Don’t leave printing your books too late! If you plan on getting books printed before the holidays, you better act fast!
Updated July 23rd 2026
Regardless of whether you’re printing your books through Amazon KDP, IngramSpark Publishing, or a private printer, it’s almost too late to get those holiday copies done. October, November, and December are some of the busiest times for releasing new books and people stocking up on author copies for sales, promotions, and giveaways. The last thing that any author wants is to run out of copies in the middle of the holidays.
When is the best time to order copies of your book? Usually, if you’re planning on a large run of books over the holidays, you should look at getting them printed no later than September. Also, before ordering, it’s a good opportunity to do a final review and make sure that you’re using the latest version of your manuscript and that you’ve corrected any typos or edits.
This gives you a little extra leeway if printers fall behind or shipping companies fall behind. If you’re worried, you can always request an estimate on shipping and printing times from the printer. That will allow you to plan ahead accordingly.
If you’re still on the fence about ordering copies of your book, then you better act fast! Any later than the first week in December, your books may not arrive in time, and you could end up waiting until after January.
If you’re ready to self-publish your book and considering Amazon KDP, check out Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing for Canadian Authors, where we cover everything you need to know about setting up your Amazon KDP account, uploading print and ebooks, and managing titles through your author dashboard.
Tips for Ordering Paperback Books
Below are our top three tips for authors considering a large print run of their books. If you have made any changes to your book since the last time you did a print run, order a proof copy. Even if it was just one minor correction. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
- Don’t Over Order – The minute you unpack those books and they’re sitting around in your office or home, they are starting to devalue. Dust, bumps, dirt, sunlight, and being moved around can all decrease the value of your books.
- Order What You Need – Instead, order what you need, and if you order a few extra copies, then leave them in their shipping boxes. This will help protect them from the elements.
- Order Them A Month Early – If you need to order many books, then get in early and order them a month before you really need them.
For Canadian authors still considering whether or not Amazon KDP is the best self-publishing platform for them, check out The Complete Guide to Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing for Canadian Authors, where we cover everything you’ll need to know about getting started on Amazon KDP for the first time.
Don’t Leave Printing Your Books Too Late! | Conclusion
Having copies of your books around the office is great, but all too often, they become worthless because of wear and tear. Not to mention if you make any updates or corrections. It’s not uncommon to discover a typo or edit, and then all of those paperbacks or hardcovers you already printed just sit around.
Ordering only what you need, and ordering early, is the best strategy. This ensures you have books ready for the holidays, but not a lot leftover. While having a few copies lying around isn’t bad, too many can cause issues and cost you money. Remember, the longer you store books, the more risk you run of them being damaged. Give yourself a little wiggle room, but don’t go crazy ordering books.
If you are writing a book and need any assistance with paperback or ebook formatting, cover design, professional editing, uploading to self-publishing sites such as Amazon KDP and IngramSpark Publishing, or Amazon KDP keyword and category research, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We also offer children’s book illustrations and formatting services.
Our experienced and professional self-publishing team is standing by to assist you with your self-publishing dreams.
Chrissy Hobbs is the owner and founder of Indie Publishing Group, a self-publishing services provider based in Ontario, Canada, which helps authors self-publish their books on Amazon KDP, IngramSpark Publishing and other self-publishing platforms. With over a decade of experience in the publishing industry and also being a best-selling children’s book author of The Day My Fart Followed Me to Hockey and Hockey Wars, you know your book is in good hands.
Chrissy Hobbs is the owner and founder of 
