Hardcover Editions for Graphic Novels

A hardcover edition can make your graphic novel feel like a gift: sturdier, more special, and often priced higher. But hardcovers cost more to print and aren't right for every book. Here's how to decide.

Check KDP's (and other printers') current hardcover options, page-count minimums, and costs.

Why offer a hardcover

• Gift buyers. Grandparents, holidays, birthdays — hardcovers feel like presents.
• Libraries and schools appreciate durability.
• Collectors and fans like a premium edition.
• A higher price point alongside your paperback.

The trade-offs

• Higher printing cost, so the price has to be higher to earn a royalty.
• Page-count minimums. Hardcover binding usually requires more pages than a paperback. Many graphic novels are fairly short, so check whether yours meets the minimum before planning a hardcover.
• Fewer trim sizes and paper options may be available.
• A separate cover file, because hardcover covers wrap around the board differently from paperbacks.

Price them together

Readers compare editions side by side. A hardcover usually sits clearly above the paperback in price; make sure both earn a reasonable royalty. Use our royalty calculator for the paperback and KDP's tools for the hardcover.

A collected edition

If your individual books are short, consider a hardcover collection — two or three stories in one volume, or a complete series. It's a great gift product, and it easily meets page minimums.

Order a proof

Hardcover color printing can look different from the paperback. Always order a proof copy before publishing.

Where to sell them

Hardcovers sell well at conventions and events, as gifts during the holidays (see the seasonal sales calendar), and to libraries.