IngramSpark printing costs $0.90 fixed + $0.013 per page for B&W paperback (slightly more than KDP’s $0.85 + $0.012). A 300-page paperback costs $4.80 on IngramSpark vs $4.45 on KDP — a $0.35 difference. But the real cost difference is in the wholesale discount: IngramSpark charges the discount from your list price before calculating your compensation, which dramatically affects your per-book earnings.
IngramSpark printing cost formulas
B&W Paperback (cream or white)
Cost = $0.90 + ($0.013 × page count)
B&W Hardcover (case laminate)
Cost = $6.50 + ($0.013 × page count)
Color Paperback
Cost = $0.90 + ($0.07 × page count)
Color Hardcover
Cost = $6.50 + ($0.07 × page count)
Paperback cost by page count (B&W)
| Pages | Print Cost | 50% Disc at $15.99 | 55% Disc at $15.99 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | $2.20 | $5.80 | $4.99 |
| 150 | $2.85 | $5.15 | $4.34 |
| 200 | $3.50 | $4.50 | $3.69 |
| 250 | $4.15 | $3.85 | $3.04 |
| 300 | $4.80 | $3.20 | $2.39 |
| 350 | $5.45 | $2.55 | $1.74 |
| 400 | $6.10 | $1.90 | $1.09 |
| 450 | $6.75 | $1.25 | $0.44 |
| 500 | $7.40 | $0.60 | -$0.21 |
Warning: At 55% wholesale discount (needed for bookstore placement), books over ~490 pages at $15.99 lose money. Long books need higher list prices.
Royalty calculation
IngramSpark compensation = (List Price × (1 − Wholesale Discount)) − Print Cost
| List Price | Discount | Print Cost (300pp) | You Receive |
|---|---|---|---|
| $15.99 | 50% | $4.80 | $3.20 |
| $15.99 | 55% | $4.80 | $2.39 |
| $16.99 | 50% | $4.80 | $3.70 |
| $16.99 | 55% | $4.80 | $2.84 |
| $17.99 | 50% | $4.80 | $4.20 |
| $17.99 | 55% | $4.80 | $3.29 |
The 55% discount is the bookstore/library standard. At 50% discount, some bookstores will still order. Below 50%, almost none will.
Hardcover pricing
Hardcover adds ~$5.60 to print cost vs paperback:
| Pages | PB Cost | HC Cost | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 | $3.50 | $9.10 | +$5.60 |
| 300 | $4.80 | $10.40 | +$5.60 |
| 400 | $6.10 | $11.70 | +$5.60 |
Hardcover pricing strategy:
| Pages | HC Print Cost | List Price | You Receive (55% disc) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 | $9.75 | $24.99 | $1.50 |
| 300 | $10.40 | $26.99 | $1.75 |
| 350 | $11.05 | $27.99 | $1.55 |
Hardcover margins are thin. They’re for prestige, library sales, and gift purchases — not high per-unit profit.
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KDP vs IngramSpark cost comparison
For the same 300-page B&W paperback at $15.99:
| Platform | Print Cost | Discount | You Receive |
|---|---|---|---|
| KDP (Amazon) | $4.45 | 40% (Amazon’s cut) | $5.14 |
| KDP Expanded | $4.45 | 60% (Amazon’s cut) | $1.55 |
| IngramSpark (50% disc) | $4.80 | 50% | $3.20 |
| IngramSpark (55% disc) | $4.80 | 55% | $2.39 |
KDP pays more per copy sold on Amazon. IngramSpark pays less per copy but reaches bookstores and libraries that KDP doesn’t. Most authors use both: KDP for Amazon sales, IngramSpark for everything else.
The wholesale discount decision
| Discount | Who Orders | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| 40% | Almost nobody (not bookstore-viable) | Maximum per-unit revenue |
| 45% | Very few bookstores | Slightly better margins |
| 50% | Some bookstores, online retailers | Balanced |
| 55% | Most bookstores, all libraries | Industry standard, lower margins |
Set 55% if you want bookstore and library placement. Set 50% if you’re only using IngramSpark for online distribution outside Amazon.
Formatting decisions that affect IngramSpark costs
Same principles as KDP — every page costs money:
| Decision | Page Impact | Cost Impact (per copy) |
|---|---|---|
| 6×9 trim vs 5.5×8.5 | -45 pages | -$0.59 |
| Garamond vs Palatino | -20 pages | -$0.26 |
| 11pt vs 12pt font | -50 pages | -$0.65 |
| 1.35× vs 1.5× spacing | -45 pages | -$0.59 |
Use the KDP Book Calculator to model these tradeoffs.
Related guides
- KDP printing costs — KDP cost formulas
- How much does formatting cost? — full cost guide
- IngramSpark requirements — platform overview
- KDP Book Calculator — interactive calculator