Print-on-Demand vs. Offset Printing in Canada: Pros, Cons, and Costs
Choosing how to print your book shapes everything that follows. It affects unit cost, cash flow, timelines, quality, storage, and how easily you can supply bookstores. There is no one right choice for everyone. There is a right choice for your goals and your budget. Let’s walk through both methods with real-world examples, Canadian context, and clear next steps.
I’ve been working in (or very near) print for over a decade now. During that time, I learned book production while editing and designing research journals at York University’s Scott Library, then led a self-publishing operation in downtown Toronto. Today my team helps Canadian authors with cover design, book formatting, typesetting, ebook design, and distribution. I have seen both printing paths work well. I have also seen good projects stall because the wrong print method was chosen for the goal. This guide is the plain, Canadian answer to a common question: should you use print-on-demand or offset printing for your book?
Why your printing decision matters
Printing is not only about ink and paper. It is a business decision. If you plan to sell mostly online and you do not want boxes in your basement, print-on-demand makes sense. If you plan a bookstore launch, school orders, or a tour where you need many copies on hand, an offset run can lower your cost per copy and give you more control over finishes.
The decision also touches design. Trim size, paper choice, and spine width must be set before typesetting. If you rush this, you invite rework and delays. A steady plan will save you money and time. If you want help mapping that plan, start with Formatting and Typesetting and Book Cover Design, then book a free call to choose the print path that fits your launch.
What is print-on-demand in Canada
Print-on-demand, or POD, prints your book one copy at a time as orders arrive. You do not buy a large run up front. You pay only when a copy is printed.
The big advantages are simple. Upfront cost is low. You avoid storage and shipping hassles. Your book can be available across Canada and beyond without you packing a single box. Amazon KDP connects you to Amazon.ca quickly. IngramSpark helps you reach many retailers and libraries. POD also lets you order short runs for events and keep your book in stock year round.
There are trade-offs to accept. Unit cost is higher than offset. Paper and trim choices are more limited. For example, KDP’s cream stock is a solid, readable choice for most text-only paperbacks, while color printing can add cost fast. With IngramSpark, the groundwood paper option gives a familiar trade-publishing feel at a budget price, but it is not right for every project. Photo-heavy books and books that rely on exact color may look better as offset. If you need deeper detail, KDP’s print specs live in the KDP Help Center and Ingram’s in IngramSpark Support.
POD shines when you want to launch with less risk, sell online, and reorder smoothly. It also pairs well with ebook releases handled through eBook Design and Validation so your digital and print editions release together.
What is offset printing in Canada
Offset printing is the traditional method used by trade publishers. Your interior and cover are plated, and hundreds or thousands of copies are printed and bound in a single run.
The benefits are clear and the quality is unparalleled (in most cases). Unit costs drop precipitously the more you order, and you have far more options for customization when compared to most POD services. You control paper stock, trim size, coatings, and finishes. Dust jackets, flaps, foil, and special bindings are all possible. If your plan includes supplying bookstores directly, offset often makes that work smoother and more profitable per copy. You can ship cartons to your distributor, to events, or to your own storage.
Offset has real demands. You need cash up front. You need storage and a plan to fulfill orders. You need to allow time for proofs, press time, and freight. A steady offset project can take a few weeks from final files to finished books in hand. For authors who know they will move many copies at launch or across a season, that trade can be worth it.
If you’re on the fence, read Choosing the Right Trim Size and Paper to see how format choices affect both POD and offset. Then, talk with us about quotes and timelines and we’ll advise on options that match your goals.
Costs, quality, and a simple breakeven way to think
Costs vary by page count, trim size, paper, colour pages, and finish. POD gives you a predictable per-copy cost that is higher but paid only when you print. Offset gives you a lower per-copy cost but requires a larger upfront spend.
A simple way to think about breakeven is this. Take your expected offset invoice for a given quantity and divide by the number of copies you plan to sell from that run. Compare that per-copy amount to your POD print cost. Add freight and storage when you do the offset math. Add retailer discounts when you think about your retail price. If the savings per copy on offset will pay back the upfront spend at your expected volume, offset can be the right call. If you are testing demand or want to keep risk low, POD is usually wiser for a first print.
Quality is strong in both paths when the files are prepared well. POD black-and-white interiors on cream stock read beautifully. Color interiors can vary by provider. Offset still wins on exact color matches and specialty finishes. If design is key to your concept, we will show you paper dummies and sample books before you choose. That is part of what you get when you work with Foglio on Formatting and Typesetting and Cover Design.
Canadian context that changes the choice
Canada adds a few helpful details. ISBNs are free through Library and Archives Canada, so securing identifiers for POD and offset versions will not add cost. Learn the steps and common pitfalls in our guide ISBNs in Canada: How to Get One for Your Self-Published Book and see the official program at ISBN Canada. Remember to fulfill Legal Deposit once your book is published.
Distribution expectations differ too. Many Canadian bookstores prefer to order through established channels and want local stock. Offset inventory supplied through a distributor or direct can meet that need. POD can still serve stores if you handle orders yourself, but lead times and trade discounts can be a hurdle. Online, POD is hard to beat. It keeps your book available across regions without cross-border headaches.
If you want a full picture of how printing fits into the larger project, read Self-Publishing in Canada: A Complete Guide to Professional Book Formatting and Typesetting and The Best Self-Publishing Platforms for Canadian Authors. You will see how print choices and platform choices work together.
How to decide for your book
Start with your goals. If you plan to sell mostly on Amazon and you want to avoid inventory, choose POD and keep your focus on a clean listing, good metadata, and early reviews. If you plan a launch with many events, school sales, or a push into independent stores, get offset quotes and see how the per-copy savings supports your plan.
Be honest about your time. Offset adds logistics. Someone needs to receive pallets, count cartons, ship orders, and track returns. If that is not you, budget for help. If you prefer a lighter path, POD keeps you moving.
Your preferences for the design and even the paper of the book should also inform your decision. A text-driven novel can look excellent on KDP’s cream stock. A highly visual art book likely belongs on offset with coated paper and careful colour control (if that’s not a suitable option for you, ALWAYS choose white paper for books with colour images). IngramSpark’s Groundwood stock can give a budget-friendly, trade feel for many black-and-white interiors (this one just happens to be my favourite). Use it when weight and cost matter and when a cozy, familiar texture is called for.
If you want a second opinion grounded in day-to-day publishing work, book a free consultation. We will compare POD and offset for your page count, trim size, and audience, then build a schedule that keeps you sane.
Common mistakes that slow printing
The same errors cause most delays. Trim and paper are decided after typesetting starts, which forces a reflow and a new spine. Images arrive late or at web resolution and must be replaced. The ebook fails validation because of missing navigation or font issues and the team burns days fixing files right before upload. Metadata and pricing are guessed at the end and listings go live with weak categories. These are easy to prevent.
Do the planning up front. Choose trim and paper early. Prepare high-resolution art with clear file names. Finish editing before layout. Validate the ebook before you touch any dashboard. Build metadata with care. If you need a checklist, our posts on mastering book metadata and what ebook formatting really is will help. If you want someone to manage these handoffs, our Self-Publishing Packages are built to remove friction.
FAQs about POD and Offset Printing
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Yes. Many authors start with POD to test demand, then run an offset batch for launches or wholesale. We can keep your files consistent across both.
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Not if the files are professionally designed. A strong cover, clean typography, and correct specs produce a bookstore-quality result. See Cover Design and Formatting and Typesetting for how we ensure that.
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Relationships and terms matter. Offset stock supplied through a distributor or direct can make ordering easier. POD can work for some shops if you can deliver quickly and invoice directly, but offset often wins for speed and margin.
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Yes. Each format needs its own ISBN. The good news is that ISBNs are free in Canada. Start here: ISBN Canada. If you need help with barcodes and records, see ISBN, Barcode and Distribution.
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After publication, deposit your book with Library and Archives Canada. It is required and it preserves your work. Learn more on the Legal Deposit page.
Make the right choice
A clear printing choice turns a stressful launch into a steady one. If you want help weighing POD against offset for your book, we can walk you through costs, timelines, and paper that match your genre and readers. Start with a conversation, then we will build the plan together.
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