Lulu is a print-on-demand platform, which means copies of your book are printed when someone orders them. You do not pay for a print run or store stock. This guide outlines the main steps. Lulu’s requirements and prices change, so always check their current instructions before you upload anything.
1. Make sure the manuscript is final
Have your book professionally edited and proofread before layout. Changes after layout can alter the page count, which in turn changes the spine width of your cover.
2. Choose your format
Pick a trim size, binding, interior colour and paper that suit your genre and budget. These choices affect both the look of the book and the printing cost, so compare them with similar books in your genre.
3. Prepare the interior file
Lulu asks for a print-ready PDF. Check that margins are large enough, especially on the inside edge, that fonts are embedded, that page numbers are correct and that images are high resolution. Follow Lulu’s guidance on page count and bleed for your chosen format.
4. Create the cover
Use Lulu’s cover template for your exact format and page count so the spine width is correct. Our guide to trim size, spine width and bleed explains the terms.
5. Decide on your ISBN
You can usually use an ISBN provided through the platform or your own. A UK ISBN is issued by the Nielsen ISBN Agency. Using your own gives you more control over who is listed as publisher, while a platform ISBN is simpler. Make the choice before you publish.
6. Set your price
Printing cost depends on your format and page count, and your royalty is what remains after costs are taken from the retail price. Use Lulu’s pricing tools to check the numbers, and think about readers in the UK and overseas.
7. Order a proof
A printed proof shows how margins, images and cover colours look on paper. Colours on a screen often differ from print, so a proof is the best way to catch problems before readers do.
8. Publish and choose distribution
Decide whether to sell only through Lulu’s own marketplace or to use any wider distribution options on offer, and read the terms for each.
Selling from your own website
You can also sell from your author website. With a custom integration, orders from a WooCommerce store can be sent to Lulu for printing and shipping.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Changing the page count after the cover is finished
- Using fonts that are not embedded in the PDF
- Margins that are too small, so text sits too close to the edge or the spine
- Skipping the proof copy
- Using low-resolution images
Get help with set-up
If you would rather have the files and settings checked for you, see our Lulu print-on-demand set-up service. BzLogics is an independent agency and is not affiliated with Lulu.
