Your novel you have been working on day and night is now completed! After pouring your heart and soul into your first attempt at authorship, you’re ready to begin the self-publishing journey. You engaged a professional to work on the cover design for your book after receiving some wise advice. And, because it has worked out so spectacularly, you want to do the cover proud. So, the central question before you is: paperback or hardcover?
Most of us have been taught throughout the years that a hardcover book design is superior to a “lowly” paperback. In reality, publishers typically launch the book in hardcover with a dust jacket amid all sorts of fanfare announcing the fresh-off-the-press next best-seller. Savvy readers realised that by waiting up to a year, the paperback version would be available for a fraction of the original price.
But times are changing. Hardcover books are still the best choice for specific book genres, such as textbooks, children’s books, first-edition fiction, and coffee table books—most of which will never be available in paperback. However, a clear preference for paperback has knocked some of the wind out of hardcover’s sails—and sales in recent years.
Self-publishing platforms offer a wide range of cover options, making the decision of which cover to use for your project a mind-boggling exercise in calculating profit, determining the intended use of your book, and determining what cover type is traditional for your particular genre.
To help you understand all of this, let’s start with the main differences between hardcover and paper forms.
Pros and Cons of Paperback Vs Hardcover
Researching paperback versus hardcover preferences might be confusing. Surprisingly, some sources indicate that paperback is the more expensive option, which defies logic.
Why do people believe paperbacks are more expensive than hardcovers when both selling costs tell the real story? The price difference between hardback and paperback reflects publishing costs. So, take the leap and toss that out because, in the real world, hardcover publishing is a more expensive option, resulting in a higher selling price at the retail level.
However, pricing is one of many aspects to consider when choosing a cover for your book. There are numerous reasons why someone might have a preference when purchasing a book, so if you’re thinking about the hardcover vs. paperback options, it could all come down to details like these:
- Hardcover books feel more substantial and valuable.
- Hardcover books are more durable.
- Your library consists of hardcover books, so you seek those out.
- Hardcover books convey a sense of legitimacy and authority.
- A paperback book is easy to carry.
- Paperback books are sometimes less expensive than hardback books, allowing people to buy two for the price of hardcover books (in most cases).
- Paperback books provide a more intimate reading experience.
- Paperback books are smaller in size, allowing you to fit more books in your bookshelf.
Why are Paperbacks Cheaper than Hardcovers?
Paperback books are less expensive than hardcover books due to the lower cost of materials and the ability to mass-produce them. Hardcover books require more physical effort, higher material prices, and more complex printing processes.
However, this is only one example of the many different opinions you will encounter when you conduct research on self-publishing in general and selecting a cover design in particular.
Differences Between Paperback and Hardcover
The following are the most frequently mentioned differences between hardcover and paperback:
Paperback Books
A paperback or softcover book protects its internal content with solid cardboard, either glossy or matte. Some paperback books have flaps that carry book data and author bios. Additionally, the extra cover space accommodates artwork and graphics.
We all love to curl up with a good book, don’t we? And with good reason:
Pros:
- Paperback editions are lighter, more portable, and need less shipping costs.
- They are pliable, allowing for simple bending and packing in tight spaces.
- Paperbacks feel more consumable and offer a more engaging reading experience.
- Paperback books cost at least half as much to publish than hardcover novels.
- People who like to annotate their books feel less guilty marking up mass-market paperbacks than hardcovers.
However, there are certain limitations to the paperback version:
Cons:
- Paperback covers may become tired-looking, such as curling edges and nicks.
- Paperbacks do not have the same status as hardcover books.
- There exists greater competition in the paperback market.
Hardcover Books
There are several different methods for self-publishing hardcover books.
One method involves wrapping 2.5mm-3.5mm thick cardboard with coated paper that contains the cover art design. The other type of cover is a clothbound, or case-bound, cover, which is made by applying a durable cloth to cardboard, and the cover art is applied directly to the cloth. Both versions can have a dust jacket that includes the glossy cover picture and inner flaps.
Who doesn’t admire the look of a good hardbound book? Here’s why.
Pros:
- Hardback books have a premium look and feel.
- Hardcovers are far more durable.
- Hardcover books with a dust jacket offer the convenience of getting two covers in one.
- Hardcover book design commands higher margins.
- Collectors prefer hardcover book design versions of books.
On the other hand, there are several disadvantages associated with making hardcover book designs:
Cons:
- Hardcover books can cost more than twice as much as paperbacks.
- Hardcover books are heavier and less portable.
- Hardcover books incur extra delivery expenses.
Should I Print a Hardback or a Paperback Book?
When you get to the point in your book project where you have to make important decisions about book design, one of the primary decisions to make is whether to go with hardcover or paperback. Why? Before pulling the trigger, you must examine a number of factors, such as cost disparities, profitability, genre, and aesthetics. Some considerations are:
- The genre of your book can influence whether you choose hardcover or paperback. Cookbooks, for example, are best published as hardcover books so that they will hold up well under the demands of the kitchen. Coffee table books look far better in hardcover, and biographies have a stronger appeal when published in hardcover. On the other hand, a romance novel is ideally suited to paperback.
- Book cover art. Your stunning book cover artwork may not have the same visual impact in paperback format. While a simple illustrated book cover works fine for a paperback, it may appear weirdly weak in hardcover form. Furthermore, a dramatic cover design for a thriller is more appealing on a hardback with a high gloss dust jacket than on a more muted paperback cover.
- Costs. When calculating the costs and royalties of a paperback book vs a hardcover book design, it’s easy for writers to get tied up in the question of dollars and cents. A 250-page 6×9 paperback typically costs around $4.00 for printing. With a retail list price of $14.95, the royalty is approximately $5.00 per unit sold. A 250-page 6×9 hardbound book can cost between $9 and $13, depending on the dust jacket and binding quality. Based on those details, the royalty paid for the hardback may range between $4 and $6.50 per copy sold.
Anguishing over the profit margin difference between a paperback and a hardback doesn’t have to be such a harrowing aspect of the self-publishing process. Many authors handle this problem by making their books available in all three formats: paperback, hardcover, and eBook.
Is Paperback, Hardcover, or eBook best?
So, which option is preferable in the great paperback vs. hardcover debate?
Clearly, the decision to select which cover to use for your new book is not easy. This is where some valuable publishing expertise can be worth its weight in gold.