How Much Does an Ebook Ghostwriter Cost?

Most professional ghostwriters charge about $0.30 to $1.00 per word for nonfiction. That puts a 10,000-word ebook at roughly $3,000 to $10,000 and a 20,000-word ebook at roughly $6,000 to $20,000. Marketplace freelancers can cost less, from about $0.10 a word, and well-known writers cost much more. The sources we checked disagree widely, so use the ranges below to set a budget, not to expect an exact quote.

All prices are in US dollars and come from the sources named below. We checked them in October 2026.

Ghostwriter rates per word

Per-word pricing is the easiest way to compare quotes. Here is what the main sources report for nonfiction.

At the very low end, some agencies list beginners at $0.01 to $0.05 a word. That is far below the EFA’s $0.33 floor for full-length nonfiction, and very low prices tend to mean a beginner or a poor fit.

What a 10,000, 20,000 and 40,000 word ebook costs

Multiply the word count by the rate. These figures use the per-word ranges above.

Not sure how many words your ebook needs? Our ebook length guide will help, and the word count to pages calculator turns a word count into pages.

Flat project prices

Many ghostwriters quote a flat fee for the whole project. Sources report these ranges.

For full-length nonfiction books, most sources cluster between $10,000 and $60,000. Reedsy’s average is about $20,000 for a book, and about $33,000 for a business book of 60,000 words. The extremes run from a few thousand dollars up to six figures for well-known writers.

What changes the price

• Length. More words means more time.
• Research and interviews. A ghostwriter who interviews you for 20 to 40 hours, which one agency says is typical for full books, costs more than one who works from your notes.
• Experience. Published writers with strong samples charge more than beginners.
• Revisions. Extra rounds can cost $500 to $2,000 each, according to one agency, and $1,000 to $5,000 each according to another.
• Rush fees. Sources list 10 to 30 percent on marketplaces and 25 to 50 percent at agencies.
• Credit and rights. Whether your name or the ghostwriter’s appears, and who owns the text, is negotiated.
• Materials you provide. A detailed outline and your own notes lower the writer’s workload.

What is usually included, and what costs extra

Included in most quotes: a discovery call, interviews, research, an outline, a first draft, two to three rounds of revisions, an NDA and a transfer of rights.

Usually extra: developmental editing, a cover, formatting, marketing copy and extra revision rounds. A book proposal can cost a few thousand dollars or more on its own.

How ghostwriters charge

• Per word or per page. The EFA lists $82.50 to $125 per page for full-length nonfiction.
• Hourly. The EFA lists $85 to $100 an hour for nonfiction. Reedsy says $50 to $150 an hour exists but is rarely used. Upwork’s median is about $32 an hour, with most freelancers at $20 to $45.
• Flat fee with milestones. A common split is 25 percent to start, 25 percent at the midpoint and 50 percent on delivery.
• Royalty share. Some writers take a share of royalties. Reedsy cites 8 to 50 percent. Kindlepreneur, Reedsy and author Josh Bernoff all advise against royalty-only deals, and the Association of Ghostwriters says revenue splits do not work for full-time ghostwriters.

How long it takes

Barnett Ghostwriting estimates two to four months for a short ebook of 20,000 to 30,000 words, and six to nine months or more for a full book. Chapter.pub says three to six months is standard. Interviews and your feedback speed are the biggest swing factors.

Costs you still have after the draft

A ghostwritten draft still needs polish and a package. Some ghostwriters include a proofread, so ask.

Here is a rough total for a 20,000-word ebook. Ghostwriting at $0.30 to $0.60 per word is $6,000 to $12,000. Add editing at $0 to $2,120, a cover at $69 to $930 and formatting at $0 to $500. The total is about $6,100 to $15,500.

Is a ghostwriter worth it?

A ghostwriter is a good fit when you have expertise or a story but not the time, you want a writer who interviews you and captures your voice, and the book is central to your business or reputation. It is a weaker fit when you are on a tight budget, the ebook is a short lead magnet, or you are happy to write a rough draft and edit.

Cheaper options

Be careful with the last two. An AI tool does not interview you, so the draft will not capture your voice or private knowledge until you add it. Editors who work on AI-assisted manuscripts say the text can be smooth but generic. Josh Bernoff and Mary Kole, writing for Jane Friedman, each describe a 50 percent surcharge in their own editing contracts for AI-written text. That is one editor’s policy, not a market rate.

Ownership also differs. The US Copyright Office has said AI-generated material is not copyrightable and that prompts alone are not enough, while human-authored parts of a work stay protected, as summarized by the Authors Guild. If you use AI, add and edit your own material, and ask a lawyer if ownership matters for your book. If you want a full walkthrough, see how to write an ebook with AI.

How to hire a ghostwriter well

• Ask for a paid sample chapter or outline before you commit to the full project.
• Pay in milestones, not 100 percent upfront.
• Get a written contract that covers ownership, confidentiality, how many revisions you get and what happens if the project stops.
• Check how ownership works. The US Copyright Office explains in its Circular 30 that a commissioned work counts as “work made for hire” only if it fits one of nine listed categories and a signed agreement says so. Many contracts use a written assignment of rights instead. This is general information, not legal advice, so have a lawyer review the contract.

Red flags, according to Bestseller Publishing’s September 2026 guide: no samples or references, a guaranteed bestseller, an unbelievably low fixed price, full payment upfront, and undefined revisions. Chapter.pub adds a price under $3,000 for a full book and no written contract.

FAQ

How much does a ghostwriter cost per word?

Professional ghostwriters usually charge about $0.30 to $1.00 per word for nonfiction. The EFA lists $0.33 to $0.50 for full-length nonfiction and $0.50 to $1.00 for business and marketing. Marketplace writers can be cheaper, and well-known writers cost more.

How much does it cost to ghostwrite a 10,000-word ebook?

At professional rates of $0.30 to $0.60 per word, about $3,000 to $6,000. Flat-fee sources report $1,000 to $5,000 at the low end and up to $10,000 for a short ebook. Marketplace listings start lower still.

Can I pay a ghostwriter a share of royalties instead of a fee?

Some do it, with shares of 8 to 50 percent mentioned by Reedsy. Several sources advise against royalty-only deals, because most ebooks earn modest royalties and the ghostwriter takes the risk. A smaller fee plus a royalty share is more common.

Who owns an ebook written by a ghostwriter?

It depends on your contract. Make sure it states who owns the text, and ask a lawyer to review it. A work made for hire needs a signed agreement and must fit a legal category, and many contracts use a written assignment of rights.

Is AI cheaper than a ghostwriter?

In cash, usually yes. Koobe’s plans start at $23 a month billed yearly, and you can create and preview your first book for free. But AI and a ghostwriter do different jobs. A ghostwriter interviews you and shapes your story, while AI drafts from what you give it, and you edit and add your own details.

Where Koobe fits

If your goal is a lead magnet, a how-to guide or a short nonfiction ebook, try drafting it with Koobe first. Describe your book in a sentence, edit the outline, and Koobe writes the chapters, designs four covers and exports store-ready files. Keep a ghostwriter for the books where your voice and story do the work. Your first book is free to create and preview.