For many authors and creators on Kickstarter, printing is one of the biggest costs in the entire project. Over the past few years, we’ve noticed a clear trend: more and more creators are choosing to print their books in China, especially high-quality picture books, art books, photography books, and collector’s editions.
At Call2Print, we handle printing and worldwide shipping for creators from the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and Europe. Based on our daily experience, here are the top reasons creators choose China for their Kickstarter projects—plus real case examples and transparent cost insights.
1. Higher Quality at Lower Cost
China’s book printing industry has matured significantly.
With advanced offset presses, premium paper stocks, and professional finishing, creators can achieve premium bookstore-level quality at a fraction of the cost.
For example:
A full-color 80-page picture book
- 157gsm art paper
- Hardback with matte lamination
- US printing: USD $6–$8 per book
China printing: USD $3–$4 per book（including shipping）
That difference can completely change a campaign’s profit margin.
2. Endless Customization Options for Creators
Kickstarter creators often need special finishes to attract backers:
Foil stamping (gold/silver/rose gold)
- Spot UV
- Cloth-bound covers
- Section-sewn binding
- Custom slipcases
- Edge gilding
- Metallic ink
- Poster + postcard add-ons
- Chinese factories provide wide customization with low MOQ, which is perfect for crowdfunding projects.
3. DDP Shipping = Stress-Free Delivery to Your Door
This is one of the biggest reasons creators choose us.
With DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) shipping:
No customs paperwork
- No import tax surprises
- No warehouse headaches
- Books delivered directly to the creator’s home or fulfillment partner
- You focus on your campaign—we handle the rest.
4. Real Case from Our Clients
Case: Children’s Picture Book, 1,200 copies（USA Creator）
80 pages
- 157gsm glossy interior
- 2mm greyboard hardback
- Matte lamination
- Gold foil title
- DDP shipping to California
- Total cost per book: USD $3.78
Retail quality, big profit margin.
5. Faster Turnaround Time
While many Western printers struggle with:
Long queues
- Limited slots
- Limited customization
- Chinese production typically takes:
3–5 working days for printing
- 20–30 days for sea shipping (DDP)
- Total: around 30–40 days
- Perfect for Kickstarter timelines.
More Kickstarter creators are choosing China because they want:
Higher quality
- Lower cost
- More customization
- Hassle-free shipping
- Stable timelines
- At Call2Print, we’ve helped thousands of creators print children’s books, photo books, art books, cookbooks, and collector’s editions. If you're planning a campaign—or you already have one running—we’re here to help from printing to global delivery.
Get a free quote anytime.