How Print-on-Demand Works
Print-on-demand means a copy of your book is printed only when someone orders it. You pay nothing for inventory, never store boxes of books and can keep a title in print indefinitely. The printing cost is taken out of each sale, and you receive what is left after the retailer's share.
Companies differ in where they sell your book, how they pay you, which formats they print and how much control you have over discounts and returns. Most indie authors end up using two or three of them, each for a different job.
Because no money changes hands until a sale, you can also update a print-on-demand book at any time. Correct a typo, refresh the cover or add your newest title to the back matter, upload new files, and every copy printed after that reflects the change. That flexibility is one of the biggest advantages over a traditional print run.
The Eight Companies at a Glance
| Company | Best for | Formats |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon KDP Print | Selling on Amazon | Paperback, case laminate hardcover |
| IngramSpark | Bookstores and libraries | Paperback, hardcover with dust jacket options |
| Lulu | Direct sales and special bindings | Paperback, hardcover, coil, saddle stitch |
| D2D Print | A simple paperback for wide authors | Black-and-white paperback |
| Barnes & Noble Press | Barnes & Noble's online store | Paperback and hardcover |
| BookVault | UK and European authors selling direct | Paperback, hardcover, special editions |
| Blurb | Photo, art and design-led books | Photo books, magazines, trade books |
| Lightning Source | Established publishers with larger lists | Wide range through Ingram |
The Companies in Detail
1. Amazon KDP Print
KDP Print is the default for selling on Amazon. Publishing is free, and on Amazon.com you earn 60% of the list price minus printing for paperbacks priced at $9.99 or more, and 50% minus printing below that. A black-and-white paperback at a standard trim size costs $1.00 plus $0.012 per page to print once it passes 110 pages. Expanded Distribution to other retailers pays 40% minus printing, though bookstores rarely order through it.
2. IngramSpark
IngramSpark connects your book to a network of more than 45,000 retailers, libraries and educators. Since February 2026, title setup and revisions are free, and books enabled for distribution carry a 1.875% market access fee. You set the wholesale discount and choose whether books can be returned, which are the terms bookstores look at before ordering. It also prints hardcovers with dust jackets.
3. Lulu
Lulu pays 80% of the profit on print books sold in its own bookstore, after the printing cost. Through its Global Distribution to other retailers, the retailer takes 50% of the retail price first, so margins outside Lulu's store are lower. Its standout features are Lulu Direct, which connects to stores such as Shopify and WooCommerce so orders from your own site are printed and shipped automatically, and formats like coil binding and saddle stitch.
4. D2D Print
Draft2Digital's print service produces black-and-white paperbacks and makes them available to the channels Ingram serves, including Barnes & Noble, as well as Amazon and most US independent bookstores. It suits wide authors who already use Draft2Digital for ebooks and want a simple paperback without managing another platform.
5. Barnes & Noble Press
Barnes & Noble Press publishes ebooks and print books to Barnes & Noble's online store. For print, it pays 55% of the list price minus printing on books priced at $14.99 or more. It is a direct route to one of the largest US booksellers, though most authors also use broader distribution for other stores.
6. BookVault
BookVault is a UK-based print-on-demand service with worldwide distribution and a Shopify integration, so orders from your own store can be printed and shipped automatically. Printing in the UK can mean faster, cheaper delivery for UK and European readers. It is often used for direct sales and special editions alongside the larger platforms.
7. Blurb
Blurb is known for high-quality photo books, magazines and design-led titles, with tools that work alongside professional design software. It suits photographers, artists and authors of visually rich books, such as portfolios and coffee-table books, more than standard novels.
8. Lightning Source
Lightning Source is Ingram's print-on-demand service for established publishers, using the same distribution network as IngramSpark. Small presses and publishers with larger catalogs often use it, while most individual authors find IngramSpark simpler.
Print-on-Demand vs Short-Run Printing
Print-on-demand is ideal for selling one copy at a time through stores. If you sell large numbers in person, at talks, workshops or events, a short print run from a commercial printer can lower the cost per copy, because the setup is spread across many books.
The trade-off is risk and storage. You pay upfront, store the books and carry the cost of any you do not sell. Many authors use print-on-demand for retail and order a short run only for a known event or a bulk order from an organization.
Hardcovers and Color Printing
Hardcovers and color interiors cost far more to print than black-and-white paperbacks, which pushes up the list price you need to charge. If your book needs color, such as a cookbook, children's book or photo book, compare printing costs carefully across services, and consider whether a premium color hardcover and a cheaper black-and-white paperback could serve different readers.
For hardcovers, decide whether you want a case laminate cover, printed directly on the board, or a dust jacket over a plain cover. Not every service offers both, so choose the printer to match the edition you want.
How Authors Combine Them
Very few authors use only one print service. Common combinations look like this:
- KDP Print plus IngramSpark. KDP for Amazon, IngramSpark for bookstores and libraries, using your own ISBN on both and leaving KDP's Expanded Distribution off. Our comparison of KDP and IngramSpark explains the setup.
- KDP Print plus Lulu. KDP for Amazon, Lulu for selling from your own website and for special formats. See our guide to Lulu vs KDP Print.
- KDP Print plus D2D Print. A simple setup for wide authors who already use Draft2Digital.
- KDP Print plus BookVault. For UK-based authors selling direct to readers in the UK and Europe.
I'll set up your paperback and hardcover on the right print services, with ISBNs, pricing and distribution that work together.
Choosing for Your Book
| Your goal | Start with |
|---|---|
| Sell on Amazon | KDP Print |
| Get into bookstores and libraries | IngramSpark |
| Sell print books from your own website | Lulu or BookVault |
| Need coil binding or saddle stitch | Lulu |
| Want a dust-jacket hardcover | IngramSpark or Lulu |
| Publish a photo or art book | Blurb |
| Already use Draft2Digital and want a simple paperback | D2D Print |
Avoiding Distribution Conflicts
When you use more than one service, avoid sending the same edition to the same store from two places. Use your own ISBNs, keep prices consistent and switch off overlapping distribution options, such as KDP's Expanded Distribution when IngramSpark is handling other retailers. Give genuinely different editions, such as a coil-bound workbook, their own ISBNs.
Before You Upload Anywhere
- Download each printer's own cover template, since spine widths differ.
- Check trim size and page-count limits for each format.
- Compare the printing cost and your earnings at your planned price.
- Decide which ISBN goes on which edition and record it.
- Order printed proofs and compare them side by side in good daylight.
- Confirm each listing appears correctly once the book goes live.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your goal. KDP Print is best for Amazon, IngramSpark for bookstores and libraries, and Lulu or BookVault for selling direct. Many authors use two or more.
For most authors, yes. You avoid upfront printing and storage costs, keep books permanently in print and pay only when a copy sells.
Yes. Use your own ISBN on both, publish on KDP for Amazon and IngramSpark for other retailers, and leave KDP's Expanded Distribution off for that edition.
Lulu offers coil binding, which suits workbooks, cookbooks and planners that need to lie flat. KDP does not.
It can. Paper, color and binding vary between printers, so order a proof from each one before releasing your book.
Per copy, a large print run is usually cheaper, but you pay upfront and store the books. Print-on-demand costs more per copy and nothing in advance, which makes it the safer choice for most retail sales.
Usually yes for print. KDP offers a free ISBN usable only on KDP, while IngramSpark requires one you own. Owning your ISBNs gives the most flexibility.