The true cost per book: comparing printers with shipping included

When you start collecting quotes, the first number you notice is the price per book. It is an important number, but it is rarely the whole cost. To compare printers fairly, you need to know what every quote includes and add up what it takes to get finished books to your door.

The parts of a printing bill

Most printing costs fall into a few groups. Not every printer charges for each one, and some fold them into the unit price, so read each quote line by line.

• Unit price. The cost to print and bind one copy. It usually drops as the quantity goes up, because setup work is spread over more books.
• Setup. Some printers charge separately for plates, file preparation or press setup. Others build it into the unit price.
• Proofs. A digital proof is often free. A printed proof usually costs extra and adds time.
• Finishes and add ons. Foil, spot UV, dust jackets and special papers can be priced as separate lines.
• Shipping. Freight from the printer to you. For heavy books or long distances, this can be a large share of the total.
• Duties and taxes. Books printed in another country may be subject to import duties, customs fees or taxes, depending on where they ship. Ask whether a quote includes them.
• Reprints. If your first run sells, what will a second run cost, and will your files and setup carry over?

Why shipping changes the picture

A low unit price with shipping left off can look like a bargain until the freight bill arrives. Books are heavy, and a few cartons can cost a surprising amount to move, especially over long distances or with a rush delivery.

Here is a made up example with round numbers, only to show the arithmetic. Imagine two quotes for 500 books:

• Quote A: $4.00 per book, shipping not included. Printing comes to $2,000. Shipping is quoted later at $900. Total: $2,900, or $5.80 per book.
• Quote B: $5.00 per book, shipping included. Total: $2,500, or $5.00 per book.

The quote with the higher unit price is the lower total in this example. Real numbers will be different for your book, but the method holds: divide the full delivered cost by the number of books you receive.

How to compare quotes fairly

Ask every printer to quote the same specs, then line the quotes up side by side.

1. Match the specs exactly. Same trim size, page count, paper, binding, cover finish and quantity. A different paper weight or lamination can change the price and the feel.
2. Get the delivered total. Ask for the price shipped to your address, including any duties or taxes that apply.
3. Add the extras you need. Include setup, a printed proof if you want one, and any finishes.
4. Divide by the quantity. That is your true cost per book.
5. Compare the timing. A quote that arrives in 45 to 60 days and one that arrives in two weeks are not the same product, even at the same price.

Costs that do not show up on a quote

Some costs are easy to forget because nobody sends you a bill for them.

• Your time. Chasing missing details, resizing files for a printer with unusual specs, or sorting out a shipping problem all take hours.
• File fixes. If a printer rejects files late, you may pay a designer to fix them under pressure.
• Delays. A late shipment can mean a missed launch or an event without books, which is hard to put a price on.
• Storage. A large run needs somewhere to live. Ordering more copies than you need lowers the unit price but ties up money and space.

Choosing a quantity

Larger runs usually lower the cost per book. At The Honest Print, standard printing gives the lowest price and typically takes 45 to 60 days, while short runs and rush orders arrive much sooner, usually at a higher cost per book. The right quantity is the one you can realistically sell or give away, not simply the one with the lowest unit price. The author copies guide can help you estimate it.

How our quotes work

Every quote from The Honest Print is one all in price with shipping included, priced by a real person within 2 to 3 business days. The digital proof is free, and a printed proof is an optional extra if you want to hold a copy first. You see the delivered price and the cost per book before you commit. Read more on the pricing page, or start your book and request a quote for your exact specs so you can compare it fairly with the others you have.