As a professional book editor, one of the most common questions I receive from writers is, "How much does professional copyediting cost?" The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. The cost of professional copyediting services can vary widely depending on a number of factors.

I’d also argue there is a correlation between the cost of editing and the quality of the service you’ll receive. Still, there are always exceptions (hello, scammers), so it’s important to research potential editors before investing in professional editing services.

Fortunately, several organizations and professional associations conduct regular surveys of editing and publishing professionals to gather market data and make the average costs of editing publicly available.

Pricing transparency is key in the self-publishing industry.

In this blog post, I'll break down some key factors that can impact the cost of professional copyediting and give you a better idea of what you can expect to pay.

Things that are part of the price of copyediting

Copyediting (and line editing) is a more intense process than having your mother read through your manuscript with a red pen on the hunt for typos. Sure, she may be an avid reader, but she won’t be able to give you impartial and actionable feedback like a professional editor.

When you invest in high-quality book editing, you’ll receive editorial support from a professional who thinks critically about the structure of every sentence and cross-references each word, punctuation mark, and paragraph against the writing rules in the Chicago Manual of Style.

Graphic outlining the elements included in the cost of book editing.

Here is a closer look at the factors you should consider when you’re researching editors for your book, comparing prices, and creating a publication budget.

1. Type of Editing

The type of editing you need is going to greatly impact cost. Copy and line editing is a much more in-depth and time-consuming process than proofreading and will, therefore, be a more expensive line item on your budget.

I always advocate for a three-phase editing process: Developmental editing, Copy/line editing, and proofreading. This approach ensures your manuscript is the absolute best it can be because it has been assessed and revised by three different editors with specific skill sets and professional expertise.

In this article, I’m just breaking down the cost of copyediting, but it’s important to consider all the different editing types you should budget for.

2. Manuscript Length

The bigger the book, the bigger the budget. The length of your manuscript is one of the biggest factors that can impact the cost of professional copyediting. Often, editors will charge by the word or by the page, so the longer your manuscript is, the more you can expect to pay.

As a rough guideline, you can expect to pay anywhere from $0.02 to $0.05 per word for professional copyediting services. If you want to get a rough estimate of what you should budget for copyediting, multiply the per-word rate and your book’s total word count.

3. Experience and Expertise of the Editor

Let’s circle back to something I mentioned earlier: the correlation between experience and cost. More experienced and well-known editors will generally charge more for their services, and choosing an editor solely based on price can end up being a costly mistake.

In any service industry, you can expect to pay less for a lower quality service or to work with a professional with less experience or qualifications. This may be the best option for authors on a tight budget, but finding a professional editor with talent and experience who is undercharging their services is going to take a bit more work.

Here are some things you should consider when researching editors for your book:

How long have they been working as an editor?
Do they have positive client testimonials?
Do they have a portfolio of past work?
Are they part of any professional organization like the Editorial Freelancers Association, ACES, the Association of Independent Publishing Professionals, or the Professional Editors Network
Do they have an editing certification or a relevant college degree?
What types of deliverables are included in their editing packages?
Do they specialize in your genre?
Are they transparent about their pricing and process?

4. Project Deadline

Finally, your project timeline can impact the cost of editing. Editors often charge rush fees for work that needs to be completed in a shorter time frame. If you need your manuscript edited quickly, you can expect to pay more than if you’re booking your editor well ahead of your deadline.

If you have a tight deadline or need an emergency edit, you may not get to work with your dream editor. Editors often fill their schedules months in advance, so if you know you’re going to need a copyeditor in three months, go ahead and reach out to hire them and secure your project on their schedule.

Industry-Standard Pricing

Let’s dive into the numbers. For this section, I’ll be using data from the Editorial Rates table provided by the Editorial Freelancers Association, one of the most well-known and respected organizations in the publishing industry.

It’s also important to note that while these figures are a great reference for new editors, these values do not reflect the rates charged by many seasoned, well-established, or specialized editors. I used these rates when I started my editing business and have increased my rates every couple of years as I gained experience, grew my business, and provided a more high-touch, specialized client experience.

Here is a breakdown of the median hourly rate and the median per-word rate you can expect to pay for nonfiction and fiction copyediting from a novice editor.

It’s not uncommon for editors to provide a hybrid editing service that includes both line editing and copyediting, so here is the industry data for the cost of line editing.

If you’re experiencing a bit of sticker shock here, there are a few things to remember. First, these are median rates gathered from a large survey of editing professionals. There are certainly editors charging more (and less) than the rates provided here based on their packages and experience. Remembering editors are professional service providers running businesses is also important. Yes, we’re all driven by a love for excellent storytelling and a passion for supporting writers, but we’re also trying to earn a living wage and keep the lights on in our businesses.

A disclaimer here: I am a member of the EFA and used their industry pricing data when I started my editing business. Also worth noting: the EFA survey is self-select response and is several years old so does not count for inflation or changes in the industry.

How much does editing cost for a 50,000-word book?

Now it’s time to get into the math. I know, I know. It’s not my favorite subject either, but we’re all about price transparency, remember?

When you’re looking for editors, many list their prices on their website or make it extremely easy for you to request a quote for their services. Some editors price by the hour, some price by word, and some price by the project—some do a combination of both. Here is a quick breakdown of what you can expect to pay for copyediting if you have a 50,000-word manuscript.

Keep in mind that these are estimated costs for just copyediting—not copyediting and line editing. These calculations are also based on an older dataset, so if you do the math and then start looking for an editor and tell them, “Ellen said it should only cost this much for you to edit my book!” I promise you that won’t get them to lower their prices. Heck, just look at how I currently price my services!

If you’re looking for an editor who will give you more actionable feedback and deeper analysis and support, go ahead and bump the per-word price up a bit here to account for the additional service you can expect to receive.

Great editors are worth the investment

This is when some authors say, “But Ellen, I have a Grammarly Pro subscription, and I found an editor offering $10 an hour on Upwork. Why should I invest in a more expensive service?”

Listen, if that is what fits in your budget, I’m not going to pressure you into something you can’t afford. I know it’s tempting to choose the cheapest option on the market (I know I’ve sorted my retail shopping cart from low to high prices more times than I can count), but investing in professional editing is a crucial step in the publishing process. It can directly impact the quality of your book and your ability to market and sell your book once it’s out in the world. Not to mention, a poorly written book can ruin your reputation as much as a well-edited and refined book can build your credibility and long-term success.

In the long run, investing in high-quality editing is a worthwhile endeavor for any author who is serious about their craft and it can help you save time, money, and headaches down the road.