A few years ago, I was asked to copyedit a 50,000-word book in 24–48 hours. At first I thought it was a joke – or an error (did they mean 5,000 words?). It wasn’t. They were dead serious. It was a full copyedit, with a dizzying list of requirements.
Well, it should come as no surprise that I politely declined. Copyediting is a marathon, not a sprint. The faster you go, the more errors you miss – or make!
A copyedit should be slow, thoughtful and attentive. When it’s rushed or plugged into AI software, readers can tell. How? Because typos, inaccuracies and inconsistencies slip through. (Yes, even AI can overlook factual errors, flag false positives or even suggest non-sensical constructions.)
I can almost guarantee that anyone who tries to meet that deadline is going to make a royal mess of it, no matter how skilled or experienced they are.
So if two days aren’t enough, how long should it take to copyedit a book? Well, it depends. If you’re thinking of hiring an editor, here are some factors to consider.
8 factors that affect how long it takes to copyedit a book
1. Length
This may be obvious, but the higher the word count, the longer the copyedit will take. But don’t assume that copyediting is the same as reading a book. On average, adult readers of non-fiction can read about 238 words per minute (or 14,2800 per hour). This figure drops, of course, if the content is dense, you’re reading it out loud or your first language isn’t English.
Editors, however, need to read at a much slower pace. And I mean much slower. According to the Chartered Institute of Professional Editors (CIEP), copyeditors average 1,000–3,000 words per hour and proofreaders average 2,000–3,000 words per hour. But this only applies to straightforward text that requires minimal intervention.
So why does it take so long? Because editors are performing a lot of checks at once – spelling, grammar, flow, tone, facts, consistency – not to mention filling in style sheets, consulting dictionaries, cross-checking endnotes/references and leaving comments in the margins.
Top tip: When you're commissioning an editor, don't get hung up on how many words per hour they can edit. Instead, provide a sample and request a project rate and estimated delivery time. Each project has different needs!
2. Rounds of editing
Some manuscripts are in great shape and only require one round of editing. Others may need an additional round (or two) to review author corrections. It all depends on the client. Some are budget-conscious and only want one round, while others want a few – enough to get their writing in tip-top shape.
I also work with publishers who brief me to style the manuscript, cut words, perform light developmental work and accept/reject changes, adding to the time commitment.
Another thing to consider is whether the copyedit will be heavy, medium or light. If most pages have dozens of grammar and spelling errors, factual inaccuracies and poorly formatted lists, each round is going to take longer. And don't forget, reviewing those changes is going to take the author longer too.
Top tip: Multiple rounds can be avoided if the author undertakes extensive self-editing, workshops the manuscript or runs their book through a grammar checker (without accepting every suggestion, of course).
3. Complexity of the subject matter
Books exploring complex subjects or realities generally take longer to edit. For example, if you’re writing a fantasy series set in the Middle Ages, with an elaborate family tree and an intricate plot, it’s going to take a while for the editor to note all these details in their style sheet and detect any errors or inconsistencies.
The same applies to non-fiction. If you’ve written a book on genetic engineering, the editor needs to check the logic of your argument, note specialist vocabulary and ensure your endnotes/references follow the correct referencing style. On the other hand, a mass-market book on meditation techniques or how to declutter your home may not require as much intervention.
Top tip: Choosing an editor who specialises in your subject area or genre can make the editing process much faster. That said, a generalist editor may be helpful if you're trying to reach a broader audience. (They won't come in with preconceptions or prior knowledge, so they are closer to your ideal audience.)
4. Fact-checking
Not all clients request fact-checking, but it’s something that most copyeditors do, so this can add to the editing time. While we don’t fact-check everything, we do cross-check dates, names, places and famous quotes. If a claim or citation looks unusual, we’ll check that too (never underestimate an editor’s gut instinct!). Some clients don’t think fact-checking is important, but a misleading statement or misspelled name can undermine your credibility and lose your audience.
In general, non-fiction books require more fact-checking, but fiction books can also benefit from it. For example, an editor may flag a character using a camera phone in a novel set in the early nineties (built-in cameras weren’t introduced until 2000). Or they might query a six-hour car trip from Sydney to Melbourne (if it’s non-stop, it usually takes about nine hours).
I once spent an extra five hours (yeah, five) on a 100,000-word manuscript that was rife with factual errors. Names, dates, place names … about 50 per cent were off. The author appreciated my vigilance – and so did the publisher (who increased the budget). It could’ve been embarrassing for both. But the extra time paid off!
5. Author's availability
An author who responds quickly can speed up the editing process dramatically. This makes it easier for the editor to stay immersed in your book and give it the undivided attention it deserves (Note: It can take a while to get in the zone again if there are long gaps between rounds.) However, some authors may be time-poor, travelling, disorganised or juggling other responsibilities, which means it can take them days or even weeks to review an edited chapter, adding to the delivery time.
Top tip: If availability is an issue, make this clear when the edit is being commissioned so an editor knows what to expect and how to manage their schedule accordingly. Alternatively, wait until you have enough time to dedicate to the edit. Don’t rush it. But most importantly, don’t rush your editor.
6. Author's experience
In general, the more experience you have as an author, the faster the editing process will be. There are a few reasons for this. First, you’ve done this before and know what to expect from an editor. Minimal onboarding is required and you can jump right in. Second, you’re familiar with Track Changes, which means you know how to respond to edits and comments. Third, you’ve written a book (or two, or three) and your writing should be more assured now.
On the other hand, if this is your first book, it may take some time to get your head around editing tools and how copyediting differs from proofreading. Plus, the editor may have to spend more time briefing you, so factor that into your schedule and budget.
7. Copyeditor’s schedule
Here’s the hard truth: most professional editors are booked in advance. This can be anywhere from weeks to months. Sure, you may catch an editor when they’ve got a gap in their schedule, but it doesn’t happen too often. This means you may have to wait a while to get your book edited. (Some editors can be booked up to six months in advance!)
In addition, most editors are juggling two or three projects at once, depending on their length and complexity, so they may only be able to dedicate two to three hours per day to your book. So if your book is likely to take 40 hours to edit, it could be four to six weeks before it’s ready. That said, if the editor doesn’t have other projects running parallel, it may only take two weeks.
Top tip: Look for an editor before your book is finished – or at least during the self-editing phase. This will help you find the best fit for your needs. Check out the editor's editorial listing, website and socials. Get to know their personality and expertise (both are crucial for a fruitful working relationship!), and book them in advance.
8. Copyeditor’s speed
The more experience an editor has, the faster they tend to be (but not always). My own editing speed has increased over the years. That’s because I don’t have to look up as many grammar rules as I used to, and I’ve done more professional development to refine my skills, learn tricks of the trade and speed up my editing.
That said, every editor is different. Just because someone is slow, doesn’t mean they have less experience. And just because someone is fast, doesn’t mean they're a pro. In fact, someone who edits too quickly may miss subtle errors (or they may be outsourcing their editing to AI!).
Summing up: How long does it take to copyedit a book?
Unfortunately, there’s no easy formula for calculating how long it takes to copyedit a book. It depends on several factors: how long the book is, how much intervention is required, the complexity of the subject matter, the amount of fact-checking required, the author’s availability and experience, and the editor’s schedule and speed.
The best way to get an idea is to request a sample edit and a quote. This allows the editor to get a sense of how much work is required and to quote a fee and schedule that matches the project’s needs.
If your non-fiction book is ready for copyediting, I’d love to help. Send me a brief (don’t forget to look at What to include in an editor’s brief) and a sample from the middle of your book. I’ll quote you on the project and provide a sample edit for A$50.
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