![]() ![]() It is sold on the first day the book is available and marketed to the most enthusiastic readers who are willing to pay full price, and who typically want the prestige and ruggedness of hardcover. The hardcover version is the full version of the book. So it seems to me that if we assume that marketing and distribution costs are roughly the same for all types of books, the production costs would account for a good part of the price discrepancy. With casewrap binding, the cost was US $15 per book and including a dust jacket bumped that up to US $16. The manufacturing cost on that came out to US $6.50 per book.įor a hardcover, I used the same parameters except for binding. I ran their manufacturing price calculator on roughly the same parameters.įor a paperback, I used 100 pages of standard paper, black & white printing, US Trade size (6" x 9"), bound with the "perfect bound" binding. I wasn't able to find a detailed breakdown of the costs involved in making a paperback, so I looked at - a self-publishing service - to get a ballpark figure. The Salon article goes into more details, though, and there is also some interesting information from the desk of Jane Galt about hardcover pricing if you look past the political bent of some of the comments. There are other considerations in book pricing, but they seem to have more to do with how the bookselling industry works than with the book format, so I'm omitting them here. The author also gets a cut - typically around 10% or 15% of the price. The rest covers the publisher's other costs (editing staff, promotions, etc.), distribution costs, and booksellers' profit. That accounts for about 20% of the book's final price. According to that article, the physical cost of the book comes from the quality of paper, the printing, and the binding. also has an interesting post on what makes books cost as much as they do. This leaves $12.58, Money magazine calls this the profit margin for the retailer, however when was the last time you saw a bestselling novel sold at its cover price. Also the author will be paying a slice of this pie $2.80 - Wholesaler - The take of the middlemenīestseller like Grisham will net about 15% in royalties, lesser knownĪuthors get less. $2.00 - Marketing - Book tour, NYT Book Review ad, printing and shipping $3.55 - Pre-preduction - This amount covers editors, graphic On the other hand, if you’re looking for a book to last, collect, or give as a gift, then you’ll get more benefit from a hardcover.The article Breakdown of book costs shows an example of the costs involved in making a hardcover book: If you want a book for a quick read or to read while traveling, then paperback is for you. The question of which is better between paperback and hardcover is more a question of why you’re buying a book. Hopefully, by now, you know more about the differences between hardcover vs paperback books. Some books will release the paperback six months after initial release, whereas others will come out a full year after initial release. Publishers want to make the biggest profit possible from the hardcover before releasing the mass-published paperback. The waiting time between an initial hardcover release and a paperback release really depends on the book. How long before a book comes out in paperback? Paperback books are usually mass-distributed, so many people can purchase. The paperback release is to bank on a book’s growing market by offering it to a wider audience. What is the paperback edition of a book?Ī paperback edition of a book is usually released after the initial hardcover release of a book. However, if you just want to read the book and that’s it, you should look to buy the paperback, as it is better value for money. If you want a book that will last the long-term, then a hardcover book is definitely worth the money. When a book by a popular author is first released, they’ll come out as a hardcover first to profit from the bigger fans and those giving the book as a gift. When you spend the extra money for the hardcover, you’re doing so knowing that the book will last long-term. Why do people buy hardcover books?ĭue to the higher price, hardcover books are usually for collectors and major fans. Likewise, the paper is of higher quality and the printing is better too. ![]() The cover is a harder board that is made to protect the book for the long term. Hardcover books are more expensive than paperback books because they’re significantly better quality. If you’re looking for a book to keep long-term though, then hardcover books are better. Paperbacks are also better if you’re traveling because hardcovers are more rigid and a lot heavier. If you just want a quick read or a cheaper alternative, then paperbacks are definitely better than hardcover books. It really depends on what you’re after in a book. Here are some of the frequently asked questions in regards to comparing hardcover and paperback books. ![]()
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