How Much Does It Cost to Publish a Book in South Africa?

Self-publishing a book in South Africa usually costs between about R20,000 and R40,000 for a professionally edited, designed and printed first run of 100 copies. An ebook-only book can cost far less. The total depends mainly on the length of your manuscript, how much editing it needs, and how many copies you print.

Below is what each step costs with Creative Books SA, followed by three worked examples.

Editing is priced per word, because longer manuscripts take longer:

• Proofreading: R0.25 to R0.35 per word.
• Copy edit (spelling, grammar, punctuation): R0.30 per word.
• Line edit (flow, tone, word choice): R0.40 per word.
• Content edit (structure and substance): R0.50 per word.
• Full packages combining a content edit with a copy or line edit: R0.65 to R0.75 per word.

For a 50,000-word manuscript, a copy edit costs R15,000. See book editing and proofreading.

Print cover packages cost R1,650, R2,150 or R3,850; ebook-only covers cost R1,200, R1,700 or R3,400. A print cover includes the front, spine and back, sized to your page count. See book cover design.

Interior layout costs R12, R13 or R20 per page depending on complexity (plain text, some headings and images, or illustrated and complex layouts). A 200-page novel at R12 a page costs R2,400. See typesetting.

Free. The National Library of South Africa issues ISBNs to local self-publishers at no cost. See our ISBN guide.

Softcover printing starts at 100 copies. 100 A5 copies on white paper cost R4,500 for 50 to 100 pages, R6,500 for 160 to 200 pages and R9,600 for 360 to 400 pages; cream paper and 6×9 cost a little more. Books are delivered 10 working days after you approve the proof. See A5 printing prices and 6×9 printing prices.

Uploading to Amazon KDP is free. Our KDP-ready packages cost R6,500 (ebook), R8,500 (paperback layout) or R12,500 (ebook cover, print layout and ebook conversion). See our Amazon KDP guide.

If you want everything handled together, our packages cost R21,000 (Bronze), R25,500 (Silver) and R35,000 (Gold), covering editing, cover design, typesetting, ISBN registration and printed copies. Compare the packages.

• Ebook only, 30,000 words: copy edit R9,000 + KDP ebook package R6,500 = about R15,500.
• Memoir, 50,000 words, 100 copies: copy edit R15,000 + print cover R2,150 + layout of about 180 pages R2,160 + 100 A5 copies R6,500 = about R25,800, or a Silver package at R25,500.
• Business book, 60,000 words, 100 copies plus ebook: line edit R24,000 + print cover R3,850 + layout of about 220 pages R2,860 + 100 A5 copies R7,800 + ebook conversion = about R40,000, or a Gold package at R35,000.

Prices for single services exclude anything not listed; request a quote for an exact figure for your book.

• Self-edit thoroughly and use beta readers before paying for an edit.
• Choose the edit your manuscript actually needs; not every book needs a content edit.
• Start with an ebook, then print once you know the demand.
• Print 100 copies first rather than a large run.