Free author tool
Self-publishing cost calculator
Pick the services you need and see what publishing your book will cost, based on 2026 editor rates.
Developmental editing
Big-picture structure, argument and flow.
$0
Line editing
Sentence-level clarity, rhythm and voice.
$0
Copyediting
Grammar, consistency and style.
$1,500 to $2,000
Proofreading
Final pass for typos after layout.
$1,000 to $1,500
Cover design
Front cover, plus spine and back for print.
$350 to $1,250
Interior formatting
Print layout and ebook file.
$250 to $800
ISBN
Free from KDP, or your own from Bowker.
$0
Estimated total
$3,100 to $5,550
Editing at EFA 2026 median nonfiction rates. Excludes marketing and printing author copies.
Hiring a ghostwriter to write the book first adds about $16,500 to $25,000 at EFA median rates (33 to 50 cents a word). Our done-for-you books, written, edited and designed, start at $1,497.
2026 prices
What self-publishing services cost
Median nonfiction rates from the Editorial Freelancers Association's 2026 survey of over 1,100 editors, plus typical design and ISBN prices.
| Service | Typical rate | 50,000-word book |
|---|---|---|
| Developmental editing | 4 to 5 cents a word | $2,000 to $2,500 |
| Line editing | 3.5 to 5 cents a word | $1,750 to $2,500 |
| Copyediting | 3 to 4 cents a word | $1,500 to $2,000 |
| Proofreading | 2 to 3 cents a word | $1,000 to $1,500 |
| Cover design | $350 median, custom up to ~$1,250 | $350 to $1,250 |
| Interior formatting | Print and ebook files | $250 to $800 |
| ISBN (US) | Free from KDP, or Bowker | $0, $125 or $295 for 10 |
| Ghostwriting | 33 to 50 cents a word | $16,500 to $25,000 |
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