Barnes & Noble Press guide for authors selling print and ebooks
Barnes & Noble Press is the self-publishing service from the US bookseller. This guide covers what it offers and how to prepare.
What Barnes & Noble Press is
B&N Press lets you publish print books and ebooks that sell on the Barnes & Noble website and Nook devices. Print copies are made on demand.
It works well as a second storefront beside Amazon. It is not a promise of shelf space in a physical store. Check the current terms on the B&N Press help pages before you plan around any feature.
Who it suits
- Authors whose readers shop at Barnes & Noble
- Authors who want a second US storefront beside Amazon
- Authors who want a print-on-demand option with a clear published royalty page
- Authors who publish ebooks and want Nook coverage
What to prepare before you upload
- Interior and cover files built for your trim size and page count
- An ebook file in a supported format
- Metadata and a description that match your other platforms
- A retail price set after you see the printing cost in the Quick Quote tool
- Clear rights for any images and text
Things to weigh up
- Printing cost depends on format, trim, page count and colour, so get the number from B&N's own tool
- Terms can change with notice, so read the royalty and payment terms before you price
- If you also use another distributor, avoid sending the same edition to the same store twice
- Confirm that your own country and currency are supported
Free tools for Barnes & Noble Press
Each tool runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is uploaded. Results are planning estimates, so confirm the final figure on Barnes & Noble Press itself.
- Royalty & Print Cost CalculatorCompare profit on B&N Press with other platforms after you enter the printing cost from B&N's Quick Quote.
- Metadata Manager & CheckerKeep your title and description the same everywhere you publish.
- Cover & Spine CalculatorCheck the cover size for your page count before you design.
Common questions
How is a B&N Press print royalty worked out?
B&N publishes it as a percentage of retail price minus the per-book printing cost. Get the printing cost from the Quick Quote tool, then use our royalty calculator to compare.
Will my book be in Barnes & Noble shops?
Publishing through B&N Press lists the book online. Whether a physical shop stocks it is a separate decision made by the store.
Can I publish on B&N Press and KDP at the same time?
Yes, if you do not grant exclusive rights anywhere. Check each platform's terms and avoid enabling the same store through two routes.
Official pages
- Barnes & Noble Press
- B&N Press: Royalties from print book sales
- B&N Press: Royalty and payment terms
Disclaimer. This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Platform terms, fees and rules change, so confirm them on Barnes & Noble Press's own pages before you publish. Book Recommendations is independent and is not affiliated with Barnes & Noble Press. See the full disclaimer and our editorial policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.