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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/39913
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Does the amount of pages and/or the number of copies printed determine the cost just as much as trim size? I was thinking of using KDP or possibly Advanced Print & Finishing (bestbookprinting.com), which I think does POD as well, not just offset printing.

This is the first time I'm self-publishing, and I've been feeling a bit overwhelmed, so forgive me if I'm asking the obvious. Should information about my specific situation or understanding why I'm so confused be necessary to provide an answer, details follow:

I've written a book to guide meat eaters on how to accommodate their vegetarian guests, or a family member who has suddenly decided to become vegetarian. It has about 10 or 12 (standard) formatted recipes. The rest appear within the text narrative. This means categorically it's more a guide than a cookbook. The interior of the book will be in B&W, and there won't be any photos or illustrations.

I've been told by a number of designers that a 6x9 makes more sense because it's non-fiction and has recipes. When I asked one of the respected top designers in the industry, he said I could probably get away with a 5x8. I assume that was due to the nature of the book - it being a guide. (I'm also not sure if it would seem out-of-place on a shelf if I were to go with the 5x8. Only 2 or 3 health books I've come across - the closest thing I could come to mine for comparison - are that size.) I want to do the right thing, but keep costs down since it's a self-published book, my first, and I'm tapping into a new market, in a sense, so I'm not sure how well it will do.

I understand that the number of pages has something to do with cost. I don't have a page count. I couldn't find out the correct margins to input into Word (2007)for the 5x8 and 6x9. And because I didn't format the page layout with proper margins, etc. - I used the default setting - it wouldn't have been accurate, anyway. I can tell you that I typed it in 12-point Times New Roman, double-spaced, and that it's 100 pages.

When I looked at some book calculator online, I noticed that the number of copies also contributes to cost: 1-50 copies is X dollars, 51-200 is x dollars.....(not necessarily exact, but you get the idea).

But here's the thing. A printer I know told me that you fit 4 pages on a 5x8 sheet, as opposed to only 2 pages on a 6x9 sheet. This would mean that it would cost a lot more to go with a 6x9 book.

Is there a big difference if I use KDP over Advanced Print & Finishing (bestbookprinting.com), for example? I believe they do POD, not just offset printing. Can I get a ballpark guesstimate just by the number of copies?

Original score: 3