Hardcover vs paperback for your first book

The binding is one of the first choices you make for a first print run, and one of the most visible. A hardcover and a paperback of the same book can feel like two different objects in a reader's hands. Neither is the right answer for everyone, so it helps to know what each one is good at.

How they are built

A paperback (also called softcover) has a flexible card cover glued to the spine of the pages. It is light, bends a little in the hand, and lies reasonably flat once it has been opened a few times.

A hardcover has rigid boards covered in a printed wrap, called a case. The pages are attached to the case with endpapers, the sturdy sheets glued inside the front and back covers. The boards stick out slightly past the pages to protect them. Some hardcovers also get a dust jacket, a loose paper cover with flaps that fold inside the boards.

At The Honest Print, novels (6 x 9 or 5.5 x 8.5 inches) come in either binding. A hardcover novel has a printed case wrap, with an optional dust jacket over it. Our 10 x 8 inch landscape picture books are made as hardcovers.

Cost

A hardcover costs more per copy than a paperback of the same page count. There are more materials (boards, endpapers, the case) and more steps to assemble it. A dust jacket adds another printed piece and another step.

Hardcovers are also heavier and bulkier. That matters more than many first time authors expect, because weight and carton size drive shipping. When you compare the two bindings, compare the delivered price, not just the printing price. The true cost per book guide walks through how to do that.

Feel and durability

Hardcovers feel substantial. They hold up to being read again and again, passed around a family, or stacked on a classroom shelf. They make good gifts and keepsakes, and they photograph well for a launch.

Paperbacks feel casual and approachable. They are easy to carry, easy to mail and easy to read on a train. A well made paperback with a good cover finish can look every bit as professional as a hardcover. It just tells the reader something different about the book.

Where each one sells best

Think about where most of your copies will go.

• Paperbacks suit books that people buy to read: novels sold at events, through your own site, or by mail. A lower price at the table can make it easier for someone to say yes.
• Hardcovers suit books people buy to keep or to give: picture books, memoirs, family histories, gift editions and books that will live in libraries or schools.
• Both is a common plan. Some authors print a small hardcover run for launch events and special editions, and a larger paperback run for everyday sales.

Your readers matter more than any general rule. If your audience loves a beautiful object on the shelf, a hardcover may sell better even at a higher price. If they read a lot and buy often, a paperback may move more copies.

Cover design differences

The two bindings need different cover files, so decide before you design the final cover.

• A paperback cover has the back, spine and front on one sheet, with 0.125 inch bleed around the outside.
• A hardcover case wrap needs a wider wrap area instead of bleed, because the art folds around the edges of the boards. There is also a hinge area beside the spine where the cover bends.
• A dust jacket adds a flap on each end, often used for the author bio and a short description.

Spine width also changes, because the boards add thickness. The exact measurements vary by printer, so always build from the template for your exact specs rather than reusing one made for another binding.

A simple way to decide

Ask yourself three questions. Where will most of these copies go? What price will feel fair to your readers? How long do you want each copy to last? If the answers point to gifts, keepsakes and shelves, lean toward hardcover. If they point to events, mail and everyday reading, lean toward paperback.

If you are still unsure, hold both in your hands. A sample pack includes real printed examples so you can compare the weight, the boards and the cover finishes in person.

Next step

Start your novel in the spec picker and switch between hardcover and softcover to see how the options change. Download the free cover template for the binding you choose, and when you request a quote, you will get one delivered price with shipping included.