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 copyHardcover printing$8–$20 per copyFull-color printing3–5× B&W cost50-copy run$800–$1,500100-copy run$1,200–$2,200500-copy run$1,800–$3,5001,000-copy run$3,000–$5,500Novel / fiction$1,500–$4,500Children's book$3,000–$8,000Textbook / academic$4,000–$15,000Cookbook$3,500–$10,000Memoir / biography$2,000–$6,000Business book$2,500–$8,000
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