Chloe Sparks
Writer★ 4.9165 customer ratings288orders completed
Home / Ghostwriting services / Ghostwriting cost
Book pricingHow much does a ghostwriter cost?
TUW ghostwriting costs $4.13 to $6.60 per 100 words across writer levels, with Essential Editing included. For 50,000 words, standard prices run from $2,065 with Rising to $3,300 with Finance & Tech.
Calculate your book cost
Choose your word count and writer level to compare prices.
Writer level
TUW standard price$1,683
$5.61 per 100 wordsPost a Project
4.9/5Customer ratings of writers on book-writing orders
24,000+Books written by TUW
IncludedEssential Editing with every Book Writing order
Ghostwriting prices by book length
Many TUW books run about 30,000 words. At that length, standard prices range from Rising at $1,239 to Finance & Tech at $1,980.
| Writer level | 30,000 | 50,000 | 80,000 | 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rising | $1,239($990) | $2,065($1,650) | $3,304($2,640) | $4,130($3,300) |
| Urban | $1,458($1,167) | $2,430($1,945) | $3,888($3,112) | $4,860($3,890) |
| Top | $1,608($1,287) | $2,680($2,145) | $4,288($3,432) | $5,360($4,290) |
| Premium | $1,683($1,347) | $2,805($2,245) | $4,488($3,592) | $5,610($4,490) |
| Finance & Tech | $1,980($1,650) | $3,300($2,750) | $5,280($4,400) | $6,600($5,500) |
Insider prices appear in brackets. Every Book Writing order includes Essential Editing.
How ghostwriting prices compare
A large freelance marketplace's 2026 data lists self-help projects at $24,000 to $42,000 and novels at $3,500 to $18,000. Compare scope alongside price.
ServicePublished priceScope
TUW, 50,000 words$2,065 Rising to $3,300 Finance & TechWriting and Essential Editing, with your choice of writer.
Freelance marketplace project rangesMemoir/biography $18,000 to $50,000. Business $30,000 to $48,000.Whole-project quotes often include interviews, with scope varying by writer and project.
Ghostwriting agency pricing guideBasic $30,000 to $60,000. Elite $180,000 to $300,000 and more.Business ghostwriter compensation ranges vary with experience and project scope.
TUW Authority Book Program$20,000 USD before tax, up to 40,000 wordsInterviews and a managed team for established experts.
Sources: A large freelance marketplace's 2026 data (updated June 2026) and a ghostwriting agency's 2026 pricing guide based on its compensation survey. Project ranges are not quotes for a fixed word count.
Why ghostwriting quotes differ
The project includes different work
Agencies and marketplace writers usually quote whole projects, often with interviews over months. The highest-priced writers may bring bestselling or traditionally published credits.
TUW publishes per-word prices
Your word count and writer level set the price, with Essential Editing included. You choose from writers who request your project and can review their profiles or chat first.
Managed support costs more
The Authority Book Program gives established experts interviews and a managed team. It costs $20,000 USD before tax for up to 40,000 words, with four revision rounds within the approved outline.
What changes your book's price
Word count
TUW prices writing by word count. A shorter book costs less at the same writer level, so decide how much space your topic needs.
Writer level
Each level has its own rate and revision allowance. Compare profiles, ratings, samples and completed orders before choosing your writer.
Subject and availability
Finance & Tech covers specialty nonfiction. Rising and Urban are available only for niches listed in the order form. Fiction and nonfiction use the same writer prices.
Editing choices
Essential Editing includes human copy editing and proofreading. Optional Line editing costs $0.95 per 100 words, or $0.80 at Insider prices.
What your writing package includes
You see the price before paying. Posting your project is free, and the team can help you choose a writer.
- Writing for your chosen word count
- Essential Editing: human copy editing and proofreading
- Revision rounds based on writer level
- Your choice of writer
- Watch your writer live, with in-document comments and feedback.
- Ownership of your finished book and all copyrights
- No Line editing
- No developmental review
- No cover or formatting
- No book description or narration
Find your writer
Browse writer profilesBrowse writer profiles with ratings and completed orders before choosing your writer.
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Budget for the extras you need
These services are priced separately. Line editing costs $285 for 30,000 words or $475 for 50,000 words. Developmental review is also optional.
Professional outline$375
Paid 1,000-word sampleFrom $22 with Rising
Book coverSilver from $144.99
eBook formatting$36 per 10,000 words
Paperback formatting$50 per 10,000 words
Book description$113.99
Audiobook narration$2.43 per 100 words
Ways to manage your budget
Compare Insider prices
For 50,000 words, Insider prices range from $1,650 with Rising to $2,750 with Finance & Tech. Check the bracketed prices in the table.
Check your niche first
Rising and Urban have lower rates and cover the niches listed in the order form. Check availability before planning your budget around either level.
Start with a paid sample
A paid 1,000-word sample lets you review a writer's work before committing to a full book. Samples start at $22 with Rising.
Common questions
How much does it cost to write a book?
At TUW, a 30,000-word book costs $1,239 with Rising to $1,980 with Finance & Tech at standard prices. Writing and Essential Editing are included. Your total depends on word count, writer level and any optional services you choose.
How much does a ghostwriter cost for a 50,000-word nonfiction book?
TUW standard prices range from $2,065 with Rising to $3,300 with Finance & Tech, including Essential Editing. A large freelance marketplace's 2026 average per-word rates put a 50,000-word business book at $36,500 and self-help at $34,500. Those averages cover different writers and project scopes, so customers should compare what each price includes.
How much do ghostwriters charge per word?
TUW standard rates are 4.13 cents to 6.6 cents per word, depending on writer level. A large freelance marketplace's 2026 data lists average rates of $0.51 per word for memoir/biography, $0.73 for business/management and $0.15 for fantasy. Customers should compare what each price includes before choosing.
Why does TUW cost less than many ghostwriters?
TUW uses published per-word prices, lets customers choose their writer and includes Essential Editing. Many agency and marketplace projects include interviews over months, and the highest-priced writers may have bestselling or traditionally published credits. These services differ in scope and experience, so compare the work and support you need alongside the price.
Do I own the book and its copyright?
You own the finished book and all copyrights. Choosing a writer through TUW does not change that ownership.
How long does it take to have a book ghostwritten?
Delivery depends on your word count. Use the delivery estimator to check the timing for your planned book length.
Is editing included in the ghostwriting price?
Every TUW Book Writing order includes Essential Editing, which covers human copy editing and proofreading. Line editing is optional at $0.95 per 100 words, or $0.80 at Insider prices. Developmental review is also a separate option.
Plan the rest of your book
Ghostwriting services
See how to post your project, choose a writer and work together.
Fiction writing packages
Review the writing options for your novel.
Nonfiction writing packages
Compare writer levels and options for your nonfiction book.
Book editing costs
Check editing prices before adding services to your budget.
Delivery estimator
Estimate delivery using your planned word count.
Find a writer for your book
Browse profiles, compare samples and chat with writers before choosing. Posting your project is free.