Ebook vs Paperback: Which Should You Publish?

Should you publish your book as an ebook, a paperback, or both? It is one of the first format decisions authors face, and the good news is that the answer is usually simpler than it seems. This guide compares the two on cost, earnings, reach, and reader preference — and explains why most authors should not choose between them at all.

For the wider process, see our guide on how to self-publish a book.

The core difference

An ebook is a digital file read on devices — no printing, no shipping, instant delivery. A paperback is a physical printed book. With print-on-demand, a paperback is printed only when someone orders it, so neither format requires you to hold inventory. They reach overlapping but distinct groups of readers.

Cost to produce

• Ebook: the cheapest format to publish. You pay for editing and cover (as with any book) but there are no printing costs at all.
• Paperback: adds print-specific work — a print-ready interior PDF and a full wraparound cover with a spine — and with print-on-demand, a per-copy printing cost that comes out of each sale rather than upfront.

The ebook is genuinely cheaper to bring to market; the paperback adds modest extra formatting work. Our guide on how to format a book for KDP and print covers both.

Royalties and pricing

• Ebook: higher royalty rate (often up to 70% on platforms like KDP within certain price ranges), but a lower price point, so less money per sale in absolute terms.
• Paperback: a lower royalty rate after printing costs are deducted, but a higher price, so the per-copy earnings can be comparable or higher depending on your numbers.

Neither wins outright on money — it depends on your price and your readers' format preference.

Reach and reader preference

Readers are split, and the split depends on your genre and audience:

• Ebook readers value convenience, instant delivery, lower prices, and carrying a library on one device. Genre fiction skews strongly digital.
• Print readers value the physical object — the feel, the shelf presence, gifting. Non-fiction, literary work, children's books, and gift books skew toward print.

Whatever your genre, some meaningful share of your potential readers prefer each format.

Why you should usually publish both

Here is the practical answer: for most authors, doing both is the right move. Once your book is edited, adding the second format is relatively little extra work, the two editions link together on a single retailer listing, and you capture readers of both preferences instead of turning half of them away. A print edition also lends credibility and gives readers something to hold and gift.

The main reason to start with just the ebook is speed and budget — it is the fastest, cheapest way to launch, and you can add the paperback shortly after. But leaving one format out permanently means leaving readers, and money, on the table.

Which should you launch first?

If you are phasing them, most authors launch the ebook first (fastest and cheapest) and add the paperback soon after. Genres that skew heavily to print — children's books, gift books, some non-fiction — may lead with or prioritize the paperback.

The bottom line

Ebooks are cheaper to produce, pay a higher royalty rate at a lower price, and suit convenience-focused readers; paperbacks cost a little more, earn well per copy, and suit readers who want a physical book. But the real answer for most authors is not either-or — publish both, since the extra effort is small and each format reaches readers the other misses. Start with the ebook if budget or speed demands, then add print.