Book design goes beyond having an aesthetically pleasing cover: The inside layout should also be pleasant to look at and easy to read. Book designers understand how to format text and pictures to give readers the best possible experience. Professional book design can help your cover pop in the bookstore and get it into readers’ hands.
Book designer costs vary depending on your individual needs, but you can expect an hourly rate between $25 and $100. The number of years of experience a designer has, your desired book format, and the number of revisions you require will all play a role in cost.
Experience and expertise
Book designers need graphic design skills and expertise in InDesign and Photoshop. An entry-level book designer might be a good fit if you’re looking for an ebook cover, basic text with headings, or someone who can format using templates.
Intermediate book designers might be better suited to format text and pictures or graphics and print cover design. Expert designers can format longer, more complex manuscripts and are more likely to know how to optimize your cover for the marketplace.
Format
Format plays a significant role in design costs and is incredibly important, especially if you’re self-publishing. Professional design services for an ebook will be less costly than an entire book layout for print. The design process for an ebook is less time-consuming than a print book because print books require front and back covers as well as the design of the spine.
Scope of project
The time a designer spends on your book depends on how many adjustments you need. Book design services typically include revisions, so if you know what you want, the included revisions might be enough. If you’re less confident, you might want to see a couple of cover mockups or tweak the interior book design. Additional mockups and revisions can bring additional charges.
Geographic location
Book designers can work from anywhere in the world, so it’s possible to outsource your design needs to any location. Designers in cities with a high cost of living will likely charge higher rates than those living in more affordable locations. Consider where your designer lives when choosing the right fit for your book.
Popular book designer projects
Some designers specialize in a cover design or a specific type of book design. Book designers might charge an hourly rate of $25 to $100, or they might charge per page or offer a flat rate for just a cover. Ebook cover design is going to cost less than softcover or hardcover book design because physical books require front and back covers as well as spine design.
Book cover design is a valuable niche because a cover optimized for your target audience will help readers see your book on the shelf and pick it up. Book cover design costs vary depending on if you need a front and back cover and if the book is soft or hardcover. Flat rates typically range anywhere from $30 to $100, with larger agencies and designers charging significantly more. Sometimes they offer add-ons like an ebook cover for an additional flat rate.
Children’s book design is key in capturing young readers’ interest. Keeping kids’ attention requires illustrations, colors, and fonts to be vibrant, eye-catching, and easy to read. Children’s book designers typically charge a rate per internal page, maybe around $18 per page. Additional flat rates might be added on for elements like front and back cover, hardcover, dust jacket, and more.
Basic novel design requires designing the front and back cover, spine, and internal text formatting. A basic novel designer will likely charge a flat rate per page, maybe $10, and charge more or less depending on your specific cover design needs.
Find talent at the world’s work marketplace
Find a book designer on Upwork. Freelance book designers have portfolios showcasing their past projects alongside customer ratings and reviews, so you can feel assured you’re finding the right designer for your book design needs.
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