PublishDrive helps you distribute print-on-demand books to Ingram’s network of over 39,000 online storeslike Barnes & Noble, Walmart and Costco. We go over what to know about Ingram Global Distribution plus how to sell to Ingram via PublishDrive.
What is print-on-demand?
Print-on-demand (POD) is a printing technology and business process where a print book listed under a store gets printed only when an actual order is made.
What files do you need for print-on-demand?
You’ll need two print-ready (PDF) files:
- Book cover design that also includes the back cover, spine, and bleed area
- Manuscript file that includes all pages of your book
As long as your PDF files fit under general POD requirements, PublishDrive will take care of the rest to fit specific guidelines for Ingram’s various stores.
Learn more about print-on-demand requirements.
Ingram specific requirements
Ingram has very specific requirements for print PDF files. These constraints include PDF version types, color schemes, font embedding, CMYK limits, barcode formatting, and more. PublishDrive’s file processors handle these specifics to make sure you meet Ingram’s requirements. All you have to do is upload well-sized PDF files.
Different spine widths
PublishDrive’s POD providers (Ingram, Amazon, CNPIEC) have different spine width requirements. By default, PublishDrive auto generates different cover files and required spine widths for different providers. You also have the option to create and manually upload your own cover file for different providers.
Supported manufacturing combinations
Currently only the manufacturing combinations below are supported in our Ingram print-on-demand distribution. If you select a different combination, you will be prompted during the book review process to choose a different one. 4" x 6" (102mm x 152mm)
|
Trim size |
Format |
Color |
Paper color |
Lamination type |
|
4" x 6" (102mm x 152mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Glossy |
|
4" x 6" (102mm x 152mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Matte |
|
4" x 6" (102mm x 152mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
4" x 6" (102mm x 152mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
4" x 6" (102mm x 152mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
4" x 6" (102mm x 152mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
5" x 8" (127mm x 203mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Glossy |
|
5" x 8" (127mm x 203mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Matte |
|
5" x 8" (127mm x 203mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
5" x 8" (127mm x 203mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
5" x 8" (127mm x 203mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
5" x 8" (127mm x 203mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
5.06" x 7.81" (129mm x 198mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Glossy |
|
5.06" x 7.81" (129mm x 198mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Matte |
|
5.06" x 7.81" (129mm x 198mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
5.06" x 7.81" (129mm x 198mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
5.06" x 7.81" (129mm x 198mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
5.06" x 7.81" (129mm x 198mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
5.25" x 8" (133mm x 203mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Glossy |
|
5.25" x 8" (133mm x 203mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Matte |
|
5.25" x 8" (133mm x 203mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
5.25" x 8" (133mm x 203mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
5.25" x 8" (133mm x 203mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
5.25" x 8" (133mm x 203mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
5.5" x 8.5" (140mm x 216mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Glossy |
|
5.5" x 8.5" (140mm x 216mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Matte |
|
5.5" x 8.5" (140mm x 216mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
5.5" x 8.5" (140mm x 216mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
5.5" x 8.5" (140mm x 216mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
5.5" x 8.5" (140mm x 216mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
6" x 9" (152mm x 229mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Glossy |
|
6" x 9" (152mm x 229mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Matte |
|
6" x 9" (152mm x 229mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
6" x 9" (152mm x 229mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
6" x 9" (152mm x 229mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
6" x 9" (152mm x 229mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
6.14" x 9.21" (156mm x 234mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Glossy |
|
6.14" x 9.21" (156mm x 234mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Matte |
|
6.14" x 9.21" (156mm x 234mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
6.14" x 9.21" (156mm x 234mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
6.14" x 9.21" (156mm x 234mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
6.14" x 9.21" (156mm x 234mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
6.69" x 9.61" (170mm x 244mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
6.69" x 9.61" (170mm x 244mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
6.69" x 9.61" (170mm x 244mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
6.69" x 9.61" (170mm x 244mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
7" x 10" (178mm x 254mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
7" x 10" (178mm x 254mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
7" x 10" (178mm x 254mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
7" x 10" (178mm x 254mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
7.44" x 9.69" (189mm x 246mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
7.44" x 9.69" (189mm x 246mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
7.44" x 9.69" (189mm x 246mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
7.44" x 9.69" (189mm x 246mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
7.5" x 9.25" (191mm x 235mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
7.5" x 9.25" (191mm x 235mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
7.5" x 9.25" (191mm x 235mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
7.5" x 9.25" (191mm x 235mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
8" x 10" (203mm x 254mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
8" x 10" (203mm x 254mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
8" x 10" (203mm x 254mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
8" x 10" (203mm x 254mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
8.5" x 8.5" (216mm x 216mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
8.5" x 8.5" (216mm x 216mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
8.5" x 8.5" (216mm x 216mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
8.5" x 8.5" (216mm x 216mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
8.5" x 11" (216mm x 279mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
8.5" x 11" (216mm x 279mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
8.5" x 11" (216mm x 279mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
8.5" x 11" (216mm x 279mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
8.27" x 11.69" (210mm x 297mm) - A4 |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
8.27" x 11.69" (210mm x 297mm) - A4 |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
8.27" x 11.69" (210mm x 297mm) - A4 |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
8.27" x 11.69" (210mm x 297mm) - A4 |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
4.25" x 7" (108mm x 178mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Glossy |
|
4.25" x 7" (108mm x 178mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Matte |
|
4.25" x 7" (108mm x 178mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
4.25" x 7" (108mm x 178mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
4.25" x 7" (108mm x 178mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
4.25" x 7" (108mm x 178mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
4.37" x 7" (111mm x 178mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
4.37" x 7" (111mm x 178mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
4.37" x 7" (111mm x 178mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
4.72" x 7.48" (120mm x 190mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Glossy |
|
4.72" x 7.48" (120mm x 190mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Matte |
|
4.72" x 7.48" (120mm x 190mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
4.72" x 7.48" (120mm x 190mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
4.72" x 7.48" (120mm x 190mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
4.72" x 7.48" (120mm x 190mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
5" x 7" (127mm x 178mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Glossy |
|
5" x 7" (127mm x 178mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Matte |
|
5" x 7" (127mm x 178mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
5" x 7" (127mm x 178mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
5" x 7" (127mm x 178mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
5" x 7" (127mm x 178mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
6.5" x 6.5" (165mm x 165mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
6.5" x 6.5" (165mm x 165mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
6.5" x 6.5" (165mm x 165mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
6.5" x 6.5" (165mm x 165mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
6.625" x 10.25" (168mm x 260mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
6.625" x 10.25" (168mm x 260mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
6.625" x 10.25" (168mm x 260mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
6.625" x 10.25" (168mm x 260mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
8" x 8" (203mm x 203mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
8" x 8" (203mm x 203mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
8" x 8" (203mm x 203mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
8" x 8" (203mm x 203mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
8" x 10.88" (203mm x 276mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
8" x 10.88" (203mm x 276mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
8" x 10.88" (203mm x 276mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
8" x 10.88" (203mm x 276mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
8.25" x 10.75" (210mm x 273mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
8.25" x 10.75" (210mm x 273mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
8.25" x 10.75" (210mm x 273mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
8.25" x 10.75" (210mm x 273mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
8.25" x 11" (210mm x 280mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
8.25" x 11" (210mm x 280mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
8.25" x 11" (210mm x 280mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
8.25" x 11" (210mm x 280mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
8.5" x 9" (216mm x 229mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
8.5" x 9" (216mm x 229mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
8.5" x 9" (216mm x 229mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
8.5" x 9" (216mm x 229mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
5.83" x 8.27" (148mm x 210mm) - A5 |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Glossy |
|
5.83" x 8.27" (148mm x 210mm) - A5 |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Matte |
|
5.83" x 8.27" (148mm x 210mm) - A5 |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
5.83" x 8.27" (148mm x 210mm) - A5 |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
5.83" x 8.27" (148mm x 210mm) - A5 |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
5.83" x 8.27" (148mm x 210mm) - A5 |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
|
5.5" x 8.25" (140mm x 210mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Glossy |
|
5.5" x 8.25" (140mm x 210mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
Cream |
Matte |
|
5.5" x 8.25" (140mm x 210mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Glossy |
|
5.5" x 8.25" (140mm x 210mm) |
Paperback |
Black&White |
White |
Matte |
|
5.5" x 8.25" (140mm x 210mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Glossy |
|
5.5" x 8.25" (140mm x 210mm) |
Paperback |
Color |
White |
Matte |
Do you need an ISBN?
Distribution to Ingram requires a valid ISBN. The ISBN should not have been submitted to 1) Ingram’s network (IngramSpark, Lightning Source) and 2) Amazon’s Expanded Distribution.
When going through PublishDrive’s book upload process, the system will alert you with an error message if your ISBN is not eligible.
Content requirements
Public domain
Public domain books cannot be distributed to Ingram’s network via PublishDrive.
Language
Generally, Ingram accepts all languages for book distribution. But there may be language restrictions with certain stores.
Costs
Setting up a book title on PublishDrive for Ingram does not require any kind of fee. Your files get handled and converted for free.
However, there is an annual fee of $10 to actually send out your book to Ingram’s network. The amount is:
- Paid only for the titles you wish to distribute to Ingram’s network
- Paid until the title is available for sale with Ingram’s network
- Refunded if the distribution to Ingram’s network fails to occur for any reason
Manufacturing costs
The manufacturing printing costs depend on the printing color and number of pages. Ingram’s costs may vary over time (usually updates once a year). Check actual costs under your PublishDrive account.
Royalties
Ingram distribution uses a royalty model. For PublishDrive users paying under a subscription fee, the default royalty rate for any sale with Ingram’s network is 45% of DLP. This rate for grandfathered or custom plans may be different. To check your royalty rates, visit the stores page under your PublishDrive account.
POD general business model
Your final earnings depend on your royalties and printing costs, as the manufacturing costs get deducted from your royalties.
Here's an example:
Sell price: $20
Distribution cost: 45%
Manufacturing cost: $6 (based on the number of pages, color types, trim sizes, etc.)
Author’s compensation = 20 *45% - $6 =$3
Ingram’s printing locations
Ingram has several owned and contracted printing facilities. The actual order is fulfilled at the nearest printing location:
United States:
- La Vergne, TN
- New York, NY
- Boston, MA
- San Francisco, CA
- Raleigh, NC
- Seattle, WA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- New York City, NY
- Minneapolis, MN
- Berkeley, CA
- Fresno, CA
- Jackson, TN
- Jackson, TN
- Antioch, TN
- Breinigsville, PA
- Chambersburg, PA
- Roseburg, OR
Europe
- London, UK
- Plymouth, UK
- Maurepas, FR
- Milton Keynes, UK
- Rosenheim, DE
Australia
- Dandenong South, AUS
Contracted printing locations:
- Brazil
- China
- Germany
- India
- Italy
- Poland
- Russia
- South Korea
- Spain
Ingram sales data under PublishDrive
View your sales data with Ingram under your PublishDrive dashboard.
- Sales data gets queried and updated every 2 hours
- Royalty reporting happens every month with a 2-month delay (e.g. sales in January are consolidated in a royalty report by March)
- Payout happens every month
Publishing time
- It takes up to 2 weeks to publish a book with Ingram’s stores
- It takes up to 1 week to unpublish a book
Special terms
If a book has the Ingram network enabled, but Amazon disabled on PublishDrive, then the book will be distributed to Amazon by Ingram, even though direct Amazon distribution is disabled.
As Ingram has no option to select only certain distribution channels, this store behavior cannot be changed on our end.
An additional consequence is that if the book is first distributed to Ingram only and after a while Amazon is enabled, then this action will have no effect as Ingram’s version will already be on Amazon and will engage the ISBN. This means our submission to Amazon will be rejected as the ISBN will already be in use for Ingram’s version of the book.
We apologize for these inconveniences.
How to Enable Ingram Global Distribution on PublishDrive
When publishing a new book
You will find the option to enable Ingram distribution at the last step of the book upload process.
Distributing to Ingram has an additional annual fee of $10. You’ll need to pay for the first year to send your book out to Ingram.
If the payment is successful, your book is sent out accordingly. If there is no payment, Ingram is disabled.
When enabling Ingram for an existing book
To distribute an existing book to Ingram, you must manually opt-in and pay the annual $10 fee.
Head to “My Books” under your PublishDrive dashboard. Click “More”, then “View & edit”.
Hit “Click to edit”.
Scroll down to “Distribution” and click “Enable” for Ingram Global Distribution.
Confirm “Yes, update”.
Pay the annual $10 fee.
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When successfully submitted, you’ll see that your book is under review.
Ready to start? Let's go!
If you have a question or need help, reach out to PublishDrive support.