A professional book cover designer typically costs about $500-$800 for a single project. However, a simpler cover from a less-experienced designer would cost less, while an elaborate cover from a Big 5 designer would cost quite a bit more.

What book covers sell best?
Here are 23 book covers to inspire you to create the next best-selling design.

  1. Psycho, 1959. Image via Shortlist.com. …
  2. Jaws, 1974. Image via Shortlist.com. …
  3. Jurassic Park, 1990. Image via Coolartblog.com. …
  4. The Godfather, 1969. …
  5. To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960. …
  6. 1984, 1948. …
  7. Flowers in the Attic, 1979. …
  8. The Wizard of Oz, 1900.

Also, What software is used to design book covers? The best tools that you can use in order to design a book cover is Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Spark.

How much do artists get paid for book covers?

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $99,000 and as low as $16,500, the majority of Book Cover Artist salaries currently range between $27,000 (25th percentile) to $53,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $78,500 annually across the United States.

25 Related Questions and Answers

What color book covers sell best?

In addition to black and white, which work great for copy, most book covers look best with two or three colors.



Best Colors for Book Covers.

Red Energy, enthusiasm, emotion, power
Blue Dependability, trust, thoughtfulness, calm
Dark Blue Deep sincerity, intuition, truth

Do cover artists read the books?

In this instance, it is up to the designer to speak to the book’s editor or, better still, the author to build a sense of the book’s tone and temperature. I am most certainly in the reading the book camp; the cover is there to serve the content, so the content has to be taken into account.

How do publishers choose book covers?

Usually a group of marketing people along with the editor, or maybe the editorial team. Who designs the cover? Larger publishers have art departments with multiple designers who work full time designing book covers and ancillary materials.

How long does it take to design a book cover?

How long does it take to design a book cover? It usually takes 10-12 working days, but for more complex projects (e.g. illustrations) it may take up to 20 working days.

How do you make a book cover at home?


Here is an easy and quick way to make a book cover!

  1. Step 1: Materials. Materials: a book, scissors, tape, a piece of paper. …
  2. Step 2: Fold. …
  3. Step 3: Trim the Width. …
  4. Step 4: Put the Book On. …
  5. Step 5: Trim the Length. …
  6. Step 6: Cut Off the Space for Book Back. …
  7. Step 7: Fold and Tape. …
  8. Step 8: Then It’s Done!

Do authors choose their book covers?

But speaking in general terms, authors can usually trust their publisher to give them a cover that will result in book sales—which, many people forget, is pretty much the sole purpose of a book cover.

Do book cover artists get royalties?

Book cover art

Typically, there are no royalties on book cover work—it’s a flat fee. It may be exciting to illustrate the cover of what will be the next Harry Potter, but, sadly, you won’t see a dime in royalties.

Should I put my face on my book cover?

Many authors think that putting their picture on the front cover will make them famous. This is not necessarily so. Unless you are well known in the media, bookstore buyers will not accept your book which pictures you on the front cover. … Otherwise, your picture and bio belong in the back matter of the book.

What attracts readers to a book cover?


Let’s dive into book cover design tips that attract a greater audience.

  • Make your title the focal point. …
  • Select fonts and colors to make reading easier. …
  • Declutter the cover. …
  • Play the genre game. …
  • Feature a key thematic element from your book.

Why are book covers so bad?

Most book covers during the late 20th century or 21st century have the author’s name unnecessarily bigger than the book’s title using very ugly fonts. Some covers also include photos, which usually looks poorly positioned.

Do authors design their book covers?

A cover is the most important piece of marketing for any book. Publishers know this, which is why they have entire departments devoted to the design of book covers. … Most of the time in traditional publishing the author gets an email that says, “Here’s your cover!

What makes a book cover appealing?

It should be compelling. It should be visible and readable. AND it should be strengthened further by any additional visual elements on your cover. Your title, and any subtitles and taglines are going to play a pivotal role in selling your book.

Does the publisher decide a book cover?

But speaking in general terms, authors can usually trust their publisher to give them a cover that will result in book sales—which, many people forget, is pretty much the sole purpose of a book cover.

Should I put a novel on my book cover?

As the genre became more and more experimental, publishers put “A Novel” on book covers to reassure people that they were approaching something familiar, while simultaneously stretching the definition of what a novel could be. … “It indicated that the novel was a growing genre.” This use case has persisted.

How much does a book designer make?

The average Book Designer salary is $28,303 as of October 29, 2021, but the salary range typically falls between $26,014 and $31,205. Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession.

What makes a book cover stand out?

Introduce your main characters, and simply outline the plot. Then entice the reader with an emotional hook, and allude to the journey the characters will go on – what they stand to achieve or lose. Make sure the blurb conveys the tone of your book; if it’s humorous, readers will think your book is too.

What kind of paper is used for book covers?

Most printed books, use uncoated paper stocks for the inside pages of the book, and a coated cover stock for the book cover. Uncoated stocks come in different finishes and paper weights. Uncoated paper comes in two different finishes, either a vellum or smooth finish.

How do you cover a book without tape?


No Tape Book Cover

  1. Step 1: Materials. This is easy, you only need a couple things: …
  2. Step 2: Cut Apart the Bag. To start out, cut out the bottom of the bag and make a cut down the length so you have one big rectangle. …
  3. Step 3: Cover Length. …
  4. Step 4: Cover Height. …
  5. Step 5: Put It On. …
  6. Step 6: You’re Done!

Do authors have control over book covers?

It’s true that authors almost never contractually have approval over their covers, though they do sometimes have something called “consult” or “consultation” (often negotiated into the contract by an agent).

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