Are you looking for a book cover that will draw the attention of your customers? Are you wondering about the cost of the various cover designs available in the market?
To your question "how much does a book cover cost?", the answer is: it depends.
You are probably wondering which book cover to select to meet your budget. Worry not, outlined below is the detailed information about the various book covers' estimated cost, including the different book covers and their price.
This should give you a better understanding of the rough price you will pay for cover design and enable you to factor this into your publishing budget.
Pre-Made Cover
Price range: approximately $15-$200
Pre-made covers are the best choice you have at a pocket-friendly price. You get what you see with only a customized author and title name. The pre-made covers are inexpensive as the designer does not spend much time to fit clients' preferences.
As such, it is crucial to keep your target audience and clients in mind when choosing a pre-made book cover.
The designer does not bear the burden of selecting the appropriate artwork design that communicates the book's content for these book covers. Therefore, carefully select a book cover that correlates with your book's content.
The average price of a pre-made book cover is $40-$80 but using services like Fiverr, you can get them much cheaper. Covers that take much time to design and have additional digital illustrations will cost more.
It is also crucial to ensure that the selected book cover is exclusive and unique to you.
Semi-Custom Cover
Price range: approximately $150-$700
If you are searching for a book cover customized to meet your preferences and not too expensive, then the semi-custom cover is the best choice.
Most of the book cover designs fall under this classification. Therefore, one has the advantage of selecting an excellent designer to deliver a quality book cover under this category.
Designers specialized in making semi-custom covers use photography from various stock sites to design a book cover that meets your taste and preference.
It is important to note at this stage that an experienced designer will charge more than a freshly graduated designer building up their portfolio.
However, most designers charge a standard flat rate.
It is also vital to understand that a designer can use a background or stock model already on other covers.
Therefore, ensure that you get an exclusive book cover design that is not sold to other people.
However, worry not, as the designer will create a customized book cover based on the information you share with them (so be as detailed as possible).
Custom Cover
Price range: $700 and above
If you are searching for a highly customized book cover, made by a professional, that is unique (and you have the funds to spare) then you should get yourself the custom cover.
The intensity and time used to design these covers make them the most expensive of the three categories. It is, therefore, crucial to search for a highly experienced designer specializing in creating custom covers. Note that the authors bear the burden of choosing an appropriate book cover.
In their making, custom designers can use stock photography artwork for some parts of the book cover. However, the model design selected will be exclusive to the book. Custom covers contain a model, photographer, and hand-drawn artwork that other designers cannot duplicate.
As such, if you are looking for an exclusive and detailed book cover, custom covers are an excellent choice.
If working on a series of books, consider getting custom covers.
You can negotiate with your designer on the overall cost for a long-term engagement to minimize cost. You might also consider having more than one cover with the same general theme for a series of books.
Although custom designs are a bit expensive, they will more than likely meet your preference and tastes. And if not, you can keep requesting revisions until you are happy.
But wait..... there is ONE more option! 🙊
Design It Yourself!
Price range: $0 - $However-Much-You-Are-Willing-To-Spend-On-Software-And-Or-Stock-Images
You would be on the wrong site if you read a list of costs and I did't give you your most inexpensive option! DIY will always have its pros and cons. Why? Because DIY suggests that you are not an expert (no offense... buttttt, if you were then you would be out there designing your cover right now, no?)
Anyway, when designing your cover yourself, yes you will reduce the cost considerably but also bear in mind that you might not be giving your book its best chance at success by doing so.
Remember, everybody judges a book by its cover.
With all of that being said, I am sure you want to know your best budget options, regardless:
- Canva
- Adobe Spark
- Vecteezy
- Pexels
- Pixabay
I could probably sit here adding platforms to the list for ages. But for now, let me break down what each of these platforms do and how they will help you design and render your own, pretty decent quality book cover.
How to find the right book cover designer
With so many designers out there, it can be tough to know where to start. Here are a few tips to help you find the right person for the job:
- Think about the overall feel you want for your book cover.
Do you want it to be sleek and modern, or warm and homey? - Once you have a general idea, start looking at portfolios of different designers. See if their style matches what you're going for.
- It's also important to consider turnaround time and budget. Make sure the designer can meet your timeline and fits within your budget.
- Finally, don't be afraid to ask for samples or references. A good designer should be able to provide examples of their work, and past clients should be happy to vouch for them.
With these tips in mind, you're sure to find the perfect book cover designer for your project.
Selecting a book cover
Selecting the appropriate book cover is crucial in marketing your book. An excellent book cover should be appealing to the reader and convey the message in your book. It would be best if you are actively involved in selecting the artwork for your book cover to ensure that it best describes your book's message.
Importantly, when selecting a book cover, ensure that its cost is in line with your budget as much as you would want a custom-made cover if your budget does not allow you to select semi-custom or pre-made covers.
Therefore, choose a cover in line with your budget and one that best describes your book's content.
Conclusion
It is essential to consider your budget, target audience, and expected design before choosing a book cover. Ensure to select a book cover entailing your book's details and one that meets your budget.
Hopefully, this article has been informative on the different book covers, their estimated price, and how to select your book cover designer and design.
