Standard or short run: when to plan ahead and when to rush

Most first time authors ask two questions about printing: how much, and how soon. The honest answer is that the two pull against each other. Standard printing costs less per book but takes longer to arrive, and a short run arrives quickly but costs more per copy. Knowing how each one works lets you plan a launch that gets the best of both.

Two ways to print

• Standard printing is for larger runs. Your book prints on big offset presses, which print from plates on large sheets of paper. Setting up the plates takes time and care, but once the press is running, each extra copy costs very little. That is why the price per book drops as the quantity goes up.
• Short run printing is for small quantities, typically under about 100 copies. Short run presses need very little setup, so there is not much to spread across your order. Each copy costs more than it would in a standard run, but your books arrive much sooner.

How long each one takes

Standard printing typically takes 45 to 60 days from approval to delivery. That time covers printing, binding, packing and shipping your books by freight, then delivery to your door. A short run usually arrives in a week or two.

You see an estimated arrival date on your specs, your quote and at checkout. Please treat it as an estimate, not a guarantee. Freight schedules and shipping delays can move a date, and we tell you right away if anything changes.

When to plan ahead

Standard printing is the right choice when your date is far enough away. It suits you when:

• You are printing a few hundred copies or more.
• Your launch, event or holiday deadline is more than about three months out.
• You want a hardcover, a special finish or a larger format at the lowest cost per book.
• You plan to sell the books, so a lower cost per copy matters to your margin.

If your launch is in the spring, the best time to finalize your files is often the winter before. Working backward from your date, add the 45 to 60 days, then a few weeks for files, quote and proof, then a buffer for the unexpected.

When to choose a short run or rush

A short run makes sense when time matters more than the price per copy. It suits you when:

• You need a small number of books, such as copies for reviewers, family or a first reading.
• Your event is too close for a standard run to arrive in time.
• You want to hold a finished copy before committing to a large order.

Select softcover books can also be rushed for a fee. Rush is not available on every product, so check rush orders for what qualifies and how it works. Your quote shows the rush fee as its own line, so you can see exactly what speed costs.

Using both for one launch

Many authors do not have to choose. A common plan is to order a short run for the weeks before launch, then a larger standard run that arrives in time for the main sales period.

For example, you might print 25 copies as a short run for early reviewers, a launch party and your own shelf. At the same time, you order 500 copies with standard printing, timed to land before your bookstore events. The short run copies cost more each, but there are only 25 of them. The standard run brings your average cost down across the whole launch.

What to do next

Pick your date first, then count backward. If you have three months or more, start your book and request a quote for standard printing. If you are short on time, ask for a short run in the same project, and note your deadline in the request so we can tell you plainly what is possible. Not sure which fits? Our pricing page explains how quotes are built.