Blog • Understanding Publishing
Posted on Dec 23, 2025
Book Cover Design Costs: Professional Rates for 2026
Dario Villirilli
Managing Editor of the Reedsy blog, Dario is a graduate of Mälardalen University. As a freelance writer, he has written for many esteemed outlets aimed at writers. A traveler at heart, he can be found roaming the world and working from his laptop.
View profile →A professional book cover is one of the smartest investments an author can make. But how much does it cost to get one? To find out, we analyzed over 9,600 cover design collaborations on Reedsy in 2025. Here’s what the data reveals.
The average cost of a professional book cover design is $880. On Reedsy, most projects fall between $625 and $1,250, with fantasy, romance, and science fiction on the higher end, and nonfiction typically costing less.
Here is the median cost of book cover design by genre, as well as their averages. (Note: the average reflects the full range of projects on the marketplace and can be skewed upward by high-end projects. The median better represents what a typical author is likely to pay.)
|
Genre |
Median cost (reflects “typical” rates) |
Average cost (includes outliers) |
|
Action & Adventure |
$750 |
$820 |
|
Biographies & Memoirs |
$680 |
$760 |
|
Fantasy |
$910 |
$1,760 |
|
Historical Fiction |
$750 |
$860 |
|
Literary Fiction |
$750 |
$830 |
|
Middle Grade |
$700 |
$1,080 |
|
Non-Fiction |
$700 |
$800 |
|
Picture Books (Cover only) |
$470 |
$760 |
|
Romance |
$800 |
$1,290 |
|
Science Fiction |
$850 |
$1,155 |
|
Self-Help |
$800 |
$860 |
|
Thriller / Crime & Mystery |
$700 |
$770 |
|
Young Adult |
$900 |
$1,570 |
Remember these figures are indicative. Your final quote will depend on your designer’s experience, your cover style (stock vs illustration), your formats (ebook vs print wrap), and other factors we’ll touch on later. The best way to know your real cost is to request quotes and compare offers.
Hire an expert
Felix T.
Available to hire
Illustrator specializing in poster and book cover art with a distinct graphic visual style. clients: Netflix, PenguinRH, Simon and Schuster.
Amanda L.
Available to hire
Children’s book illustrator and book designer. I specialise in picture books and middle grade fiction and love to use texture and colour.
Jerry T.
Available to hire
Designer, Art Director and Illustrator. I specialize in Big, Bold Thrillers and True Crime.
Let's break down what drives pricing in each genre.
Fiction genres
Fantasy: $910
Fantasy commands the highest premiums because readers expect world-building at a glance: dramatic lighting, rich symbolism, and often custom illustration.
Unlike compositing stock photos, a designer may need to paint a dragon, a magic system, or a castle from scratch. And if you’re planning a series, that branding adds another layer — you're not just paying for one cover, but for a visual template that will carry through to future books.
Q: Is it worth paying extra for a custom design instead of a premade cover?
Suggested answer
I think that is entirely up the specific author, but I sure think so!
With any craft there is a great spectrum of cost and quality out there, be in shoes, clothes, furniture, cars, food, you name it! I would encourage an author to ask themselves what is this worth to me, how much can I afford, and what I am hoping to get out of this?
There is always going to the cheaper quicker option out there, and that might be right for some folks. It is also true that there are artist out there who will work with you to pour themselves into the work, because this is what they love doing and how they choose to spend countless hours. This will cost more because it is their job and a craft they have honed over years of practice.
Somewhere in this wide spectrum you will find what is best suited to your needs right now.
Charles is available to hire on Reedsy ⏺
Unless you find a premade cover that perfectly fits your story, it’s worth investing in a custom design.
Premade covers are usually created to appeal to a broad genre and a pool of tropes, which helps them sell but often relies on visual cues that have been used over and over. The risk is that your book won’t stand out, or worse, it could look too similar to others already on the market.
A custom cover, on the other hand, is crafted to reflect the unique story, characters, and themes of your book. It communicates the right mood to potential readers and delivers an original, polished, and memorable design.
Alexandra is available to hire on Reedsy ⏺
Romance: $800
The price of romance covers can vary wildly because styles do too. While the simpler, photo-based covers are more affordable, the cartoon-style illustrated covers (aka the style that’s trending now) require custom artwork and push prices above $1,000.
Q: What's your process when collaborating with authors to refine cover concepts?
Suggested answer
My collaboration process begins with a detailed creative brief that draws on my experience as both an author and illustrator. I understand the deep personal investment authors have in their work, having published five books myself, so I approach each project with empathy and professional insight. The process starts with thorough discussions about the book's themes, target audience, and the author's vision.
I provide multiple initial concepts, usually 2-3 distinct directions, each accompanied by detailed explanations of the design choices and their marketing implications. My two free revision policy ensures authors feel confident in the process, knowing they have room to refine the chosen concept. During revisions, I encourage specific feedback and maintain clear communication about how each change serves the book's goals.
Throughout the collaboration, I share progress updates and explain my design decisions from both an artistic and marketing perspective. This transparent approach, combined with my understanding of storytelling, helps build trust and results in covers that authors are proud to represent their work.
Sergey is available to hire on Reedsy ⏺
Open communication is key. I’m very open to feedback for my designs and it’s essential to create the best possible cover artwork!
Tommy is available to hire on Reedsy ⏺
Science Fiction: $850
Sci-fi covers are also on the pricier side, as they often require depicting things that don't exist. A believable alien landscape or futuristic spaceship typically means high-end 3D modeling or digital painting. Typography matters a lot here too; title fonts often need custom texturing (chrome, neon, distress) to achieve that cinematic feel.
Historical Fiction: $750
Historical fiction covers rely on a strong sense of time and place, which often means tracking down very specific visuals — like an authentic 1750s dress or a 1920s Berlin street scene. Because suitable stock imagery is rare, designers frequently composite five or six images to achieve period accuracy. Even so, it remains one of the more affordable genres.
Literary Fiction: $750
Literary fiction covers are typically typographic and concept-driven, which keeps costs relatively stable. The real challenge isn’t spectacle, but instead to show taste, restraint, and originality — with the main investment going into a designer’s ability to capture the manuscript’s essence. You can see how the covers below are distinctive yet accessible, with the use of different “textures” being a strong tool in these designers’ arsenals.
Q: How does a professionally designed cover impact the success and sales of a self-published book?
Suggested answer
I think it determines in most cases whether or not the book gets sold. Either consciously or subconsciously. Part of my job as a designer is understanding marketing and trends. I look at book covers, LOTS of book covers. And take notes. Personally I don't think I'd buy a book with an unprofessional cover. If the author didn't take the cover seriously, then what's to say the story is any better? Is this project something they just typed up and published on a whim? Or is it something they really believe in and want to make the best product possible?
Michael is available to hire on Reedsy ⏺
A professional cover plays a huge role in the success of self-published books because it’s the first thing people notice. It gives your book credibility and helps it stand out, making it look just as polished as those from traditional publishers. A great cover not only grabs attention but also sets the tone for your story and appeals directly to your target audience. In a crowded market, it can be the difference between someone scrolling past or deciding to give your book a chance.
Robert is available to hire on Reedsy ⏺
It's an enormous impact. I would say it's the single biggest factor in whether your book sells. When I see a cover that looks amateurish, I subconsciously assume that the writing is probably going to be at an amateur level as well. It's as simple as that. I always judge a book by its cover. The book may be the greatest work of the new century but if it is packaged in a way that communicates carelessness or lack of attention, then that has huge repercussions for the reputation of the work and the respect that it needs in order to sell.
Just go into any book store. Look at the new released that are elegantly designed. You immediately assume that its worth reading because the author, the publishers, everyone deemed it worthwhile to invest time in producing. That assumption is critical in getting your work out to a new audience. Humans are visual creatures. Otherwise, art, advertising, TV, the internet, social media, none of that would need to exist.
Wayne is available to hire on Reedsy ⏺
Action & Adventure: $750
Action & adventure covers typically lean on bold typography, high-contrast imagery, and clear focal points like silhouettes, weapons, or dramatic landscapes. Stock-based designs tend to be pretty affordable, but aiming for a blockbuster, movie-poster look (with custom illustration and cinematic composition) comes with a higher price tag.
Thriller/Crime & Mystery: $700
Thriller covers range from affordable stock-photo designs (fog, running figures, dark roads) to premium covers with complex photography, compositions, and unique typography. That said, certain elements remain consistent — thriller covers will often have all-caps lettering, dark colors, and some sort of ominous imagery (like the wide-open eyes on two of the covers below). This relative aesthetic consistency may be a factor in the slightly lower median price.
Q: What sources of inspiration do you turn to when creating book covers?
Suggested answer
My main source of inspiration always comes from the book itself. I focus on its emotional core — the atmosphere, themes, and tone — and translate that into a single visual that feels true to the story. Beyond the book, I draw inspiration from films, TV shows, digital illustration, and other visual arts, which offer fresh ways to approach composition, color, and mood.
I also pay attention to genre trends and bestselling covers, blending those insights with my artistic influences. This combination helps me craft covers that are faithful to the story while standing out in the market.
Alexandra is available to hire on Reedsy ⏺
The first and best source of inspiration is the work itself. I love to read the works in their entirety, if possible, and steep myself in the words, characters, and worlds of the book. Often a scene, or simple well written line can set off a whirlwind of ideas.
I love when authors send other imagery that excites them, as that often excites me too and gets us into the world of visual communication. Some authors have gone as far as to create entire mood boards and playlists, which I love! (You know who you are!)
Artists also inevitably bring with them everything else excites them. For me this is other paintings, other stories, music, poignant moments from real life, and more. In my experience the best images come from fusing the author’s world and enthusiasm with my own, and together we pull off something we are both genuinely stoked about.
Charles is available to hire on Reedsy ⏺
The starting point is always the story. Then comes the world around me: the September breeze, the open window, the neighbor hanging laundry, the child running along the beach, and the shapes of his movements, my cats, the people I observe, the shifting colors of nature. Afterwards, I turn to references, exploring different cultures, clothing, and traditions to enrich my imagination and transform it into images.
Sasha is available to hire on Reedsy ⏺
Nonfiction genres
Self-Help: $800
Self-help covers are concept-driven and prioritize clarity. Lower-cost designs often rely on generic stock imagery, while higher-end covers invest in bold, proprietary typography and distinctive color palettes that reinforce the author’s personal brand and project authority on a crowded shelf.
Nonfiction (General): $700
Many nonfiction projects sit in a steady mid-range. The cost often depends on the "hook" — a simple title over a background texture is more affordable, but translating a complex concept into a concise visual metaphor requires more conceptual labor, which costs more.
Biographies & Memoirs: $680
Memoir covers usually center on type-led layouts, photography, and symbolic imagery rather than fully illustrated scenes — the goal is emotional resonance, not world-building. Costs rise when projects require premium hand-lettering or complex photo restoration (e.g., transforming a blurry family photo from the 1960s into a print-ready central element).
Children's books
Young Adult: $900
YA is another premium category: readers expect strong character, mood, and visual identity. These covers often involve custom illustration or a more art-directed approach, which explains the higher average cost. Each of the covers below, for example, includes a bespoke character (or combination of characters) to give a fairly specific sense of what’s inside.
Middle Grade: $700
Middle grade pricing varies widely because the "right" cover can mean very different things: think about simple, playful type vs. character-forward illustration. If you need a custom illustration of a protagonist with specific features, holding a specific item, in a specific setting, you're hiring an illustrator — not just a designer — which will inevitably be more expensive (hence the $1,080 average cost).
Picture Books: $470
Picture books show a relatively low median cost. However, take this number with a grain of salt, as it reflects cover-only projects. Most picture book covers are created as part of a full-book illustration contract, where the true cost lies in the interior artwork. If you're hiring for the cover alone and need a fully illustrated front with wraparound design to the back, the price rises.
Let’s now look at what influences prices.
What affects the price of a book cover?
The figures above offer a helpful starting point, but your actual quote will depend on several factors unique to your project. Understanding these variables will help you budget realistically and communicate effectively with designers when you brief them.
🎨 Cover style and complexity. The biggest cost driver is how the cover will be created. A design built from stock photography and typography sits at the affordable end of the spectrum. Photo manipulation — where a designer combines multiple images into a cohesive scene — requires more skill and time, pushing prices higher. Custom illustration, whether digital painting or hand-drawn artwork, commands the highest fees because you're paying for original art that doesn't exist anywhere else.
📗 Formats and deliverables. An ebook-only front cover is the simplest deliverable. Once you add a print wraparound (front, spine, and back), the designer needs to account for trim sizes, bleed, and spine width calculations. Add an audiobook square, social media graphics, or promotional materials, and the scope — and cost — expands accordingly. If you're planning multiple formats from the start, mention this upfront so designers can bundle their pricing.
👩🎨 Designer’s experience. A designer with ten years in the industry, a portfolio of bestsellers, and deep genre expertise will charge more than someone building their first body of work. Both may very well produce quality covers, but experienced professionals bring faster turnaround, fewer revisions, and greater market insight.
🕑 Timeline and revisions. Most professional designers include a set number of initial concepts and revision rounds in their base price. Rush jobs or extensive back-and-forth beyond that scope will increase costs. The clearer your brief and the more decisive your feedback, the smoother — and more affordable — the process becomes.
So how much should you budget? For a straightforward cover relying on photo manipulation and strong typography, plan for around $700–$800. If your vision demands original illustration or a more art-directed approach, expect quotes in the $900–$1,500+ range. Series branding, multiple formats, or a tight deadline will push costs higher still.
After all the number crunching, dive into the art and craft of book cover design to understand why it’s priced the way it is.
