshold, so the 60% rate applies.
- Price for a $5.00 royalty: ($8.65 + $5.00) ÷ 0.60 = $22.75.
- Recommended range: $22.99 to $25.99. At $14.99 the royalty would be only $0.34.
Price this hardcover from $22.99 to earn at least $5.00 per copy. KDP's minimum is $14.42.
Important Notes
- Hardcover printing costs are configured for Amazon.com only. Other marketplaces will appear here automatically when their costs are added.
- KDP hardcovers support a limited set of trim sizes and inks, and the page range shown under the page count field.
- Costs and rates come from the central KDP configuration and may change. Confirm the final figures on your KDP pricing page.
- The recommended range covers costs and your target royalty only. Check the prices of comparable hardcovers in your genre.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my hardcover minimum price so much higher than my paperback's?
Case-laminate binding adds a large fixed cost to every copy. For the same page count, the hardcover printing cost can be roughly double the paperback's, and the minimum price rises with it.
Can I use this for Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.de?
Not yet. Only marketplaces with verified hardcover printing costs are listed. For other marketplaces, copy the printing cost from your KDP pricing page into the [KDP Pricing Calculator](/tools/kdp-pricing-calculator).
Is standard colour available for hardcovers?
No. KDP hardcovers are printed in black ink or premium colour, so only those two options are offered.
Should my hardcover cost more than my paperback?
Almost always. Readers expect hardcovers to cost more, and the higher printing cost means a paperback-level price leaves little royalty. Many authors price the hardcover several dollars above the paperback.
Does trim size change the hardcover printing cost?
Not in the cost table this tool uses. Page count and ink drive the cost. Trim size still matters for your cover and page count, so check the [KDP Cover Size Calculator](/tools/kdp-cover-size-calculator) as well.
Related KDP Tools
- Paperback Pricing CalculatorGet minimum, break-even and recommended paperback prices from page count, trim and ink.
- KDP Royalty CalculatorEstimate your royalty and profit from Kindle, paperback and hardcover sales.
- KDP Pricing CalculatorWork backwards from the profit you want to the list price you need.
- KDP Cover Size CalculatorGet full-wrap cover dimensions with a live back, spine and front diagram.
- KDP Profit CalculatorTurn royalties, ad spend and other costs into net profit, profit per book and margin.
- Kindle Royalty CalculatorCompare the 35% and 70% eBook royalty options including delivery costs.
Related Guides
- How to Price a KDP Book: Paperback and eBook Pricing ExplainedLearn how to price a KDP paperback or eBook: minimum list price, the 50% and 60% royalty tiers, the 70% eBook band, charm pricing, and a worked example.
- How KDP Royalties WorkA clear guide to KDP royalties: the 35% and 70% eBook options, delivery costs and VAT, the 50% and 60% print tiers, expanded distribution and printing costs.