You have not had to order hundreds of books for a long time. Printing a book from 1 copy is perfectly normal these days, with the same quality as a large print run. Ideal for assessing a sample, making a personal gift or starting small as a self-publisher.
Digital printing makes small runs possible
With traditional offset printing the set-up costs are high, so you only get good value at large quantities. Digital printing has hardly any set-up costs, which makes one or a few copies viable too, at the same professional quality.
When do you choose 1 copy or a small run?
- A sample copy before you order a larger run
- A personal book, memoir or family history
- Authors who want to publish without holding stock
- Companies that need a few tailor-made copies
From file to book
You supply your print-ready PDF, choose format, paper and binding, and we print and deliver, whether it is one copy or a thousand. That keeps risk and stock costs low. Curious about the price for your book? Request a free quote.
Printing a book from 1 copy and the price
Printing one copy costs more per unit than ordering a hundred, because you miss the economies of scale. But you save on stock and risk, and you do not have to invest anything up front. For small numbers it is therefore often the smartest choice. Unsure about the best quantity? Read our article on deciding your print run. If you are going to sell your book, you need an ISBN; see the International ISBN Agency.
You see that effect immediately in the calculator: the price per book drops most sharply between one and ten copies and then levels off. Anyone hesitating between one and three copies often discovers that the third book hardly costs anything extra.
Do not forget shipping either: that is charged per consignment, not per book. Having one copy sent therefore costs you relatively much postage, while five copies fit in the same box. If you already know you will need more later, it is often cheaper to order them straight away than to have two separate deliveries. If you order one sample copy first, bear in mind that the real print run will come as a second shipment.
Where one copy pays off
- As a sample copy. Ordering one book before you have the real run printed lets you judge paper, colour and finish for real.
- As a gift. A photo book, family book or recipe book for one person does not need to exist tenfold.
- For a thesis or portfolio. A single bound copy that looks professional.
- With print on demand. You only print once there is an order, so you never buy stock.
In every case the execution is the same as with a large run: the same paper, the same presses, the same bindery. You cannot tell from one book that it was the only one.
Frequently asked questions about printing a book from 1 copy
Can I really have just one book printed?
Yes. Thanks to digital printing you can print a book from 1 copy, at the same quality as with a large run.
Is one copy more expensive per unit?
Yes, because you miss the economies of scale of a large run. But you save on stock and do not have to invest anything up front.
Can I order more later?
Certainly. There is no minimum run or stock, so you decide yourself when and how many you reorder.
Is there a minimum number of pages?
For a bound book there is: below about twenty pages there is little to bind. In those cases a saddle-stitched finish is more suitable. The calculator automatically shows which binding suits your page count.
Do I get the same quality with one copy?
Yes. The same paper, the same presses and the same bindery as with a run of a thousand. The file check beforehand is identical too.