What You Need to Know Before Getting a Book Design Quote
- Michelle M. White
- Sep 4
- 5 min read
If you're getting ready to publish your book and are seeking professional design help, you may be wondering:
How much will it cost and what affects that price?
The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Every book is different. But there are a few key things you can share with your designer up front to get the most accurate, realistic quote possible and to avoid surprises later.
Whether you’re planning a nonfiction guide with charts and references, a memoir with family photos, or a beautifully typeset poetry collection, the better you can communicate your vision, the smoother the design process will be and the stronger the final result.
This article walks you through exactly what to share (and what to ask) when you're ready to start getting quotes.
1. Your Publishing Goals
A good first question to consider is simply: What are you hoping this book will do?
Are you building credibility in your field, reaching a new audience, preserving a story for your family, or sharing something you’ve learned with others?
This can help clarify:
● Audience & purpose. Who is your ideal reader, and what do you want the book to accomplish? What kind of tone and visual style are you aiming for? Do you want it to drive business, support a cause, spread awareness, or simply tell your story?
● Format. Will you publish an ebook, print, or both? Paperback only, laminated hardcover, or hardcover with a dust jacket?
● Timeline. Do you have a target deadline? Perhaps tied to a speaking event, book launch, or seasonal release?
If you have a planned launch date or other publishing deadlines, this is the time to mention them. Design takes time, especially when paired with editing, revision, and printing. Knowing your timeline up front helps everything stay on track.
2. Your Publishing Platform
Let your designer know how you plan to publish and distribute your book. Popular platforms like KDP and IngramSpark have their own design requirements.
Knowing which platform you’re using helps your designer build the file to the correct size, margin, and export specifications.
If you’re publishing in both print and ebook formats, or offering multiple formats (paperback, hardcover, ebook), each version may require different final files. This can affect both the design process and the overall quote.
3. Manuscript Length and Structure
When estimating a design project, your designer will need to know detailed information about the length and complexity of your book.
You’ll need:
● Total word count (or character count). Don’t rely on the page count in your Word document. Since layout alters spacing and breaks, the page count in your printed book will be different. .
● Number of chapters. More chapters often mean more styled openers, headings, and page elements.
● Front and back matter. Will you include a dedication, preface, appendices, notes, or an index? Each requires careful formatting.
These details all shape how the interior layout is planned and quoted. Think of it as giving your designer the “blueprint” of your book.
4. Headings, Subheads, and Variations in Text
Books vary widely in how they’re structured, and not all pages are created equal. Nonfiction books, in particular, may include multiple levels of headings, pull quotes, or sidebars.
If your manuscript includes these or any other elements, such as quotations or poetry, they require careful layout decisions. Even something as simple as starting chapters with an epigraph or image can affect how the design is built.
Here are a few things to consider:
● Does your book use more than one heading style?
● How many heading levels will you have (e.g., chapter title, section title, subsection)?
● Will there be any elements color-coded, numbered, or styled differently?
● Are there quotes, tips, or blocks of text set apart from the main narrative?
● Does your book include poetry, quotations, or indented text?
● Are there any other lists, callouts, or text boxes that should stand out visually?
Even simple layouts can benefit from thoughtful and consistent formatting. But if your book uses a variety of structures, it’s important to flag that from the beginning.
5. Images, Charts, and Graphics
Images can significantly influence the complexity of a project. So if your book includes visual elements, such as photos, illustrations, charts, or tables, your designer will need to know:
● Quantity and type. How many illustrations, photos, tables, or charts will you use? How large will they need to be?
● Image source. Will you provide them, or should your designer source stock images, hire an illustrator, or create infographics?
● Quality. Images must be high-resolution (300 dpi for print).
● Placement. Do they need to appear exactly where mentioned in the text, or can the designer place them for optimal flow?
● Decorative vs. informative. Are they decorative or essential to the text? Decorative images can be flexible in size, but informative images (infographics), like diagrams, timelines, must remain large enough to be readable, need to be clear, and sometimes referenced in multiple places.
● Charts and tables. If you’re including charts or tables, let your designer know whether you’ll be providing them in Word or Excel. Often, these will need to be rebuilt in the design software for clarity and consistency.
● Accessibility for ebooks. Do you have alt-text ready for images? For ebooks, accessibility requirements also come into play. Important images may need alt-text to describe them for screen readers. If you’re unsure how to write this, your designer may be able to guide you.
6. Rights and Credits
Before your book goes into layout, be sure to secure permissions. Double-check whether you have the rights to use all copyrighted material such as images, photos, song lyrics, poetry, quotations (including scripture), or brand names.
If you’ve sourced your own stock photos or illustrations, your designer may ask for proof of licensing or credit requirements. Some stock image websites require specific wording or placement of attribution. Others do not. Either way, it’s important to know what’s required ahead of time.
If your designer is sourcing images for you, they will typically use fully licensed, high-resolution artwork from professional stock sources, but will still need to know how many are needed and what kind of imagery fits your goals.
7. Editing
Make sure your manuscript is fully edited and proofread before giving it to your designer. If you need an editor, ask. Many designers can recommend trusted professionals. Even small edits after layout can lead to expensive, time-consuming changes.
Final Thoughts
Preparing for a quote doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does benefit from a little planning. By sharing your goals, your manuscript, and a few key decisions, you give your designer the tools they need to support your book with clarity and care.
Getting a book design quote is about setting the stage for a smooth creative process and a polished final product. By gathering the right details ahead of time, you’ll help your designer create an accurate estimate, avoid unexpected costs, and ensure your book looks as professional on the outside as it reads on the inside.
If you’re unsure about any of these details, that’s okay. A professional designer will guide you through what’s needed and help you feel confident in each next step.
A good design quote is the beginning of bringing your book to life on the page.
Take your time. Ask questions. And remember, this is the first step toward a smooth creative process and a professional, polished book.
For more self-publishing tips, visit the blog:
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