Break-even price calculator
Find the minimum list price that avoids underpricing a print book, and a safer price that leaves real margin above it.
Margin at three price points
| List price | Margin over print cost |
|---|
How to use this calculator
- Choose paperback or hardcover, and your marketplace.
- Enter page count and ink/interior type.
- Enter the royalty per sale you'd like to clear above break-even.
- Read the break-even price, the safer price, and the margin table.
How break-even differs from profitable pricing
Break-even is the exact list price where the modeled royalty rate applied to that price equals the estimated print cost — royalty per sale at that point is effectively zero. Profitable pricing means pricing meaningfully above that line.
The "safer price" adds your desired royalty target on top of break-even, so you have a concrete floor to price above rather than guessing how much margin is "enough."
Break-even price FAQ
Why is my break-even price higher than competitor books?
Break-even depends heavily on page count and ink type. A longer or color-interior book has a higher print cost, which pushes break-even up regardless of what similar books are priced at.
Can I price below break-even?
You can, but the modeled royalty per sale would be zero or negative — meaning each copy sold would earn nothing or cost you money in royalty terms. That's rarely a sustainable strategy for print.
Does this apply to ebooks too?
Ebooks don't carry a print cost in the same way, so break-even pricing is mainly a print-book concept. For ebook pricing strategy, try the pricing scenario comparer instead.