The 30-second quote form — or the instant calculator for 1–20 copies. Your price lands the same day.
Rough or ready. A real person checks your file and offers clear advice on making it ready to print. Free and fast.
Your preview to sign off before we print the run. Until approval you can still make changes to the artwork.
Stapled booklets with you in 3 days, perfect bound books in 5 and hardbacks in 7 days. Free UK tracked delivery.
Self-published book printing at Ex Why Zed: perfect bound paperbacks and case bound hardbacks in A5, B-format, A4 or square, for novels, poetry, memoirs, cookbooks and illustrated books. 100 A5 paperbacks (84 pages) cost £422 (£4.22 a copy); orders are delivered in 4–5 working days, and we can hold your stock and fulfil orders as they come in.
• Refreshingly friendly, patient and intelligent Ex Why Zed team.
• Your work will be thoroughly checked by experts before we go to print.
• All Papers are FSC Certified.
• Maximum quality HP Indigo Digital and Heidelberg Litho Printing
• FREE delivery anywhere in the UK. We ship worldwide daily too.
• 290+ reviews on Reviews.io and 495+ on Trustpilot ✅
• Book Storage, Fulfilment and Distribution.
Printed for authors right across the UK. Recent self-published books include Adam Karnacz's hardback Illumination in Leeds, Matt Dixon's section-sewn art book High Voltage in Nottingham, Cunning Folk in Edinburgh and India Mae Alby's The London Rollerskating Scene. Writing in London? See book printing for London authors.
Discover a selection of recent books we've expertly crafted in collaboration with their authors.
"Duffy's Lucky Escape" is a beautifully illustrated children's book that narrates the true story of Duffy, a sea turtle who mistakenly ingests ocean waste and survives the ordeal. Authored by Ellie and Ian, the book has garnered national attention, receiving endorsements from Sir David Attenborough and Prince Charles (now King Charless III). Its compelling narrative has played a significant role in raising awareness about oceanic plastic pollution.
The authors aim to place a copy of "Duffy's Lucky Escape" in the hands of every child in the country, having already distributed 100,000 copies. This widespread reach has inspired many readers to advocate for environmental action within their communities. The book's impact is evident in the growing movement to address plastic waste, highlighted by initiatives such as a £60 million fund announced by the government to combat this issue.
Stapled, perfect bound (glued, like a paperback) or hardback? Your page count has already decided — the whole rule in one picture.
Read the full Binding Styles guide →Silk, gloss or uncoated — what each looks and feels like, and the insider hack that saves you money.
Read the full Paper Choices guide →Bleed, page sizes, cover files and the 3 common mistakes — plus we check (or rebuild) your file for FREE.
Read the full Artwork Hub guide →Browse hundreds of real projects we've actually printed — proper inspiration, not a single AI mockup.
Real people who've been printing books since 2006 — friendly, genuinely knowledgeable, and usually replying within minutes.
Design in whatever program you love, save it as a PDF, send it over. Never done it before? A real person checks it for free.
No minimum means you can print a single copy, check the paper and layout in your own hands, then run the full batch with total confidence.
Silk, gloss, uncoated, kraft — we'll post you the real thing so you're never guessing colour and feel off a screen.
Degree hand-in, launch day, a fair this weekend? Tell us your date up front — we'll say straight away if it's doable, then build the whole job around it.
Books are more than just pages; they're experiences. You can write them, collect them, cherish them, discuss them, or share them with friends. They can sit proudly on your bedside table, waiting to transport you to another world.
We believe in empowering you to make all the decisions about your book. There are no illogical restrictions on quantity or size—it’s your creation, your choice! You've spent countless hours perfecting your work; the last thing you need is a printer telling you, "Nope can't do that. We'll print it at A4 on glossy paper that doesn't suit your content."
Thankfully, we're not that printer. At Ex Why Zed, we embrace a forward-thinking approach to print. We'll strive to find a solution for even the most bespoke requests. This isn't our first rodeo - we've tackled plenty of challenging projects in the past!
Our bottom line is getting your book into print, so we offer very competitive rates that enable you to sell at a price your readers are willing to pay.
So, how much will it cost?
Printing involves numerous variables, making it impossible to price every option online. Use our intuitive Project Builder or email us with your specifications, considering the following factors, and we'll get a quote back to you as soon as possible:
It take 2 minutes maximum to fill out the form...1 minute if you choose the Rockstar route.
The format of a self-published book influences cost, durability, reader experience and shelf appeal. Our comparison of hardbound vs paperback helps authors weigh up the appeal of a premium hardback against the accessibility and affordability of a paperback. For readers who want a deeper understanding of that lighter format, what is the paperback book explains its construction, strengths, common uses and why it remains such a popular choice for authors and publishers.
There is also a broader publishing context to consider. Our guide to the EUDR and self-publishers introduces the paper-traceability questions that authors selling into the EU may need to understand. It adds a useful layer of practical awareness for self-publishers planning future distribution. Together, these resources help authors make format decisions with a clearer grasp of production, readership and the responsibilities attached to selling printed books more widely.
From Kitchen to Bookshelf: How to Successfully Self-Publish Your Cookbook
This step-by-step guide is your recipe for creating a beautiful, sellable cookbook—packed with insider tips and real publishing know-how.
Publishing a cookbook isn’t just about sharing recipes—it’s about building a culinary brand that resonates with your audience. This beginner-friendly guide walks you through the entire journey: finding your niche, curating and testing your recipes, writing with clarity and voice, designing a mouthwatering layout, and navigating the best self-publishing platforms. Whether you’re a food blogger, chef, or passionate home cook, it teaches you how to stand out with a strong USP, stunning imagery, and authentic storytelling.
Key takeaways include using consistent measurements and terminology, testing every recipe for reliability, and investing in a professionally designed cover to attract readers at first glance. The guide explores the pros and cons of print-on-demand vs. bulk printing, and shares marketing tactics like launch events, influencer collaborations, and building an online presence. Once you're ready to print, Ex Why Zed’s cookbook printing services are ideal for bringing your recipes to life—beautifully bound, brilliantly photographed, and professionally produced. Let your dishes leap off the page and onto your readers’ tables.
Generally, we aim to deliver your finished books within 4–5 working days after receiving your print-ready artwork. For larger orders or complex projects, such as those requiring litho printing, please allow 8–10 working days. If you have a specific deadline, we recommend discussing it with us to ensure timely delivery.
Our Long Run Hardback Book team get super busy n October to December so if you are printing over 700 copies of a hardcover book in the latter part of the year, book it in nice and early because turnaround times can slip to 4-8 weeks.
We offer a wide range of paper types and weights, from standard uncoated papers to premium stocks. Sizes can be standard 'A' sizes or custom dimensions to suit your project's needs. Our team can advise on the best options based on your content and design.
Yes, we provide both hardback and paperback printing services. Our hardback books feature professional binding and durable covers. View our hardback video guide for inspiration and ideas on how to create a stunning hardback book.
Have a look at our hardback video guide for ideas on what can be achieved.
For over 32 pages, we can bind a softback book with perfect binding.
For smaller page numbers, we can staple bind a booklet for you.
Certainly! Special finishes such as foiling, embossing, debossing, and spot varnishing can add a luxurious touch to your book. These options are excellent for making your cover stand out and can enhance the overall aesthetic appeal.
Each process tends to add £280 to the overall cost. That is a flat fee for 1-500 copies.
Perfect binding requires a minimum thickness to ensure durability and proper adhesion. For books with fewer than 32 pages, we recommend saddle stitching (staple binding) as an alternative. This method is ideal for thinner publications and offers a professional finish.
Our maximum printing sizes are:
Our smallest printing sizes are:
If you have specific size requirements, please discuss them with our team. We can print all custom sizes up to the dimensions shown above
Our setup guides offer detailed instructions on preparing your files for each binding method.
Cover lamination enhances the durability and appearance of your book:
We don't but you can go direct to https://www.nielsenisbnstore.com/ who are the UK distributor. They have a very simple system for buying the ISBN and generating a barcode which you then add to your back cover artwork.
Absolutely! The term 'text pages' refers to the internal pages of your book, which can include text, images, illustrations, photographs, or any combination thereof. We support full-colour and black ink printing to accommodate all types of content.
For quoting purposes, we consider one page as one side of content. Therefore, a sheet of paper has two pages—a front and a back. If you request a quote for 40 inside pages, that means 40 pages of content in your artwork file/PDF and in the book, which equates to 20 sheets printed on both sides.
Self-publishing today is about more than hitting "publish"—it's about mastering the tools that shape your book’s quality, visibility, and long-term success. This article lays out the definitive tech stack for modern indie authors, covering every phase from manuscript to marketing. Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned indie, this resource is your launchpad to doing self-publishing smarter, faster, and with lasting impact. Ready to go pro? Start with ExWhyZed.
That's part of the publishing process you'll manage separately, through Amazon KDP, IngramSpark or similar platforms for online retailers and wider distribution. We focus on the physical printing: a short run of beautiful books for your launch, events, local shops and direct sales.
We don't design covers ourselves, but we'll check your cover file for free and advise on finishes such as foiling and embossing, so it looks as striking in print as it does on screen.
No, but we'd recommend a professional editor or trusted beta readers before printing, since plot, pacing and typos are far easier to fix before your file is locked for print.
Yes. Alongside your books we print postcards, posters, folded leaflets and stickers, so your launch looks as good as the book itself.
Print-on-demand services such as Amazon KDP print one copy each time an order comes in. Printing a short run with us gives you far more choice of paper, size and finishes, plus stock in hand for launches, shops and events.
