800+ of the most sought-after book illustrators in publishing are on Reedsy. Come meet them.
Work with the illustrators behind your favorite books
Book illustration is the bridge between your words and your readers' imaginations. On Reedsy, meet top illustrators who have captured readers’ hearts with artwork commissioned for major publishers and indie authors alike.
The illustrators for hire on our marketplace have proven experience working on covers, spot illustrations, and full-page spreads for award-winning and bestselling books. Together, they’ve illustrated for The Roald Dahl Estate, Disney, and Nintendo, as well as for famous authors such as Hilary Mantel, Brandon Sanderson, and Clare Chambers.
Cover designs by Reedsy professionals
Elevate your book’s emotional impact
Your Reedsy illustrator won’t just depict what’s on the page. They’ll capture the heart of your scene, character, or setting. They’ll give vivid form to the protagonist you've always pictured in your mind's eye, and bring color to the atmosphere you've built all chapter towards. Their illustrations aren’t just decoration. They’re an equal partner alongside the text that sweeps your reader off the page and into your world.
“I had a strong vision for my middle grade book — my Reedsy illustrator not only embraced it, but he elevated it beyond my wildest dreams. It was amazing how he paid attention to the nuances of my story, translating them into beautiful and emotionally resonant illustrations. His professionalism and collaborative spirit made the entire process a true pleasure. He was responsive, insightful, and consistently delivered exceptional artwork.”
~ Andrew K. Johnston
Read more about Andrew’s experience of working with a Reedsy illustrator here.
Find an illustrator whose style speaks to you
With over 800 illustrators on our marketplace, you’re sure to find an illustrator whose style matches your vision — and whose fees match your budget. Create an account, browse designers’ portfolios, request quotes, and chat to shortlisted professionals until you find the right illustrator for the job.
Assemble your team
Request quotes from up to 5 professionals in your genre with a free Reedsy account.
How to find the perfect illustrator for you
To find your perfect match, follow these tips:
Narrow your search by genre. Look for an illustrator who specializes in your genre. They’ll know how to balance the genre signals readers expect to see with the unique design elements that will characterize your book.
Know what type(s) of illustration you’re looking for. Are you searching for an illustrated cover and/or interior illustrations? How many illustrations do you need? How detailed should they be? The answers to these questions will help our illustrators figure out how much your design will cost and how quickly they can fit it in to their schedule. Some of the most popular illustrators get booked up months in advance, so get your cover request in early!
Double-check what’s included and when. All our illustrators welcome feedback on their drafts. However, some professionals have specific policies on when and how often you can ask for updates or revisions, so it’s worth making sure you’re on the same page.
Need help? Get 24/7 support from our dedicated team
In the rare case that something goes wrong — or if you simply need help getting started — our customer support team is always on hand. With 12 years in the industry, 30,000+ successful cover design and illustration projects, and 4.7⭐ on TrustPilot, Reedsy is the go-to place for thousands of authors looking to hire a book illustrator.
FAQs
Why hire a book illustrator?
Strong illustrations are one of the best ways to make your book stand out. A professional illustrator can provide gorgeous, eye-catching artwork that instantly sets your book apart from the crowd — and signal your genre to potential readers at the same time.
How much do book illustration services cost?
Book illustration services can cost anywhere from $400 to $10,000, depending on the scope, genre, and complexity of the artwork.
The median cost of a professionally illustrated book cover on Reedsy ranges from $470 for picture books to $910 for fantasy books.
A fully illustrated book, as you’d expect, is much more expensive. It generally costs $60–$200 for a single-page illustration and $100–$400 for a two-page spread. So the interior of a 30-page children’s book will cost $1,500–$6,000. The exact price depends on the intricacy of the illustrations and on the illustrator’s experience — a relative newcomer will typically be less expensive than a longtime veteran of the industry.
If you have a limited budget for your illustrations, you might consider seeking out an illustrator who’s at the earlier stages of their career and therefore less likely to send you a high quote.
How does Reedsy select its illustrators?
At Reedsy, we accept only the top 3% of freelancer applications, and we’re especially rigorous with book illustrators. To become an illustrator on our marketplace, a professional must have 5+ years of experience and have produced art for at least five published books or high-level publications. Once approved, each Reedsy illustrator must maintain an updated gallery of their work, and their collaborations are subject to Reedsy reviews for quality assurance and author satisfaction. Learn more about how we select our professionals here.
Who should hire a book illustrator?
Any author can hire a book illustrator, but illustrations are more popular in certain genres than others. For example, illustrated book covers are currently trending in romance, but you’re more likely to see a photograph of the author on a memoir.
Interior artwork is a must in children’s books and is otherwise most common in nonfiction, fantasy, and crime. In YA and adult fiction, you’re more likely to see black-and-white chapter headings and illustrated maps than full-page spreads.
Always look at other books in your subgenre for inspiration. If you request an illustration that our professionals thinks is the wrong move for your book, they will tell you — but this is very rare.
Do I need to hire an illustrator if I want to pitch my book to traditional publishers?
In most cases, no. In fact, submitting unsolicited illustrations alongside your manuscript can actually work against you, as publishers and agents tend to acquire books based on the writing alone. If they take you on, they’ll typically commission their own illustrator.
The only potential exception is picture books, if you’re submitting as an author-illustrator team. Otherwise, leave the illustrations to the publisher.
Who owns the rights to the final illustrations: the author or the illustrator?
The full commercial rights to the illustrations typically transfer to you, the author, once you’ve paid for them. That means you’re free to use them in your book, on your website, and in any marketing materials.
However, specifics will vary depending on what agreement you have with your illustrator, so it’s worth checking with them before your collaboration begins. Some illustrators, for example, may retain the right to display the work in their portfolio, which is standard practice in the industry. On Reedsy, freelancers are transparent about their rights policies upfront, so there are no surprises once the project is complete.
Can AI image generation tools replace human illustrators?
In short: no. Book illustration is a complex skill that extends far beyond image creation. AI cannot understand the subtext conveyed by a book’s illustrations and is incapable of generating anything truly original. If you want to find the right readers and stand out from the crowd, you need professional, human-designed illustrations.
Get to know our designers
To get started on your search, meet some of our top-rated designers.
Jamie W.
Exeter, UK
Illustrator and creative map maker with 15+ yrs experience. Work published in 90+ books, including for many bestselling books and authors
Specializes in:
Historical Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Romantic Fantasy
Humanities & Social Sciences
History
Zixiao C.
Somerset, UK
Published book illustrator, specialised in picture books and character design.
Specializes in:
Fiction
Children's
Young Adult
Non-Fiction
Middle Grade Fantasy
Michael B.
Hartford, CT, USA
Illustrator drawing comics and designing covers for Oxford University Press for 12+ years. New York Book Award for Best Cover Design 2018.
Browse profiles, request quotes, then collaborate.
Step 1
Apply filters
Reedsy is home to thousands of professionals. Select the specific design services you need and narrow your search based on your book’s genre and requirements.
Step 2
Browse
Then, browse designers' profiles to find out more about their personalities and past projects.
Step 3
Request quotes
Request quotes from up to five designers at any time. They’ll look at your sample pages to give you a tailored quote as well as a sense of how they work.
Step 4
Collaborate
Once you agree on terms and a timeline, you’ll start collaborating using the many communication and editing tools available on Reedsy.
Reedsy in action
Watch how Reedsy can help you assemble your team in the video below: