Paperback Book Printing UK | Short Runs from 10 Copies

How much does paperback book printing cost?

The table shows the same A5 paperback — 200 pages mono, perfect bound, 240gsm laminated cover — at six quantities, priced live by our calculator, so you can see exactly how the per-copy price falls as the run grows.

The steepest savings come between 10 and 100 copies as make-ready spreads across more books. PUR prices the same as perfect; thread-sewn adds the sewing cost. Compare with hardback printing, see full UK book printing prices, or get your exact price →

MoMo Pethana week ago on Google

★★★★★

It was my first time printing books with Imprint, and I had a really good experience. The books came out just as I expected, and they were packed really carefully for delivery. Happy with the service and the quality!

J W2 weeks ago on Google

★★★★★

Brilliant company, which I highly recommend for any printing task, large or small.

Sheila Blanninga month ago on Google

★★★★★

I would give 10 stars if I could. This was my first foray into preparing a book myself for self publishing. In the past we have paid a designer a vast amount which wasn’t a cost effective option for this project. Riley at Imprint was endlessly helpful and patient and we have ended up with a very professional product at an incredibly reasonable price. What is even more outstanding is that I approved the final PDF on Wednesday and received the books on Friday!

Sally A-E3 months ago on Google

★★★★★

I'm delighted with the whole printing experience with ImprintDigital. In a book with many colour photos and detailed technical illustrations, the printing quality is absolutely superb, with bright, true colours, sharp details and a high-quality glossy texture. The ordering process was simple and email responses were fast, friendly and professional..A delivery issue caused by another company was handled swiftly and elegantly. I highly recommend ImprintDigital.

Paperback printing FAQ

What is the minimum order quantity for paperbacks?Our minimum order is 10 paperback copies. We specialise in short runs so this applies across all three binding methods — perfect bound, PUR bound, and thread-sewn paperback.

How much does it cost to print a paperback book?For a 200-page A5 mono paperback in the UK, expect roughly £3.78 per copy at 50, £3.01 at 100, £2.04 at 250 and £1.59 at 500. Colour paperbacks on coated paper are higher. The pricing table on this page shows live numbers from our calculator.

How much does it cost to print 100 paperback books?100 copies of a 200-page A5 mono paperback, perfect bound with a laminated full-colour cover, cost £3.01 a copy: £300.90 for the books plus £30.00 delivery to one UK address, and no VAT. 100 is the most common run on this page; the table shows the per-copy price still falling at 250 and 500. Colour pages, coated paper or a larger trim size cost more; the calculator above prices your exact spec.

How much does it cost to print a 300 page book?A 300-page A5 mono paperback, perfect bound, is about £4.74 per copy at 50 copies, £3.97 at 100 and £2.80 at 250, priced live by the calculator on this page. The extra hundred pages add paper and a thicker spine over the 200-page book in the table; the same 300 pages as a thread-sewn hardback cost more again. Set the page count to 300 above for your exact spec.

How quickly can you turn around a paperback order?Standard turnaround is 3 to 5 working days from artwork approval. Our Fast Track service delivers in 2 working days for a 25% supplement. Proof copies are dispatched within 2 working days.

What is the difference between perfect binding and PUR?Perfect binding uses EVA hot-melt adhesive — strong, cost-effective, and ideal for most paperbacks. PUR uses polyurethane reactive adhesive which bonds more strongly, lies flatter when open, and works better on coated paper. PUR costs slightly more but is recommended for books that will see heavy use.

Do you offer thread-sewn paperback binding?Yes — we are one of the few UK printers to offer thread-sewn paperback binding from short runs. Pages are physically sewn before being glued into a paperback cover, producing the strongest paperback binding available. Ideal for art books, catalogues and reference works.

Can I send a sample book to check quality?Yes. Free sample packs are available on request. Email [email protected] with your address and we will send a range of paperback examples covering different binding types, paper weights, and cover finishes.

What cover finishes are available for paperbacks?Standard paperback covers are 240gsm coated card with gloss, matt or soft-touch matt lamination. Optional finishes include foil blocking, spot UV varnish, embossing and debossing. Cover printing is full colour CMYK; we can also handle Pantone spot colours on special order.

Is paperback printing cheaper than hardback?Yes — typically 50 to 70% cheaper per copy at the same spec and quantity. A 200pp A5 perfect-bound paperback runs around £3.01/copy at 100; the same book as a thread-sewn case-bound hardback runs around £8.78/copy at 100. Paperback is the right choice for cost-sensitive trade and self-publishing work.

How can I create a paperback book?Write and lay out the interior at the trim size you will print (our free interior templates and the words-to-pages tool give you the page count and margins), export it as a single-page PDF with 3mm bleed and 300dpi images, and build the cover with our free cover template generator, which sets the spine width for your paper and page count. Then pick size, paper, page counts, binding and quantity in the calculator on this page, add to cart, upload the two PDFs, approve the free digital proof, and we print and bind in 3 to 5 working days. Start with 10 copies if you want to hold the book before a bigger run.

What is the cheapest way to print a book?Mono text on 80gsm uncoated paper, A5 or B-format, perfect bound, and as many copies as you will genuinely use: the same 200-page A5 paperback is £3.01 a copy at 100 and £1.59 at 500 on this page, because make-ready spreads across the run. Do not pay for colour you do not need, keep the cover to a laminated card, and trust the free digital proof rather than adding a printed one. For one or two copies a print-on-demand service will beat any printer; from 10 copies a dedicated run like ours is cheaper per copy, and the gap widens with every quantity step.