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What is the Breakdown for Hardcover, Paperback, and eBook Sales?

  • schlesadv
  • Mar 7
  • 1 min read

1. Sales by Format (U.S. Publishing Industry)

Approximate overall market share by format:

Format

% of Sales

Paperback (trade + mass market)

~40–50%

Hardcover

~25–30%

Ebook

~15–20%

Audiobook

~10–15%

Print formats together make up about 70–80% of the market. 


2. Breakdown Within Print

Among printed books:

Print Format

Share of Print Sales

Paperback

~65%

Hardcover

~28%

Other formats

~7%

Paperbacks clearly dominate print sales. 


3. Amazon Format Sales (Interesting Trend)

Even on Amazon:

  • Print books: ~76% of revenue

  • Ebooks: ~18%

  • Audiobooks: ~6% 

And print outsells ebooks about 3-to-1 on Amazon


4. What Sells Best Overall

Ranked by popularity:

  1. Paperback (largest format)

  2. Hardcover

  3. Ebook

  4. Audiobook

Print remains dominant despite digital options.


💡 Publishing Insight:

For most publishers and authors today, the best strategy is to release all three formats:

  • Paperback → largest volume

  • Hardcover → higher profit per copy

  • Ebook → convenience + global reach


Barringer Publishing has all three formats available in all genres


 
 
 

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