How to price a self-published book is math plus category norms. Copying a famous author’s $9.99 Kindle price on a 400-page color hardcover is how print “royalties” go negative.
The three inputs
- Print manufacturing cost — trim, page count, color vs B&W, paper. This is not a publisher fee; it is the physical book.
- Wholesale / list discount — Amazon and wholesale channels do not pay you the cover price.
- Category norms — readers in romance vs illustrated nonfiction expect different bands.
AuthorShelf’s net is channel earnings minus print cost for units sold. Model scenarios on the Resources royalty calculator before you lock a price in Title Setup. Formula explainer: royalties net to you.
eBook vs print
eBook has no print cost, so you have more room to experiment (promos, launch pricing). Print has to clear manufacturing plus the channel cut. Price them as a pair so the paperback does not undercut a hardcover you cannot afford to sell.
What we will not do
We will not pick a “bestseller price” that ignores your page count. Bring trim and estimated pages to a readiness call if you want a sanity check — not a guaranteed sales forecast.