Book cost calculator
Your book's cost on TUW depends on its word count and the services you choose. A 15,000-word guide with an Urban writer, Essential Editing, a Silver cover and eBook formatting costs $945.99 at standard prices.
Build your book estimate
Choose your word count and services. The receipt adds each item and shows your standard and Insider totals, with eligible bundle savings applied automatically.
Your book
Choose from five candidates per role while TUW manages your book from outline to publication.
Book writing
Every writing order includes a human copy edit and proofread by a separate editor.
Manuscript editing
Cover and formatting
Extras
What TUW customers choose
See which writer, cover and editing packages customers choose, and how often they add another service to their book project.
Based on TUW records, excluding paid samples. The Premium writer figure covers books written in the last two years.
Start with an example book
Load an example into the calculator, then adjust its word count and services to match your book. Examples use standard prices.
What your writing price includes
TUW's marketplace software lets you post projects, receive freelancer pitches and choose who works on your book.
Essential Editing included
Every book-writing order includes Essential Editing. A separate human editor copy edits and proofreads the manuscript.
Revision rounds by level
Writing packages include 1 revision round for Rising, 2 for Urban, 3 for Top and 4 for Premium or Finance & Tech.
You own the book
You own all delivered content and keep all copyrights. Every freelancer signs away their rights.
A paid sample first
You can order a paid 1,000-word writing sample before committing. Samples cost $22 for Rising to $32 for Premium, separate from your book order.
Ways to reduce your total
Compare Insider prices with standard prices and account for the membership fee. The calculator applies eligible bundle savings automatically.
Insider membership
Insider costs $99 a month. Subscribe before placing an order to use Insider prices on that new order. Writing prices are about 20% lower, or 17% for Finance & Tech.
Book service bundles
Silver combines writing, a Silver cover and paperback formatting for $20 off. Gold includes a description for $30 off. Platinum includes a professional outline and description for $40 off. You can upgrade the bundle's cover.
Common questions
How much does it cost to publish a book?
Your cost depends on the book's length and the services you need. On TUW, a 15,000-word guide with Urban writing, Essential Editing, a Silver cover and eBook formatting costs $945.99 at standard prices. This calculator totals your selected TUW services so you can plan those costs together.
How much does it cost to self-publish a book?
For a manuscript you've written, your TUW estimate can include editing, cover design, formatting and a book description. A 70,000-word novel with Developmental Editing, a Gold cover, eBook and paperback formatting and a description costs $3,070.98 at standard prices. If you need the manuscript written, choose a writing package, which includes Essential Editing.
How much does book editing cost?
At TUW's standard prices, editing your own manuscript costs $2.30 per 100 words for Essential Editing, $2.70 for Line Editing or $3.10 for Developmental Editing. Insider prices are $2.10, $2.40 and $2.80 per 100 words, respectively. Every book-writing order already includes Essential Editing, a human copy edit and proofread by a separate editor.
How much does a book cover cost?
TUW cover design costs $144.99 for Silver, $184.99 for Gold or $279.99 for Platinum at standard prices. Insider prices are $129.99, $164.99 and $249.99, respectively. Book service bundles include a Silver cover, which you can upgrade.
How much does book formatting cost?
TUW charges per started 10,000 words, at $36 for eBook formatting or $50 for paperback formatting at standard prices. A 30,000-word book uses 3 blocks, costing $108 for eBook formatting or $150 for paperback formatting. Insider prices are $18 per block for eBook formatting and $25 per block for paperback formatting.
Are there costs beyond the estimate?
The estimate covers the TUW services you select. Optional managed services and quality add-ons available in the app are not included. If you choose Insider pricing, account for the $99 monthly membership fee when planning your total spend. A paid writing sample is also a separate purchase if you want one before committing.
Can TUW manage my whole book from outline to publication?
TUW manages your whole non-fiction book, with one TUW project manager accountable for delivery from outline to publication. You choose your six-specialist team from five candidates TUW presents per role. The Authority Book Program costs $20,000 USD plus applicable taxes for up to 40,000 words. It includes five human passes, four revision rounds within the approved outline, finished book files, publication assistance and six bonuses.
Plan the details of your book
Ghostwriting cost
Compare writing prices by word count and writer level.
Book editing cost
Compare Essential, Line and Developmental Editing prices for your manuscript.
Cover design
Explore Silver, Gold and Platinum cover packages.
How many words in a book?
Plan your word count before calculating writing, editing and formatting costs.
Post your book project for free
Post your project on TUW's marketplace, receive freelancer pitches and choose who works on your book.