Hardcover Book Options When You're Self-Publishing – The Best Print on Demand Company in 2025 // Last month we talked about the best print on demand company for publishing paperback books, but what if you want to self-publish a hardcover book? Are there any book print on demand companies for publishing hardcover books? In this video I'm comparing three print on demand companies for hardcover books: Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, IngramSpark, and Barnes & Noble Press. We'll be going over the cost to print, royalties, print quality, and print options for hardcover books.
Want to learn more about these companies? Watch my previous video on the best print on demand companies for paperback books to learn about the following of each company:
LINKS MENTIONED:
A Beginner's Guide to Self-Publishing a Book Playlist:
KDP Tutorial:
IngramSpark Tutorial:
Barnes & Noble Press Tutorial:
IngramSpark Playlist:
IN THIS VIDEO
0:00 – Intro
3:30 – Anatomy of a hardcover book
4:30 – Cost to print
5:01 – Royalties
6:31 – Ingram Spark print quality
9:44 – Barnes & Noble Press print quality
12:28 – Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing print quality
19:16 – Who's the best print on demand company for hardcover books in 2025?
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→Hiking YouTube Channel:
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NON-FICTION BOOKS – – – – – – – – – –
→How Your Book Sells Itself:
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→Secrets to Selling Books on Social Media:
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FICTION BOOKS – – – – – – – – – –
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Content for writers: @mandilynnwrites
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MY FAVORITE TOOLS- – – – – – – – – –
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Mandi Lynn published her first novel when she was seventeen. The author of multiple books, Mandi spends her days continuing to write and creating YouTube videos to help other writers achieve their dreams of seeing their books published. Mandi is the owner of Stone Ridge Books, a company that works to help authors bring their books to life through cover design and digital book marketing. She is also the creator of The Book Launch Planner, a planner designed to help authors publish and market their books. When she’s not creating, you can find Mandi exploring her backyard or getting lost in the woods.
#selfpublishing #amazonkdp #bookpublishing
DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links. By purchasing a linked product or service, Mandi Lynn will receive a small commission at no additional fee to you.
Thanks for this video, it was just uploaded 13 minutes ago… Really needed this information ❤
Glad it was useful!
Bookvault might be something to consider as well.
I was thinking of at least getting Bookvault foiled editions to sell on my website so I can make sure they go out in pristine condition.
I’ve been hearing such good things about BookVault, I want to test them out!
@@MandiLynnWrites I heard recently that they rolled out a lot of bespoke upgrades, even slipcovers and boxed sets.
@@MandiLynnWrites I actually just had the worst experience with BookVault. (Granted, I did use the US printer versus the UK one.) Of the 50 copies of my hardcover books, 46 of them were damaged in some way. I personally feel like they were great until they rolled out their US and AUS printers. Now, they’re just sort of mediocre. But just my opinion!
Good to know! Did they replace the damaged books?
Assuming printing errors are just printing errors and are therefore easily fixable with another print. As a reader I like a dust jacket, but I also like having the title on the book so I know what book I am reading by holding it if I take the dust jacket off to read. Now that is as a reader, so that is probably what I would look for when printing. I guess that means I would probably want to go with Ingram.
I’m hoping on day maybe Barnes and Noble Press will offer some simple printing on the case laminate, but we’ll see!
I think KDP was the best in your case. Also, if I remember correctly Bethany had a designed laminate and cover for Queen’s Rise. Not sure if I got the book name right but I could have sworn I saw her take the dust jacket off and I was like WOW.
Thank you for the video, I’m still months out from needing to decide on which printer to use!
Bethany used a different printer, I think 24hr books, for her limited edition hardcovers when they first launched. Those did have jackets. I believe right now they’re only available as a hardcover with no jacket on Amazon.
Can confirm she printed with 24hour books and also got embossing on the cover as well! The companies mentioned in this video are not the only options, for sure!
I did a collectors edition (hardcover with dust jacket) for my debut novel, through Lulu and it was really great quality. I’ve only gone through KDP, and Lulu so far. I need to branch out. 😆
Kinda wishing I had compared Lulu in this video! I didn’t expect to have so many printing issues with the other companies
Thanks Mandi! Nice job!
Thanks!
For picture books KDP would be best because you do not need dust jackets, but the BIG problem with KDP is the minimum amount of pages, they want. That are more than a typical picure book would have. So KDP is not an option.
That’s such a good point! If the page count requirement was lower, it would be a great option for children’s books
Great video. Thanks.
Gerard Denza
Author of the EDWARD MENDEZ, P.I. series
About that Ingram book spine: it’s not you. I used their own template for the cover, it was accepted and verified. They then printed every last book with a white stripe down the edge of the back of the black cover, so no bleed on the back cover, with the spine text way higher on the spine than it was supposed to be, and the front cover art off center. Seems pretty clear they printed it off center, but no response from customer service.Arrghh. Client decided to let it go.
Glad it’s not just me! Disappointing to hear though
Kdp seems to be the best choice for hardcovers
I saw your video on TikTok and subscribed to you here on YouTube. This video is great information because I’m writing a fantasy book and (for the first time) I want to make a hard cover of it. BTW… it’s bout an elven girl named Kaia.
But what about the binding? Are they all perfect bound, or are they stitched? This, to me, is far more important than the inclusion of a dust jacket which I believe is useless. But the binding of a hardback is what matters to me. If they aren’t stitched, then I’m not sure I want to sell such a book; I’d much rather sell the paperback.
I completely forgot about that point! The only hardcover in this video with stitching is the one made my Kindle Direct Publishing
I kind of love the lack of a dust jacket. Hardcovers are always so clunky for me to deal with because of the dust jacket which never survives over time.
I’ll definitely be going with Amazon KDP for my first self-help hardcover book. THANK YOU for all you do. 🙏📚👏
Nice work Mandi, thanks. It certainly is a bit of a minefield. I went with KDP and Ingram Spark, to get the most coverage. Thinking of going with Barens and Noble now that you have included them. OMG, so much to learn! I polled some of my readers with regards to dust jackets, and they didn’t really care whether it came with one or not.
Im gonna have to watch these D:
Thank you again for your dedication and testing all this out. Sounds like this is a space to keep and eye on to see if anyone moves head. Come on KDP, let’s get with the dust jackets 🧐
Mandi: As mentioned by others in the comments, KDP hardcover is not an option for most children’s books, as they are often 32-40 pages. KDP’s minimum is currently 75 pages. A useful disclaimer to put in your next update…
This is so helpful! Thank you!!!
14:06 If you take a damp cloth, not wet just damp, you should be able to wipe off the smudge on the matte covers. I’ve done this without damage.