Calculators
Author Royalty Estimator
Estimate book royalties by format from copies sold, prices and royalty rates, the advance earn-out and the agent's commission.
- Runs in your browser
- Nothing uploaded
The tool
Enter your numbers below. Results update as you type, and nothing leaves your browser.
Everything you enter stays on your own machine. Nothing is sent to us or to anyone else, which you can confirm in your browser network tab.
What people use it for
- Evaluating a publishing offer
- Comparing traditional and self-publishing
- Forecasting author income
- Understanding royalty statements
About this tool
What the Author Royalty Estimator does
Authors earn a royalty per copy that differs by format: traditionally published print often pays a percentage of list price, ebooks a share of net receipts, and self-published books a share set by the platform. Traditional deals pay an advance that royalties must earn back first.
Formula
- Royalty per copy = price × royalty rate
- Royalties = Σ copies × royalty per copy
- You receive the larger of the advance and royalties, less the agent’s commission
Worked example
Using the starting values in the calculator above:
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Formats | 4 entries |
| Advance | $15,000 |
| Agent commission | 15% |
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Total to you after agent (advance plus extra royalties) | $26,797 |
| Royalties earned | $31,526 |
| Advance earned out | Yes |
| Royalties paid beyond the advance | $16,526 |
How to read the result
Ebook and audiobook royalties in traditional contracts are often a share of the publisher’s net receipts, not list price; enter the effective per-copy rate if you know it.
Self-publishing platforms often pay much higher royalty rates but with no advance and your own marketing costs.
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Questions
Questions about this tool
The things clients actually want to know — costs, timelines, ownership and what happens after launch.
Commonly around 5% to 15% of list price for traditional print, and up to around 70% of the price for some self-published ebooks.
Royalties have exceeded the advance, so further royalties are paid to the author.
Literary agents usually take about 15% of domestic earnings.
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