What book formats can I create with Blurb?

Blurb offers various book formats for creators, including photo books, trade books, and magazines. Each format provides unique features and is tailored for certain types of content. Photo Books: Perfect for fine art books, cookbooks, travel books, family albums, and portfolios, these high-quality books are available in six sizes and photo-quality papers and three cover types. Trade Books: This format suits novels and poetry books, plus children’s books and graphic novels. Available in four print options to balance cost and quality, trade books are priced to sell and printed with a free ISBN for broader distribution. Magazines: These are available in one standard size and on premium paper. The magazine format is well-suited for serial content, catalogs, work samples, and portfolios intended for promotion.

How do I create my own book with Blurb?

Blurb offers helpful design tools and software integrations to help you design your book. Here’s a simple breakdown about creating a book with Blurb: Choose a book format: With several options available, choose the book format that best suits your content. For example, a photo book format is best for premium-quality art books. Select a tool: Blurb enables creators to utilize various tools to create their books. You can use BookWright, which is Blurb's free bookmaking design software, or you can choose an Adobe InDesign plugin, Adobe Lightroom plugin, or Adobe Photoshop plugin, depending on your book's format. Design your book: Once you have selected a tool, you can start designing your book. You can use Blurb's customizable templates or design each page yourself. You have complete creative liberty over your book's overall look and feel. Edit your content: Editing is essential in creating your own book. Use high-quality images and organize text to tell a story that engages your readers. Distribute your book for sale: If you want to sell your book, Blurb offers several options for promotion and distribution, including the Blurb Bookstore, Amazon, and global online outlets like Ingram. You can print one copy at a time or order many copies upfront for a lower price per unit. Blurb makes it easy to create your own book while offering flexible design tools and lucrative distribution channels to sell your self-published book online.

How do I self-publish a book with Blurb?

The process of self-publishing a book depends on the nature of your book's content and your goals as a creator. In general, the self-publishing process involves the following steps: Choose a book format that suits your content, such as photo books, trade books, or magazines, as well as your book's dimensions, cover, and paper choice. Select a tool to organize your book's content and design your book using customizable templates or by designing each page yourself. Edit your book's content to ensure that it's error-free and clear and that images are high resolution. Design your book cover or have a professional design it for you. Submit your book for printing. Blurb offers both volume printing and print-on-demand and handles shipping and fulfillment as needed. Blurb simplifies self-publishing while taking the guesswork out of creation, pricing, and promotion. In turn, you can create a bookstore-quality finished product that rivals major book publishers.

How much does it cost to self-publish a book?

The cost of self-publishing a book varies by book format, number of pages, and number of copies. In addition to your book's chosen format and the quantity of needed copies, your book's paper choice and size also affect the publishing cost. Refer to Blurb's pricing page for a more detailed chart and pricing calculator.

How long does it take to produce and ship my book?

When creating and printing a book with Blurb, it takes about five business days to print and bind a book. Shipping can take an additional 1-5 business days, depending on the shipping method you choose at checkout. In total, the time it takes to produce and ship a book with Blurb can range from 6-10 business days. Please note that this is an estimate, and the actual time may vary depending on the book format, the number of copies, and the distribution options. Blurb does not offer expedited production times, so be sure to plan accordingly if you need your book sooner.

Does Blurb offer volume pricing?

Blurb offers volume order discounts starting with orders of 10 or more copies of the same book. For orders of 750 copies or more, Blurb offers offset printing for better economies of scale. Blurb charges no distribution fees for printed projects and no commission for print sales. The cost per unit decreases as the number of copies increases, and you can print one copy at a time or buy many copies upfront for a lower price per unit. Learn more about Blurb’s large order services.

What will you create?

Large square custom photo book titled Modern Spaces with an architectural image on the cover.

Photo books

Trade books

Magazines

Notebook shown open with one page showing a graphic design, the other with blank lined notebook paper.

Notebooks & journals

How we help

Creators

We give people who want to design, print, and self-publish their own books the tools and resources they need to bring ideas to life.

Tell me more

Business

We help businesses of all sizes distribute their work more efficiently and effectively with scaled solutions tailored to them.

Tell me more

Bring your creative
vision to life

We offer one, easy platform to print, self-publish, and sell your book in multiple formats and reach a global audience.

  ✓ Global distribution through the Blurb Bookstore, Amazon, and Ingram
  ✓ Versatile creation tools and formats
  ✓ On-demand and large-volume book printing
  ✓ High-quality print technologies

Learn more

Design your book, your way

Blurb BookWright

Design books and magazines with our free software featuring customizable templates and layout ideas.

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Blurb plugin for Adobe InDesign

Create unique, print-ready books and magazines as part of your InDesign workflow.

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Blurb Presets for Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic

Already editing photos in Lightroom? Turn your digital galleries into beautifully printed books and magazines.

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Blurb PDF Uploader

Have a PDF that’s ready to publish? Just upload it and get your book printed quickly and easily.

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What our creators are saying

“

We are the agency of record for an elite alliance of luxury residential technology firms. Blurb has been the most amazing production partner, working with us on larger orders and the unique challenges of creating a project like this. The quality of the books is incredible and everyone is just in love with how it's all turned out!

RABE x BIRCH

Design studio

“

One huge advantage I’ve found with making this expanded edition of 344 Questions available exclusively through Blurb is pricing. I was able to add 34 extra pages, make the book 54% larger, and put it on uncoated paper so it’s easier to fill out. With all that, I could still keep the price under $20 and get a little royalty on each copy. I don’t think a traditional publisher could’ve matched that.

Single author

Stefan Bucher

award-winning book designer and illustrator of 344 Questions

Person holding the 52 Hikes for 52 Weeks book.

“

I chose Blurb because it allowed for the best way to self-publish my books. The design program is incredibly easy to use and there is so much freedom in the design process... Also, the quality of the printed books is incredible! Blurb can help you sell to retailers like Amazon and big bookstores like Barnes & Noble which is great!

Small Business

Hike Oregon

creator of 52 Hikes for 52 Weeks

What our creators are saying

Design studio

RABE x BIRCH

What our creators are saying

Single author

Stefan Bucher

award-winning book designer and illustrator of 344 Questions

What our creators are saying

Small Business

Hike Oregon

creator of 52 Hikes for 52 Weeks

Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions

What book formats can I create with Blurb?
How do I create my own book with Blurb?
How do I self-publish a book with Blurb?
How much does it cost to self-publish a book?
How long does it take to produce and ship my book?
Does Blurb offer volume pricing?

What book formats can I create with Blurb?

Blurb offers various book formats for creators, including photo books, trade books, and magazines. Each format provides unique features and is tailored for certain types of content.

Photo Books: Perfect for fine art books, cookbooks, travel books, family albums, and portfolios, these high-quality books are available in six sizes and photo-quality papers and three cover types.

Trade Books: This format suits novels and poetry books, plus children’s books and graphic novels. Available in four print options to balance cost and quality, trade books are priced to sell and printed with a free ISBN for broader distribution.

Magazines: These are available in one standard size and on premium paper. The magazine format is well-suited for serial content, catalogs, work samples, and portfolios intended for promotion.

Back to top

How do I create my own book with Blurb?

Blurb offers helpful design tools and software integrations to help you design your book. Here’s a simple breakdown about creating a book with Blurb:

Choose a book format: With several options available, choose the book format that best suits your content. For example, a photo book format is best for premium-quality art books.

Select a tool: Blurb enables creators to utilize various tools to create their books. You can use BookWright, which is Blurb's free bookmaking design software, or you can choose an Adobe InDesign plugin, Adobe Lightroom plugin, or Adobe Photoshop plugin, depending on your book's format.

Design your book: Once you have selected a tool, you can start designing your book. You can use Blurb's customizable templates or design each page yourself. You have complete creative liberty over your book's overall look and feel.

Edit your content: Editing is essential in creating your own book. Use high-quality images and organize text to tell a story that engages your readers.

Distribute your book for sale: If you want to sell your book, Blurb offers several options for promotion and distribution, including the Blurb Bookstore, Amazon, and global online outlets like Ingram. You can print one copy at a time or order many copies upfront for a lower price per unit.

Blurb makes it easy to create your own book while offering flexible design tools and lucrative distribution channels to sell your self-published book online.

Back to top

How do I self-publish a book with Blurb?

The process of self-publishing a book depends on the nature of your book's content and your goals as a creator. In general, the self-publishing process involves the following steps:

Choose a book format that suits your content, such as photo books, trade books, or magazines, as well as your book's dimensions, cover, and paper choice.

Select a tool to organize your book's content and design your book using customizable templates or by designing each page yourself.

Edit your book's content to ensure that it's error-free and clear and that images are high resolution.

Design your book cover or have a professional design it for you.

Submit your book for printing. Blurb offers both volume printing and print-on-demand and handles shipping and fulfillment as needed.

Submit your book for printing. Blurb offers both volume printing and print-on-demand and handles shipping and fulfillment as needed.

Blurb simplifies self-publishing while taking the guesswork out of creation, pricing, and promotion. In turn, you can create a bookstore-quality finished product that rivals major book publishers.

Back to top

How much does it cost to self-publish a book?

The cost of self-publishing a book varies by book format, number of pages, and number of copies. In addition to your book's chosen format and the quantity of needed copies, your book's paper choice and size also affect the publishing cost. Refer to Blurb's pricing page for a more detailed chart and pricing calculator.

Back to top

How long does it take to produce and ship my book?

When creating and printing a book with Blurb, it takes about five business days to print and bind a book. Shipping can take an additional 1-5 business days, depending on the shipping method you choose at checkout. In total, the time it takes to produce and ship a book with Blurb can range from 6-10 business days. Please note that this is an estimate, and the actual time may vary depending on the book format, the number of copies, and the distribution options. Blurb does not offer expedited production times, so be sure to plan accordingly if you need your book sooner.

Back to top

Does Blurb offer volume pricing?

Blurb offers volume order discounts starting with orders of 10 or more copies of the same book. For orders of 750 copies or more, Blurb offers offset printing for better economies of scale. Blurb charges no distribution fees for printed projects and no commission for print sales. The cost per unit decreases as the number of copies increases, and you can print one copy at a time or buy many copies upfront for a lower price per unit. Learn more about Blurb’s large order services.

Back to top

Who uses Blurb?

Blurb is a versatile and user-friendly self-publishing platform empowering a wide array of content creators to bring their visions to life. Catering to professionals like authors, photographers, and other creatives, Blurb provides the tools and services to design, publish, and distribute high-end books, portfolios, and magazines. But Blurb is not just for professionals; countless people use Blurb to create cherished keepsakes like travel books, family photo albums, and memoirs.

How to use Blurb

Blurb sets itself apart in the publishing world through its range of software tools designed to offer a frictionless creative experience. BookWright, Blurb’s flagship bookmaking software, enables you to craft high-quality books, magazines, and other published works seamlessly. It offers a variety of customizable templates and advanced design features. Combined with Blurb's professional book printing services, you can create a bookstore-worthy product.

Blurb is also equipped with plugins for well-known design platforms like Adobe InDesign and Adobe Lightroom, facilitating the creation of stunning work with powerful tools that many professional designers use. And if your content is on a PDF file, you're in luck! Blurb allows for direct PDF to book uploads, helping turn already assembled work into a print-ready format. Offering a range of customizability from cover type and dimensions to paper quality, Blurb's bookmaking capabilities contend with renowned publishing houses.

What services does Blurb offer?

Blurb offers a range of services for self-publishing, including book design, printing, distribution, and marketing. Here is a look at several Blurb offerings:
1. Book Design: Blurb offers free modern templates and easy-to-use software to create portfolios, photo books, trade books, magazines, and more. You have complete creative control over how your vision comes to life.
2. Book Printing: Blurb offers tailored print solutions, expert support, and custom quotes for varying printing needs. Blurb's print-on-demand solution allows creators to print as they go.
3. Distribution: Blurb offers multiple distribution channels for self-published projects. You can sell your book directly through the Blurb Bookstore or Amazon or distribute it through Ingram's worldwide distribution network.
4. Marketing: Blurb offers online sales tools that allow you to share a preview of your project on social media or embed it on your website. You can also sell and distribute your book directly through your personal storefront on Blurb.com.
Self-publishing with Blurb

Blurb streamlines self-publishing, turning immersive creative projects into beautiful, tangible books. Aspiring authors and creative professionals alike can leverage Blurb’s powerful toolkit, ensuring a smooth design and layout process. The cost of printing is transparent and wide-ranging, largely dependent on book size, cover type, paper quality, and page count.

With Blurb, you take complete creative and commercial ownership over your project. This autonomy extends to determining your price and exploring various channels to sell your book.

More than just a bookmaking service, Blurb's marketing tools help widen your book's visibility and commercial viability. For an easy and intuitive self-publishing experience, Blurb's customizability and premium-grade print standards make it a no-brainer.

Selling self-published books

Selling self-published books opens a world of opportunities for authors and creatives, providing total control over the publishing and promotion process. Creators set their own pricing, retain rights to their work, and have access to a global audience through various channels. Blurb supports this journey, offering tools to create, promote, and distribute books independently.

When selling a book, it is crucial to consider the target audience, pricing strategy, and marketing efforts to ensure successful sales. Blurb supports creators in navigating these aspects, turning their creative works into commercially viable products with the potential for both personal fulfillment and financial reward.

Print-on-Demand with Blurb

A print-on-demand model means printing occurs only when an order is placed, eliminating the need for large upfront print runs and reducing the risk of unsold inventory. This system is cost-effective, particularly for independent authors and small-scale publishers, as it minimizes waste and lowers storage and distribution costs.