How Much Does Book Cover Design Cost?

Book cover design cost can be $0 with a free tool or more than $1,500 for a custom package. For one useful benchmark, Reedsy’s analysis of more than 9,600 cover projects in 2025 found an average of $880, with most projects between $625 and $1,250. Those figures describe Reedsy’s marketplace, rather than every designer or service.

You can spend much less. Premade covers and budget design services offer lower prices, while custom illustration and more design options can raise the total. The key is to compare what each quote includes, especially if you need both an ebook cover and a print cover.

The prices below are in US dollars and were checked in October 2026. They are published examples, not a ranking of providers. Confirm the final price, taxes, and scope before ordering.

Book cover design prices by service type

Free tools for designing your own cover

Amazon KDP’s Cover Creator is free. It lets you build a cover using layouts, fonts, and images. This can keep your design fee at $0, although you still need to spend time choosing and arranging the elements.

Before using a cover you made yourself, view it at the size of a search result. Check whether the title is readable and whether the image suggests the type of book you wrote. For print, check the physical proof too.

Premade book covers

A premade cover is a design you choose from an existing collection. The designer then adds your title and author name.

Ebook Launch lists premade ebook covers at $99. Its service includes text and color changes, and it removes a purchased design from its gallery. Print and audiobook versions cost extra.

A premade cover is worth considering when an existing design fits your book. If you need to change the characters, setting, and layout, request a custom quote before buying it.

Budget cover design services

Some custom services have much lower starting prices. GetCovers lists an ebook cover at $10, an ebook and print cover at $20, and a premium package at $35. The $35 tier includes source files. Check the package details and optional extras before paying.

Use recent portfolio samples to judge whether a service suits your book. Ask what you will receive at the advertised price, then compare that scope with your needs. A low starting price alone tells you little about whether the finished design will suit your audience.

Custom ebook and paperback cover design

Ebook Launch charges $497 for a custom ebook cover and $595 for an ebook and paperback cover package. The latter includes the front, spine, back, and one print file. That is a $98 difference for the listed packages. Other print formats are available separately.

At another price point, Damonza lists its Standard ebook cover package at $645 and its Premium package from $1,695. The Premium option includes more initial concepts and a call with the creative director. Print versions are add-ons.

This is why the total price needs context. A higher fee may buy more design development while still leaving you with an ebook cover only.

Illustrated book covers

Miblart lists an illustrated cover wrap from $390 and a children’s illustrated cover from $200. Both listed packages cover up to two characters and a background. The final price depends on the style and complexity. Unlimited revisions apply during the draft stage.

These are cover prices. They do not represent the cost of illustrating an entire children’s book. If you already have an illustrator, ask whether the project includes cover artwork, title lettering, and the finished print layout. Those tasks should be clear in the quote.

What changes the cost of a book cover

The formats you plan to publish

An ebook needs a front cover image. A paperback needs a front, spine, and back. A hardcover or dust jacket may need another layout. IngramSpark explains that the relevant cover elements must be assembled into a single PDF.

List every format before requesting a price. If you plan to use both KDP and IngramSpark, ask whether files for both platforms are included. Also ask about an audiobook cover if you expect to release one later.

Original artwork and design concepts

Ask whether the quote covers arranging stock images, creating an illustration, or using artwork you supply. Then check how many design directions you will see before choosing one.

For example, someone who already has suitable artwork may mainly need lettering and layout. A fantasy author who wants a specific creature and setting needs a different brief. Give the designer enough detail to price that work before it starts.

Revisions and changes after approval

Clarify what counts as a revision. Adjusting a title’s size and replacing the whole concept are different requests. Ask what happens if you change direction after approving a sketch.

Also check the charge for later changes to the subtitle, back cover text, or spine width. A package that includes revisions during design may have different terms after delivery.

Editable files and image permissions

An upload file and an editable source file serve different purposes. Ask whether you will receive the files needed to revise the design later, and what software they require.

Check the permitted uses of the artwork too. For example, Damonza states that its rights transfer is subject to the stock library’s license terms. Ask the provider to explain any limits that affect your planned use, including advertising or merchandise. Do not assume that a custom layout gives you exclusive use of every stock image in it.

A simple example of the real total

Consider this hypothetical comparison. These figures are invented to show how quotes can differ.

Designer A charges $299 for an ebook cover, $75 for a paperback wrap, $60 for editable files, and $50 for an extra revision round you expect to need. The total is $484 before any tax.

Designer B charges $450 for all those items. Although Designer B’s starting price is higher, that quote costs $34 less for the same requested work.

Make your comparison using the final deliverables and revision allowance. Include any rush fee or platform charge shown at checkout.

How to avoid paying for preventable changes

Finish editing and formatting the interior before the designer finalizes the print cover. You can start discussing concepts sooner, but final measurements need the finished book.

KDP’s cover preparation guide says cover sizing requires the final page count. Its template tool also uses details such as binding, paper, and trim size. A change to those details can affect the cover dimensions.

Before the final layout, confirm these items:

·   The title, subtitle, author name, and series details.

·   The back cover description and any endorsements.

·   The trim size, paper type, binding, and final page count.

·   Each publishing platform and format you need.

·       Any artwork you plan to supply and permission to use it.

Then send one clear set of comments during each revision round. Ask the designer to check the files against the relevant printer templates before delivery.

How much should you spend on your cover

Start with the amount you can afford after allowing for editing and interior formatting. Then get quotes for the formats you intend to publish.

If the budget is under $100, compare premade covers and budget services with the option of making your own. Look for a design that fits the book without needing major changes.

If you can spend several hundred dollars, compare custom packages by their portfolios, revision terms, and included files. If you want original artwork or several concepts to choose from, get a written quote for that specific brief.

Before selecting a designer, compare their samples with books aimed at the same readers. Check the title at a small size, the overall layout, and whether the cover gives readers a fair idea of the book. IngramSpark’s cover design guidance also stresses matching the cover to its genre and audience.

Questions to ask before you book

·   Does the price include ebook, paperback, and any other formats I need?

·   How many initial concepts and revision rounds are included?

·   What would count as a new concept or an extra charge?

·   Are image fees and editable source files included?

·   What are the deposit, cancellation, and refund terms?

·       What happens if a printer flags a cover file or my page count changes?

Use the answers to request two or three quotes based on the same brief. Then choose the designer whose work fits your book and whose total price covers the files you need.