To print a book through a contractor, choose its finished dimensions and binding first, then format the interior and cover to the supplier’s specifications. Review a physical proof before ordering copies. Preparing books for print also means comparing the full delivered cost and the time needed for revisions.

Printing a Book: Choose the Physical Format

The trim size is the finished width and height after cutting. A 6-by-9-inch paperback is one practical size for a text-heavy book. A smaller page can be comfortable to hold, but may add pages and increase the cost. Set the size before finalizing the layout: changing it later changes line breaks, page count, and potentially the cover.

Choose a binding that suits how the book will be used. A perfect-bound paperback has a glued spine and flexible cover; it is a common choice for a novel or memoir. A hardcover has rigid boards and costs more. A spiral binding can lie open for a workbook, but its look and available distribution options differ. Ask each supplier about page-count limits for your selected format.

Paper matters too. Cream paper can give a text-only interior a warmer appearance; white paper gives a brighter page. Compare the paper weight and opacity in a sample, particularly if print showing through from the reverse side would make reading difficult.

Build the Interior PDF

Before printing a book, finish editing and arrange the title page, copyright page, chapters, and any back matter. Set consistent styles for body text and chapter headings. Use page breaks at chapter starts, and check that page numbers and running headers appear where intended.

The inside margin, or gutter, leaves room for the binding. A thicker book generally needs a wider gutter so words remain easy to read near the spine. Keep text and page numbers away from the outer edges as well. Use the printer’s margins for the final page count; KDP’s margin guide illustrates how its requirements change with page count and bleed.

Bleed is extra artwork extending beyond the finished edge so trimming does not leave a white strip. A plain text interior usually needs no bleed. If a page has artwork reaching an edge, use the supplier’s bleed dimensions and export settings. For book production in print, export a PDF with embedded fonts and inspect it at full size. Follow the supplier’s instructions on single pages, marks, and color settings: requirements vary. IngramSpark’s file guidelines, for example, request single pages without printer marks.

Read the exported file, not just the source document. Look for missing characters, shifted images, blank pages, clipped text, and awkward chapter openings. A search of the PDF for a few distinctive words can also reveal missing text; visual inspection is still needed for layout.

Prepare the Cover

Finalize the interior page count and paper before building the cover. Those choices affect spine width. Download a template or use the chosen printer’s calculator, then place the front, spine, and back within its boundaries. Allow bleed around the outside and keep important lettering clear of trim and fold lines.

Check whether the supplier supplies a barcode and where it belongs. Use images with sufficient resolution for the printed size, and inspect small text at the size readers will see it. If you change the page count or paper, regenerate the template and recheck the spine before uploading the cover.

Order a Proof and Compare Suppliers

A digital preview can catch obvious file problems, but a physical proof shows the actual paper, binding, trim, and cover finish. Read several pages near the beginning, middle, and end. Check the gutter, chapter starts, page order, cover alignment, and whether the book opens comfortably. Correct the source files, export fresh PDFs, and review another proof when changes affect the layout or cover.

When comparing online book printing services, request prices for the same trim size, page count, ink, paper, binding, and quantity. The best book printing services for your project should also offer the format and delivery schedule you need. Compare setup and file-revision fees, proof and shipping costs, turnaround times, and whether a quoted date includes transit. Some online services that print books offer distribution as well as manufacturing; others handle production only. The top services for printing books will depend on whether you need retail distribution or copies delivered to you. Check distribution terms separately if you want retailers to sell the book.

For a small or uncertain audience, printing books on demand can avoid paying for inventory upfront, though the unit cost may be higher. A larger print run can reduce the price per copy but requires storage and a larger initial payment. Calculate the total delivered cost for each quantity, then divide by the number of usable copies. Choose the run that fits both your budget and a realistic plan for distributing the books.