How much does it cost to format a book?
Updated
Typical costs in 2026: human formatters charge $50–200 per book (more for complex layouts); desktop software costs $147 (Atticus) to $249 (Vellum) one-time; browser tools like Ceeryo charge per book at a fraction of a human formatter. Free options (Reedsy Studio, Kindle Create) produce standardized interiors with limited design.
Where your money goes depends on control and volume. Human formatters hand-fit every page — right for image-heavy or unusual books, priced accordingly per project and per revision round.
Desktop apps make sense at volume: a $147–249 license amortizes over many books, but you pay upfront, learn the software, and (for Vellum) need a Mac.
Automated per-book typesetting fits the most common case — a finished text-led manuscript that needs professional typography and correct print geometry now. You pay only for the book in hand, and good tools show the typeset result before you pay.
Free tools are genuinely fine for basic ebooks; their limits show in print (gutter math, trade conventions) and design personality.