The No-Fail Guide to Publishing Coloring Books That Sell

Ever thought about publishing a book? …What about a coloring book?

Publishing coloring books is about creating something meaningful. But if you approach it the right way, it can also be a smart business move. 🙂

With top sellers generating six figures in monthly revenue during peak seasons, and startup costs being super low for independent publishers (self publishers), it’s an opportunity worth exploring.

So…I am going to in this post!

My hope and thought it that you don’t need to be an expert artist to start. And you definitely don’t need deep pockets.

When publishing my own first book, I learned that print-on-demand services like Amazon KDP offer high royalty rates up to 70%. And they also eliminate the need for inventory management or large upfront investments.

Ready to learn how to create and publish your own successful coloring book? This post will (hopefully) walk you through everything you need to know, from choosing profitable niches to preparing your book for publication. Let’s get started!

Why Coloring Books Are a Great Opportunity

The adult coloring book market presents a great opportunity for creatives, with projections showing growth from $150 million in 2023 to $350 million by 2031.

Specifically, this surge reflects a steady 10% annual growth rate, making it an attractive venture for new publishers.

Growing demand for adult coloring books

The coloring book market’s expansion stems from increasing awareness about mental health benefits and stress relief through creative activities.

I know I’ve personally purchased a bunch!

Furthermore, social media helped created thriving communities of coloring enthusiasts who share their completed projects, driving more people to embrace this creative outlet.

Notably, 71% of buyers are women, with the largest segment falling in the 18-29 age group.

Low competition in specific niches

Despite the market’s size, several low-competition coloring book niches offer excellent opportunities:

• Mandala designs for meditation
• Nature and wildlife themes
• Fantasy and mythical creatures
• Geometric patterns
• Inspirational quotes with artwork

Additionally, the online segment has gained significant traction through e-commerce platforms, allowing niche publishers to reach a broader market. Consequently, many successful publishers focus on specific themes rather than competing in oversaturated general categories.

Multiple income potential

Publishing coloring books opens various revenue streams. Print-on-demand services eliminate inventory management concerns, whereas established sellers often opt for offset printing to maximize profits. Successful creators generate between $500 to $3,000 monthly with a handful of titles. Moreover, top performers earning $10,000+ monthly typically maintain 10-12 active titles.

The income potential extends beyond traditional book sales. Publishers can create digital downloads, develop subscription boxes, and build engaged communities through social media platforms. Furthermore, many successful publishers leverage email lists and private Facebook groups to maintain consistent sales and gather immediate feedback for new releases.

Planning Your First Coloring Book

Starting a successful coloring book begins with understanding your audience. Initially, the market divides into two primary segments: adults seeking stress relief and children exploring creativity. For adult coloring books, the largest buying group consists of women aged 18-29, who are 29% more likely to purchase these books than other demographics.

Choosing your target audience

Successful coloring book publishers primarily focus on specific age groups and interests. Adults often prefer intricate designs that promote relaxation, including mandalas, nature scenes, and abstract patterns. Subsequently, children’s coloring books tend toward educational themes, incorporating learning elements like science, world cultures, and history.

Researching profitable niches

Before creating your first coloring book, analyze market trends and profitable themes. According to recent data, these niches show strong potential:

• Educational content for toddlers (ages 1-3) generating approximately $362 in daily profit
• Nature-themed designs, particularly flowers and animals
• Geometric patterns and mandalas for stress relief
• Cultural and heritage-inspired artwork

Setting quality standards for publishing coloring books

Essentially, your coloring book’s success depends on meeting specific quality benchmarks. Accordingly, focus on these critical elements:

First, choose appropriate paper weight – 70 lb standard color paper offers an ideal balance between quality and cost. Second, ensure single-sided printing for optimal coloring experience, as this prevents color bleeding and allows for potential framing of finished works.

The design quality fundamentally impacts your book’s success. Professional artists report that buyers quickly identify and reject AI-generated artwork, expressing disappointment with mediocre drawings. Therefore, prioritize creating original, hand-drawn designs that showcase authenticity and craftsmanship.

For print specifications, consider offering perforated edges for easy page removal and spiral binding for lay-flat convenience. These features, though increasing production costs slightly, can significantly enhance user experience and justify premium pricing.

Creating Professional Coloring Pages

Creating professional coloring pages requires mastering both digital and traditional art methods. Primarily, your choice of tools impacts the final quality and efficiency of your work.

Digital vs traditional art methods

Digital creation offers powerful capabilities through software like Adobe Illustrator, which enables perfectly smooth lines that stay sharp at any size. Simultaneously, apps like Procreate provide pressure-sensitive brushes that feel natural and intuitive. Indeed, digital tools excel at making quick adjustments and corrections, saving valuable time in the creative process.

Traditional art methods, otherwise, bring unique textures and patterns that digital tools often struggle to replicate. Generally, artists who prefer traditional methods start with pencil sketches, then refine their work using markers or felt-tip pens. For optimal results, scan your traditional artwork at 300 dpi to capture every detail.

Essential design principles

Professional coloring pages follow fundamental design principles that enhance the coloring experience. These key elements include:

• Visual Hierarchy: Create focal points that guide colorists through the page naturally
• Line Weight Variation: Use thicker lines for main outlines and thinner ones for interior details
• White Space Balance: Allow breathing room between elements to prevent overwhelming designs
• Pattern Integration: Incorporate geometric or flowing designs that offer creative coloring opportunities

When crafting your designs, focus on maintaining clean, crisp lines that print clearly. For digital work, export files in PNG or PDF formats to preserve line quality. Furthermore, consider the practical aspects of coloring – leave adequate space between lines and avoid overly intricate details that might frustrate colorists.

The thickness of your lines fundamentally affects how people interact with your coloring pages. Thick lines work best for main outlines, whereas thinner lines add delicate details within larger spaces. This variation creates depth and visual interest while making the page more enjoyable to color.

Remember to test your designs by printing them before finalizing. This step helps identify potential issues with line visibility or spacing that might not be apparent on screen. Most importantly, ensure your final files maintain high resolution throughout the production process.

Preparing Your Book for Publication

Proper formatting and preparation lay the foundation for a successful coloring book. First, let’s explore the essential elements that turn your artwork into a professional publication.

Formatting interior pages

The most popular coloring book size remains 8.5″ x 11″, offering ample space for intricate designs. As a result, this size optimizes both printing costs and user experience. For optimal results, maintain these specifications:

• Set margins appropriately to prevent artwork from being cut off
• Configure bleed settings to extend artwork beyond page edges
• Ensure high-resolution images (minimum 300 dpi)
• Leave adequate white space between design elements

Designing an eye-catching cover

Your coloring book cover serves as a powerful marketing tool. Above all, create a design that reflects the book’s theme and appeals to your target audience. The cover should feature a detailed, high-quality illustration that stands apart from your interior artwork.

Amazon KDP has book cover templates, but…they are awful. I recommend designing it yourself, but some of the specs for the exact page measurements can be confusing for a novice. An easy option for those of us who aren’t designers or tech-y is hiring someone to do the design, and create the exact size you need. There are TONS of options on Fiverr for this, or you can post in Facebook groups and ask for recommendations.

For the best sales results, incorporate these design elements:

• Large, readable title font
• Imagery on the cover that is similar to the contents / style in the coloring book (I’ve often bought books because I want to color what I see on the cover!)
• Clear subtitle explaining the book’s content / vibe
• Colors that pop against the background
• Professional layout with balanced visual elements

Setting up print specifications

Print quality fundamentally affects the coloring experience. In light of this, select 70 lb uncoated paper stock, which provides a nice texture for colored pencils and crayons. Furthermore, consider these binding options based on your book’s requirements:

Saddle-stitch binding works perfectly for books under 20 pages, whereas perfect binding suits larger page counts and allows spine printing. Sooner or later, you’ll need to decide on finishing touches. For instance, perforated pages enable easy removal for framing completed artwork.

Print-on-demand services eliminate the need for large inventory investments. Nevertheless, carefully review these technical specifications:

• Paper weight and texture
• Binding method compatibility
• Cover stock options (12 pt recommended)
• Optional finishing effects like corner rounding or lamination

Through careful attention to these details, your coloring book will meet professional standards and provide an excellent coloring experience. Most compelling evidence shows that quality specifications directly impact user satisfaction and sales performance.

Publishing and Distribution Options for Publishing Coloring Books

Print-on-demand technology has transformed the coloring book publishing landscape, eliminating traditional barriers to entry. Currently, several platforms offer robust solutions for bringing your own coloring book to market.

Amazon KDP setup process for publishing coloring books

Publishing through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing platform follows a straightforward process. First and foremost, create a KDP account and select “Create Paperback” to begin. The platform requires these key steps:

1. Enter book details including title, description, and keywords
2. Upload your formatted manuscript and cover
3. Preview the book thoroughly
4. Select territories and set pricing
5. Choose royalty options and publish

Primarily, KDP offers two ISBN options for low-content books: publishing without an ISBN or using your own. Alternatively, if you plan to enable Transparency codes, purchasing an ISBN through Bowker presents another viable option.

For optimal results, ensure your coloring book contains at least 24 pages. Furthermore, KDP automatically places a barcode on your back cover unless you provide your own. Undoubtedly, this streamlined process makes Amazon KDP an attractive choice for first-time publishers.

Print-on-demand services for publishing coloring books

Beyond Amazon, several print-on-demand services offer unique advantages. IngramSpark, for instance, provides excellent paper quality with their 70 lb standard color paper, striking an ideal balance between quality and cost. Likewise, Lulu offers completely free publishing services, making it an excellent starting point for budget-conscious creators.

BookBaby stands out by offering weekly royalty payments and comprehensive tracking tools. Meanwhile, PublishDrive facilitates distribution across multiple channels, connecting your coloring book with major retailers worldwide.

Consider these factors when choosing a print-on-demand service:

• Paper Quality: Different services offer varying paper weights and types
• Distribution Network: Some platforms provide broader market access
• Royalty Rates: Amazon KDP offers up to 70% royalty rates
• Printing Costs: Compare costs across services for better margins
• Market Exposure: Consider each platform’s reach and audience

Remarkably, print-on-demand eliminates the need for large inventory storage or upfront investments. In addition, these services handle shipping and customer service, allowing you to focus on creating unique coloring books.

For broader market reach, many successful publishers utilize multiple platforms. Certainly, combining Amazon KDP with IngramSpark maximizes distribution potential, as there are no disadvantages to avoiding exclusivity with Amazon for print titles.

The paper-based segment remains strong in the adult coloring book market, offering tactile satisfaction and nostalgic pleasure. Correspondingly, digital downloads provide an eco-friendly alternative, allowing customers to print pages multiple times for different color schemes.

Publishing Coloring Books Conclusion

Creating your own coloring book offers a remarkable opportunity in today’s growing market. Therefore, starting with a clear understanding of your target audience and maintaining high-quality standards throughout the creative process will set you up for success.

Print-on-demand services make publishing easier than ever before, eliminating traditional barriers to entry. Additionally, focusing on specific niches while delivering professional designs helps your coloring books stand out in the marketplace. Most importantly, maintaining consistent quality across your interior pages and cover design builds trust with your audience.

The adult coloring book industry continues growing as more people discover this creative outlet for stress reduction. Consequently, publishers who focus on creating unique, high-quality designs while leveraging multiple distribution channels position themselves for sustainable success.

Above all, remember that successful coloring book publishing combines artistic vision with business strategy. Whether you choose Amazon KDP or other print-on-demand services, maintaining professional standards throughout the publishing process ensures your books meet market demands and satisfy your target audience.

Publishing Coloring Books FAQs

How much can I earn from publishing coloring books?

Earnings vary, but successful publishers with 10-12 active titles can potentially make around $10,000 per month. However, it’s important to reinvest initial profits into creating more books to build a substantial catalog.

What’s the best way to self-publish a coloring book?

The most popular method is using print-on-demand services like Amazon KDP or IngramSpark. These platforms allow you to upload your designs, set pricing, and distribute your book without upfront inventory costs.

Is there still a market for adult coloring books?

Yes, the adult coloring book market is thriving. It’s projected to grow from $150 million in 2023 to $350 million by 2031, with a steady 10% annual growth rate.

What should I consider when learning to publish a coloring book?

Focus on choosing a specific theme or niche, maintaining high-quality designs, using appropriate paper weight (70 lb is ideal), and ensuring proper formatting. Also, consider your target audience and current market trends.

How many pages should a coloring book have?

A typical coloring book should contain at least 24 pages, with many successful books offering between 24 to 50 images. This ensures customers feel they’re getting good value for their purchase.