Every book needs to be edited. It’s not optional.
Even the most famous and successful authors submit their manuscript to a book editor. In fact, I would argue that one reason these authors are successful is because they partner with an editor to maximize their story’s potential.
But how much will it cost to edit your novel?
Depending on the expertise of your editor, the type of editing your manuscript requires, and the length and quality of your manuscript, you can expect to pay between hundreds to thousands of dollars.
To help you calculate your budget, we’ll look at:
- How book editors charge
- Median editorial rates for fiction
- Is a professional edit worth the cost?
- How to hire a book editor
How Book Editors Charge
Book editors tend to charge in one of 4 ways:
- Per word
- Per hour
- Per page
- Per project
Charging by word count is the most common method. Flat rates per project are usually only offered for smaller services like an opening chapter evaluation or a manuscript assessment.
So let’s look at how much it costs to hire a freelance book editor.
Median Editorial Rates for Fiction
The Editorial Freelancers Association conducts surveys among their members and reports the median rates charged for various editing services. These numbers represent the exact middle, meaning as many editors charge below these rates as above them. The EFA does not set or recommend rates – this data comes purely from self-reporting.
This chart represents the EFA’s median rates for fiction editing in 2024. Rates differ for nonfiction.
| EDITING TYPE | PER WORD | PER HOUR | PER PAGE | PAGES/HR |
| Developmental Editing | 3.0–4.0¢ | $50.00–60.00 | $7.50–10.00 | 5.0–10.0 |
| Line Editing | 2.5–4.0¢ | $45.00–60.00 | $6.25–10.00 | 5.0–8.0 |
| Copyediting | 2.0–3.0¢ | $40.00–50.00 | $5.00–7.50 | 5.0–10.0 |
| Proofreading | 1.2–2.0¢ | $35.00–45.00 | $3.00–5.00 | 8.0–14.0 |
| Manuscript Assessment | 1.5–1.5¢ | $40.00–54.00 | $855/project average | 11.0–17.0 |
The different types of editing
Traditional publishers usually complete 4 stages of editing in the following order. As you can see, the earlier stages involve more significant changes, which is why the rates are higher.
- Developmental editing – big picture feedback on plot, characterization, structure, pacing, and more
- Line (or content) editing – edits to sentence structure, word economy, clarity, and style
- Copyediting – grammar edits
- Proofreading – a final read-through to catch errors
Manuscript assessment – a detailed editorial letter offering developmental feedback without in-line edits on the manuscript (this is optional, sometimes offered instead of a developmental edit)
Example Editing Project Costs
To estimate how much it would cost to edit your project, multiply your word count by the median per word rate. Here are some examples:
| Type of project | Average word count | Developmental Editing Cost | Line Editing Cost | Copyediting Cost |
| Middle grade fantasy | 50,000 words | $1,500-$2,000 | $1,250-$2,000 | $1,000-$1,500 |
| Young adult fantasy | 75,000 words | $2,250-$3,000 | $1,875-$3,000 | $1,500-$2,250 |
| Adult fantasy | 115,000 words | $3,450-$4,600 | $2,875- $4,600 | $2,300-$3,450 |
Remember that since this is the median rate, you will find many editors who charge less than this, and many who charge more. But if an editor charges far below these rates, you should wonder at their proficiency, and if they charge far above them, they better have an incredible portfolio.
Is a Professional Edit Worth the Cost?
These rates might sound pretty overwhelming, so let’s pause for a moment and consider whether it’s worth it. How long does it take you to complete one editorial pass on your story? A couple weeks? A couple months? How much is your time worth?
A professional editor will have trained in 1 or more of the following ways:
- A Bachelor’s and perhaps Master’s degree
- A certificate in editing from a reputable organization
- In-house training with a publisher or editing company
They should bring the following expertise to the table:
- Mastery of creative writing and grammar
- Understanding of industry and genre expectations
- Pulse on demand in the publishing marketplace
- Empathetic and clear communication
To have a successful career as an author, you need to think like a business owner – your book is your product. What business would put a product on the market without first investing the money to maximize its quality?
But will you be able to make this investment back through book sales? That’s a very important question, which deserves its own discussion. Check out my article: the most important marketing concept for authors to understand.
It is important to start thinking about your marketing strategy before you publish your novel, but one step at a time. My point is that investing in a professional edit is absolutely worth it. The better your core product is, the more success you’ll find down the road, even if it takes many years to build your readership.
How to hire a book editor
Trusted referrals are the best way to hire an editor – ask your author friends, writer groups, or local library. Some editors even offer a discount if you are referred through one of their previous clients.
There are also a number of online marketplaces where you can search for an editor:
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association has an invaluable resource called Writer’s Beware, which flags scammers and other predatory industry behavior. I encourage you to vet any individuals before hiring them.
Always ask to see a sample of their work. Most editors will provide a free sample edit on a small portion of your story.
If you’re interested in working with our team, we offer editing services at the following rates:
- Manuscript Assessment: $0.006/word
- Developmental Editing: $0.02/word
- Line/Content Editing: $0.02/word
With 5 years of experience in the publishing industry, I set my rates somewhat below the industry median. I also offer payment plans to help make professional editing more attainable for indie authors.
Best of luck in your search! Feel free to reach out with any questions or to receive a free sample edit on the first 1,000 words of your story!
Hi, I’m Caylah Coffeen, a freelance editor and marketer of sci-fi and fantasy books. I love reading and writing and am a follower of Jesus Christ.
I’ve worked for Monster Ivy Publishing and Eschler Editing, and am currently a weekly editor with Havok Publishing. Reach out to chat about books and publishing!
Thanks for stopping by my website! I hope you’ve found some helpful resources about reading, writing, and publishing. If you liked this article, here’s some more free content…
- Use my checklist to see if your manuscript is ready for professional editing
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