How Much Does a Book Editor Cost? Per-Word Pricing Explained.

Angela Scarborough

2 hours ago

4 min read

Editing prices vary a lot, and it's hard to know what's fair when you've never hired an editor. Many charge by the word, which keeps pricing predictable: you can estimate the cost of your book before you send it anywhere.

The short answer: at my rates, an 80,000-word novel costs between $640 and $1,600 depending on the type of editing, and less per service if you bundle. The rest of this post explains where those numbers come from, so you can judge any editor's quote, not just mine.

How per-word pricing works

The math is simple. Multiply your word count by the editor's rate. Your word count is in your word processor's status bar or word count tool. Here's what that looks like at my current rates for an 80,000-word novel:

Beta reading at $0.008 per word: $640
Proofreading at $0.012 per word: $960
Line editing at $0.018 per word: $1,440
Developmental editing at $0.02 per word: $1,600

Rates differ from editor to editor, and a lower price isn't automatically a better deal, nor is a higher one. I've learned that the hard (and expensive) way as an author myself. What matters is what's included, so be sure to ask what you'll receive and how it's delivered.

What if your book is a different length?

The same formula works for any manuscript. Here are two more examples at my current rates:

A 60,000-word novel: beta reading $480, proofreading $720, line editing $1,080, developmental editing $1,200.
A 100,000-word novel: beta reading $800, proofreading $1,200, line editing $1,800, developmental editing $2,000.

Before you request quotes, check your word count. Many writers are surprised to find their draft is longer or shorter than they thought, and it changes the price quite a bit.

Why editing costs what it does

It helps to know what you're paying for. Editing a full novel means reading every word carefully, often more than once, and then putting your feedback into a form you can use. Developmental editing takes the most thought, because it means understanding the whole story and explaining what's working and what isn't. Line editing takes the most time on the page, sentence by sentence. Proofreading is quicker per word, but it demands close attention to detail. That's why the per-word rate goes up with the amount of judgment involved.

What affects the price

Word count: longer books cost more.
The service: each one does a different amount of work, which is why developmental editing costs more per word than proofreading.
Turnaround and condition: some editors charge extra for rush jobs or very rough drafts, so ask whether the quote is fixed. Depending on the edit and the state your book is in, many editors will be willing to work with you.

Bundling can save money

If you plan to use more than one service, bundling usually helps financially. For the same 80,000-word novel, all three editing services (developmental, line editing, and proofreading) come to $4,000 at regular rates, or $3,200 with my Draft to Done bundle, which takes 20% off.

I also offer two smaller bundles that take 15% off: developmental plus line editing, and line editing plus proofreading. For that same 80,000-word novel, that works out to:

Developmental plus line editing: $3,040 at regular rates, or $2,584 bundled.
Line editing plus proofreading: $2,400 at regular rates, or $2,040 bundled.

How to plan your editing budget

Start with where your manuscript is. A first draft that needs big story changes isn't ready for proofreading yet, and paying for it too early wastes money.
Edit in order. Big-picture work comes first, then sentences, then the final check, which is proofing. Doing them out of order means paying to fix the same pages twice.
Get quotes in writing. A clear quote should name the service, the word count it's based on, and what you'll receive. A contract will always protect yourself, as well as the editor.
Compare what's included, not just the total. A cheaper quote that skips a feedback letter or a second look may not be cheaper in the end.

Questions to ask any editor before you hire

What exactly is included in the price?
How will the feedback be delivered?
How long will it take?
Can I see a sample of your editing first?
What are the payment terms?
Do you edit my genre?
Is there follow-up after I get the edit?
Is there a contract or written agreement?
What will you do with my manuscript?
What if my manuscript isn't ready for the service I picked?

Frequently asked questions

Is per-word pricing better than hourly or per-page pricing?

For most authors, yes. I charge by the word, so you know the cost before you start: your word count times my rate. It also makes editors easy to compare, because every quote uses the same measure. Per-page pricing works in a similar way, but a page isn't always the same size. It's often counted as about 250 words, yet formatting can change how many pages your book has, so ask how an editor defines a page. Hourly pricing can work, but it's harder to predict, since two editors may take very different amounts of time on the same book, meaning one may do more in-depth research than another.

Why does developmental editing cost more than proofreading?

Because it asks for more of the editor's judgment and time. Developmental editing means analyzing the whole story, while proofreading is a final check of a polished manuscript.

Which service should I buy first?

If your book is a finished draft and you're not sure it works, start with developmental editing or a beta read. Save proofreading for when everything else is done. I'll be posting more on developmental editing vs. line editing vs. proofreading in a later post.

I offer a free 1,000-word sample edit with every new inquiry, so you can see my style and my pricing in action before you decide. You can find the details at scarborougheditorial.com.