Self-publishing cost calculator
Enter your word count, then for each job choose to do it yourself, hire a freelancer, or leave it out. You get a low to high total and the sum written out under it.
Uploading your book to KDP costs nothing: KDP says it provides free tools to self-publish, and Reedsy puts an ebook or print-on-demand book at $0 upfront.
A range runs from the low to the high figure in the source named. Your own quote can fall outside it. Prices are in US dollars. Shipping and tax on proof copies are not included.
Figures checked on 13-Nov-26: editing from the Editorial Freelancers Association 2026 rate chart (median ranges, page dated 04-May-26); covers from Reedsy's cover cost analysis (posted 23-Dec-25, 2025 projects); formatting, ISBN and ad costs from Reedsy's cost to self-publish guide (updated 13-Aug-26); proof copies from KDP's printing cost and proof copy pages; Atticus. Chris's service prices are the ones on manuscript review, book cover design, book formatting and publishing under his imprint.
More free tools: the book page count calculator, the KDP keyword box checker, the KDP book description formatter, the KDP cover size and spine width calculator, the ISBN barcode generator, the KDP royalty and print cost calculator and the book sales calculator. See all the free tools.
Want the rest of the steps in order?
The free checklist is the 12 steps I follow for every book, from choosing a topic to setting up the book's marketing.
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Want some of these jobs done for you? See my publishing services.