Where Should I Order Author Copies of My Book?

In a recent post, we talked about ordering ARC copies (advance review copies) of a POD (print on demand) book—prepublication proofs that sometimes sport a “not for resale” watermark across the cover. Today, we’re offering suggestions for where to order author copies of your book, whether you plan to sell them at events, or give them away, or maintain your own inventory.

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Topics Covered In “Where Should I Order Author Copies of My Book?”:

• Ordering Author Copies: Three Solid Options
• KDP
• IngramSpark
• 48hrbooks
• What to Keep in Mind When Ordering Your Author Copies
• Timeline
• Proofs
• Cover and Paper Type
• Watermarks
• Where to Get Help

Where to Order Author Copies: Three Solid Options

Do a quick Google search and you’ll find tons of options for ordering printed author copies of your book. We can’t review them all, but in this post, we’ll look at the three companies we often recommend.

Notes:

• All author copy prices are based on the following specs: 6” x 9”, 200 pages, black-and-white interior, white pages, base page weight, base shipping, and a list price of $11.99. Costs provided by print cost calculators are estimates only.
• Tax will depend on your location and is assessed at the time of ordering.
• As always, prices on third-party printing companies are subject to change. For the most accurate information, follow the provided links to the pricing calculators to check updated numbers with your own book specs. 

Before we get into the details, here’s a quick summary of the main takeaways:

POD Printer Comparison Summary

Now, let’s dig into each company and look at how they calculate their printing and shipping costs.

KDP

Best for: Authors who’ve already published and want affordable author copies quickly.

KDP distributes print-on-demand books directly to Amazon. For many self-publishers wondering how to order the most affordable author copies, KDP often topics the list.

However, one important caveat: If your book has not yet been published, your books will have “review copy” stamped across the cover and a bar code that cannot be used for sales. This means KDP is not the place to order clean, sale-ready copies before publication.

Note: Per KDP, these numbers “are for estimation purposes only.” Calculate the estimated cost for your own books by using KDP’s Print Cost and Royalty Calculator.

KDP Author Copy Costs

*Shipping costs are based on the number of books, the shipping speed and destination, the Amazon site you ordered from, and the weight and size of the items.

To order author copies from KDP, after your book has been published, you’ll initiate the order through your KDP “Bookshelf” and complete it in your Amazon cart. (It won’t stay in your cart forever, so place the order right away, and don’t hit “back” in your browser until your order is complete.)

IngramSpark 

Best for: Authors who want professional-quality copies before publication.

Unlike KDP, IngramSpark is more than happy to print sale-ready books for you even before you publish. This makes IngramSpark a great option for authors who want to give clean copies of their books to family and friends without needing to list it for sale online first.

Here’s an important caveat with IngramSpark that isn’t reflected in the chart: Production times can be slow, especially during peak holiday times. IngramSpark offers several levels of expedited shipping, but costs can skyrocket. To keep costs down, order what you’ll need as soon as you know you’ll need it, and give yourself more time before an event than you think you’ll need.

Note: Calculate your own estimated costs by using IngramSpark’s Print and Ship Calculator. 

IngramSpark Author Copy Costs

*Shipping costs vary by location, speed, destination, number of books, and total weight and size of the package or box.

48hrbooks

Best for: Authors on a tight deadline who need books in hand within days.

While not as widely known as KDP and IngramSpark, 48hrbooks is our recommendation for authors who need printed books now. Production time is as little as two business days, and we’ve seen impressive shipping speeds even without expediting.

The trade-off is that author copies ordered from 48hrbooks cost much more than the same copies from IngramSpark and KDP. While this company is a reliable alternative in a pinch, its higher price points don’t work for everyone. For most authors, 48hrbooks is best reserved for tight timelines when they need author copies in hand fast.

48hrbooks Author Copy Costs

*Books are sent from two locations in NV and OH; shipping cost and speed will vary based on the typical factors, as well as proximity to those locations.

To order from 48hrbooks, just visit their website (or use our affiliate link at no additional cost to you).

What to Keep in Mind When Ordering Your Author Copies

Before deciding where to order your own author copies, consider these key factors.

Timeline

Many an author has shown up to a book event empty-handed because they misunderstood production times or experienced shipping delays. Don’t let this happen to you.

If you need books in hand for an event, work backward from your event date, and give yourself plenty of buffer time for any production snags, shipping delays, or reprints. (And if it’s approaching the holidays, double your buffer time.)

Proofs

If you’ve never seen your book in print, we strongly recommend reviewing a proof copy before placing a bulk order. This is your opportunity to catch last-minute formatting or color issues. Just remember to leave yourself enough time to update your files after reviewing your proof if changes are needed.

Cover and Paper Type

Even after the files have been created, there are still production decisions to make:

• Cover finish (matte or glossy)
• Paper type (cream or white pages)
• Paper weight (typically 50–70lbs)

These decisions will affect the look and feel—and potentially even cost—of your finished book. If you’re not sure, give yourself ample time to order multiple different proofs so you can compare.

Watermarks

We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: Before publication, any copies ordered from KDP will have “PROOF COPY” stamped across the cover. If you do not plan to make your book widely available, KDP is not an option for printing clean author copies.

Where to Get Help

If your head is spinning with all these specs and trim sizes and shipping options, Spoonbridge Press can help. Just schedule a free author consultation and we’ll help you determine where to order author copies that best fit your timeline, budget, and goals.