Why are book editors so expensive?

When I first started freelancing, I worked with local book publishers who paid me industry rates. After all, they understood the time, expertise and costs involved. But when I quoted the same rates to self-publishing authors, they were shocked. About $2,000 for a book-length manuscript? It was too much. And off they trotted to Upwork ...

Four figures may seem like a lot for a book – but it isn't. If you consult industry websites, such as the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (UK) or the Institute of Professional Editors (Australia), these are standard rates.

So why do most self-publishing authors balk at the price? In my experience, it comes down to a lack of awareness. Many don't know the industry rates – or how much work is involved. Additionally, it can be hard for authors to measure the return on investment. After all, editors can't guarantee fame and fortune. (Nor can traditional publishers, for that matter.)

As a result, many authors place a low value on editing and select a cheap option. (It's no different to using an AI grammar checker, right?) This is a shame because editing is a dynamic and collaborative task that requires time, specialist training and painstaking attention to detail. And if you skip this process – or hire someone who isn't a pro – it can have embarrassing consequences. So in the spirit of setting the record straight, here are 5 reasons why book editors are so expensive:

1. Time

Most editors review your words at about half the speed it would take to read them, which means that editing is a time-consuming job. If we went any faster, we’d miss critical errors. While more experienced editors can work faster, long or fact-heavy books can take extra time. In general, it takes longer to copyedit than it does to proofread. Depending on the length of the book and how much intervention is required, a book-length work of 50,000 words can take 2–4 weeks to copyedit and 1–2 weeks to proofread. (For more on this topic, see How long does it take to copyedit a book?)

2. Scope of work

The amount of work required also affects the fee. Sometimes editors are briefed to style the manuscript (i.e. apply heading hierarchies and paragraph styles), perform a heavy edit, do a second (or third) pass to review author corrections, check facts, and accept/reject changes, adding to the final cost. If high-level services are required, like developmental editing (reviewing the content and structure) or light ghostwriting, this can also increase the cost.

Top tip: If you've got a limited budget, there are plenty of ways to reduce the fee: make sure the book has been rigorously self-edited (never submit a first draft!), style it before submission, limit the edit to one pass and take in corrections yourself!

3. Knowledge

When you hire an editor, you're getting a professional who has invested years or even decades learning, refining and updating their skills. There are best practices, editing conventions and a code of ethics that only trained editors will implement. Many untrained editors won't know what running heads are, or a style sheet (not to be confused with a style guide), or the difference between an en dash and an em dash. Some might not even check facts or run consistency checks. This can mean the difference between a bumpy reading experience – which can lose your audience – and a smooth one.

4. Experience

The more books we edit, the more we build our interpersonal skills, gain knowledge and understand editorial requirements. This means you get someone who has seen a specific problem before and knows how to solve it. What's more, many of us have worked in the book or publishing industry, so we bring insider knowledge about commercial book design and marketing that can help your book get noticed in a crowded marketplace.

5. Running costs

Freelance editors are running a business, just like everyone else, so they need to invest in equipment, software (e.g. PerfectIt, Word), subscriptions (e.g. Macquarie Dictionary), web hosting (if they have a website), utilities, accountancy fees, professional associations and training. If we didn’t do these things, we wouldn’t be able to edit at the level we do – or meet the needs of your project.

How do editors decide what to charge?

If you've shopped around for an editor, you've probably noticed that fees can vary. This will depend on the editor's location, experience and specialty. For example, editors tend to charge lower fees in countries with a lower cost of living. Academic or medical editors may charge more because of their specialist knowledge and skills. And editors who've worked with high-profile authors may also charge premium rates.

If in doubt, consult an industry association website for ballpark fees. (If you want to know what I usually charge, see my services page.)

Summing up: Why are book editors so expensive?

Editing is a nuanced skill – and it can't be outsourced to Grammarly or ChatGPT. It requires an investment of time, knowledge, experience and tools, which is why professional editors charge premium rates.

If you’re nervous about spending money on a copyeditor, you can always submit your manuscript to a traditional publisher. But if you’ve ever done this, you’ll know how competitive it can be. Plus, it can take publishers months to get back to you.

For those who go down the self-publishing route, copyediting and proofreading are non-negotiables and should be factored into your publication budget. And while book editors can’t guarantee a bestseller (it takes more than just top-notch editing to get your book noticed), they'll help you polish your writing until it's the best version it can be!

Need a freelance editor to whip your non-fiction book into shape? Request a sample edit or message me through my contact page.