Cost to Print 500 Copies of a Book

Independent publishing cost guide · Updated for 2026

Short answer: 500 copies is the sweet spot for offset printing: a 200-page paperback runs about $1,800–$3,500 total ($3.50–$7 per copy). Setup is now fully amortized.

Why per-copy price falls with quantity

Setup is fixed; paper and binding scale. Doubling the run roughly halves the per-copy cost until setup stops mattering.

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 Novel / fiction$1,500–$4,500 Children's book$3,000–$8,000 Textbook / academic$4,000–$15,000 Cookbook$3,500–$10,000 Memoir / biography$2,000–$6,000 Business book$2,500–$8,000

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