Self-Publishing in the UK: Costs, ISBNs and Royalties
You can self-publish a book in the UK for the price of an ISBN (£93 from Nielsen) if you do every job yourself. Most authors pay for editing, cover design and formatting, which is where the real cost sits. Columbia Publication's packages for UK authors start from £1,149, priced in pounds, with your ISBN in your name and 100% of your royalties kept by you.
What Self-Publishing Costs a UK Author
The only cost the system forces on you is an ISBN, and only if you want to own it. Everything else is a choice about quality: a professional edit, a cover that holds its own on Amazon.co.uk, and interior formatting that works in print and on Kindle. Those three decide whether a book looks self-published or looks published.
| Item | Typical UK cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ISBN (Nielsen) | £93 for one, £174 for ten, £387 for 100 | VAT included. You need one per format, so ten is the usual buy. |
| Amazon KDP account | Free | Your account stays in your name. |
| Editing, cover and formatting | Quoted per manuscript | Depends on length and how much editing the book needs. |
| Legal deposit copy | One printed copy | Sent to the British Library after publication. |
Sources: Nielsen ISBN Store, accessed 12 October 2026.
Publishing Packages for UK Authors, in Pounds
The same packages our US authors buy, set in sterling so you can compare like for like. Every package includes an ISBN registered in your name, two revision rounds per deliverable, and no share of your royalties.
Cover, interior formatting, ISBN and distribution to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple Books and Kobo.
Hardcover, paperback and eBook, full proofreading and a dedicated project manager.
Full copyedit, Amazon keyword and category work, author website and a press release.
Editorial review at all three levels, printed author copies and the 3-Day Bestseller Launch Campaign.
Our premium imprint for founders, physicians and other professionals, with senior editors and full PR.
Prices are starting points in pounds sterling. Your written quote confirms the exact amount before you commit. Full package details.
ISBNs in the UK: Nielsen or Amazon's Free Number?
In the UK, ISBNs are issued by Nielsen. Amazon KDP will also give you a free ISBN for a paperback, but that number can only be used on Amazon and the book is listed as independently published. If you want your book in bookshops and libraries, or want to be the publisher of record, buy your own. Owning ten covers your paperback, hardcover and eBook with room for a second edition.
Already bought ISBNs from Nielsen? We use yours. If not, your package includes ISBNs registered in your name, not ours.
Amazon.co.uk Royalties and Ebook VAT
KDP pays a 70% royalty on Amazon.co.uk ebooks priced between £1.77 and £12.99, and 35% outside that band. Price inside it unless you have a reason not to.
Since 1 May 2020, ebooks have been zero-rated for VAT in the UK, the same as printed books, so VAT does not come out of your ebook price.
Sources: KDP royalty requirements; HM Revenue and Customs. Accessed 12 October 2026.
Legal Deposit: Your Copy for the British Library
UK legal deposit asks the publisher of a printed book to send one copy to the British Library within one month of publication. When you self-publish in the UK, the publisher is usually you. The Agency for Legal Deposit Libraries can then request up to five more copies for the other legal deposit libraries. We remind you at launch and tell you exactly where to send it.
Source: IngramSpark, The British Library's Legal Deposit, accessed 12 October 2026.
Working With a US Team From the UK
Everything happens online: manuscript, proofs and approvals. UK mornings are the middle of the night in the US, so you will usually find our replies waiting when you start your day. We edit to the spelling convention your book uses, British or American, and you approve every milestone before we move on.
Want your book in German, French, Spanish or Italian too? See publishing in Europe and translation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to self-publish a book in the UK?
Doing it yourself, the unavoidable cost is an ISBN: Nielsen charges £93 for one or £174 for ten, VAT included. Editing, cover design and formatting are where most of the budget goes. Our packages for UK authors start from £1,149 and include an ISBN in your name.
Do I need a UK ISBN to self-publish?
Not for Amazon alone, since KDP offers a free paperback ISBN that only works on Amazon. To sell through bookshops and libraries, or to be the publisher of record, buy your own from Nielsen.
What royalty does Amazon.co.uk pay on ebooks?
70% on ebooks priced between £1.77 and £12.99, and 35% outside that band. We take no share of your royalties.
Is there VAT on ebooks in the UK?
No. Ebooks have been zero-rated for VAT since 1 May 2020.
Do I have to send a copy to the British Library?
The publisher of a printed book should send one copy within one month of publication. For a self-published book, that is usually you.
Can I pay in pounds?
Prices on this page are in pounds sterling, and your written quote confirms the exact amount before you commit.
Written by Gia K.. Facts on ISBNs, royalties, VAT and legal deposit come from the sources linked in each section, accessed 12 October 2026. Prices change, so check the source before you buy.