Selling hardcovers direct
Sell your hardcover next to the paperback and the ebook.
A hardcover is often the copy your most loyal readers want, for a shelf or a gift. It sits on the same book page as the other formats, so readers choose the one they want. Print it on demand through BookVault or Lulu, or post copies you already have.
How it works in Lanternbee
Add the hardcover edition
On the book, tick hardcover and choose print on demand or own stock.
Choose hardcover binding
For print on demand, pick the printer and hardcover binding, then the trim size, paper and page count.
Upload the print files
Upload the interior PDF and the hardcover cover PDF. A hardcover cover is usually a different size from the paperback’s, so check your printer’s template.
Price it
Set its own price. A hardcover usually costs more to print, so check the printer’s quote first.
Files and details
- Interior PDF
- Up to 500 MB. Often the same interior as the paperback.
- Cover PDF
- Up to 200 MB. Made to your printer’s hardcover template.
- Trim sizes
- 5x8, 5.25x8, 5.5x8.5 or 6x9 inches for print on demand.
What readers get
- Every format on one page
- Readers see the ebook, audiobook, paperback and hardcover together and pick one, or a bundle.
- Shipping before they pay
- Readers pick their country and a shipping rate in the cart, so the total holds no surprises.
- Receipts in their library
- Every order and a printable receipt are in the reader’s library.
What it costs to sell a hardcover
Your Lanternbee plan, Stripe’s card fee on each sale, and anything a printer or other service charges. Nothing else.
| What | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Lanternbee, Free plan | 5% per sale | Taken only when you sell. No monthly bill. |
| Lanternbee, Author plan | $35€29£25 a month, paid yearly | Or $45€39£35 month to month. No fee on your sales. |
| Card payment, US account | 2.9% + 30¢ | Stripe’s standard rate for a US card. Cards issued outside the US add 1.5%, and paying in another currency adds 1%. |
| Card payment, UK account | 1.5% + 20p | Standard UK cards. EEA cards are 2.5% + 20p, other international cards 3.15% + 20p, plus 2% when the currency is converted. |
| Card payment, EU account (Ireland) | 1.5% + €0.25 | Standard EEA cards. UK cards are 2.5% + €0.25, other international cards 3.15% + €0.25, plus 2% when the currency is converted. |
| Stripe Tax | 0.5% per sale | Only on sales where you are registered to collect tax. This is the pay-as-you-go rate for Stripe’s own checkout. |
| Lanternbee on print costs | No mark-up | You pay the printer’s price, or your own cost for stock you hold. |
| BookVault title setup, free plan | £19.95 or $24.95 per title | Each format is its own title at BookVault. Less on BookVault’s paid plans. |
| Lulu | Print cost + shipping + a fulfillment fee | No setup or subscription fee. |
Limits to know about
- Sending paid orders to BookVault and Lulu automatically is being built. You can set up print editions now.
- For own stock, postage labels and marking orders as posted inside Lanternbee are being built.
- Shipping rates are flat rates you set per zone. A heavier hardcover may need its own rates.
VAT and sales tax
Printed books are often taxed differently from ebooks. Stripe Tax applies the rule for the reader’s country at checkout. Check your own country on the VAT pages.
Questions about selling hardcovers
Can a hardcover and a paperback share an ISBN?
No. Each format needs its own ISBN, and Lanternbee keeps one per edition.
Can I sell a hardcover with the ebook as a set?
Yes. Make a bundle with the two editions and set one price for both.
Works with
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Sell your hardcovers direct
Join the waiting list and we’ll email you when your store is ready to set up.
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