Royalties, print vs ebook, print runs, covers, ISBNs, launches, audiobooks and rights — type your question and get a straight answer in seconds. The full detailed report costs less than a cup of coffee: $2.95.
Every author hears 'ebooks pay better royalties' and 'paperbacks sell at higher prices' — and both are true, which makes the real question a maths problem rather than a slogan. A paperback earns about 60% of list price minus a printing cost that grows with page count, while an ebook earns 70% minus a delivery fee that grows with file size. The per-copy winner depends entirely on the prices you set, your page count and your file size. This calculator nets both formats on your actual numbers so you can see which one earns more per sale — and why most authors still run both, because the two formats reach different buyers.
Paperbacks sell at higher prices but cost money to print; ebooks pay a fat percentage but sell cheap. Enter both prices, your file size and page count — the calculator nets each format honestly.
It depends on your numbers, but paperbacks often win per copy at typical prices: a $14.99, 300-page paperback nets roughly $4.50 after printing, while a $4.99 ebook nets about $3.20 after delivery. The ebook wins on volume, since most titles sell far more ebooks than paperbacks.
No — and most self-published authors run ebook and paperback together. The formats reach partly different buyers: some readers only buy paper, others only digital. The calculator answers 'which earns more per copy', but the business answer is usually 'both'.
Printing costs scale with pages — roughly $0.85 fixed plus $0.012 per black-and-white page. A 200-page book costs about $3.25 to print and a 400-page book about $5.65, so at the same list price the longer book earns noticeably less per copy.
Every tool answers instantly from our own knowledge and calculators — no AI wait, no account. Want the deeper, personalised version? Each has a $2.95 full report.