Cost to Print a Full-Color Book

Independent publishing cost guide · Updated for 2026

Short answer: Full-color interior printing costs $0.08–$0.15 per page at print-on-demand, or roughly 3–5× the cost of black-and-white for offset runs. A 100-page full-color book costs $1,200–$2,500 to print at 500 copies.

Setup vs per-copy cost

Setup (plates, layout, proof) is paid once per run; per-copy cost varies with quantity. Larger runs amortize setup — that's why per-copy prices fall as runs grow.

Related cost guides

Paperback printing$2.50–$8 per copy Hardcover printing$8–$20 per copy Full-color printing3–5× B&W cost 50-copy run$800–$1,500 100-copy run$1,200–$2,200 500-copy run$1,800–$3,500 1,000-copy run$3,000–$5,500 Editing cost$500–$2,000 typical Cover design cost$300–$1,500 typical Formatting cost$150–$800 typical ISBN cost$125 per ISBN Marketing cost$500–$5,000+

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