The total audiobook production cost depends on your chosen workflow. Hiring a professional voice actor costs between $200 and $500 per finished hour, making a 70,000-word novel run across 8 to 10 hours of finished audio. Alternatively, AI voice production through Audiobookery starts from $29 a month for 500 pages of finished audiobook content.
What is the cost of human narration?
Hiring a voice actor is a traditional path for creating an audiobook. Professional voice talent charges per finished hour, covering studio time, performance, and post-production editing. Standard industry rates range between $200 and $500 per finished hour.
The total length of your text directly impacts narrator costs. For example, a standard 70,000-word novel runs 8 to 10 hours of finished audio. ACX requires a human narrator: the only synthetic voices it takes are Amazon's own.
What technical audio specifications are required?
Whether you record audio yourself or use automated mastering tools, audio distribution platforms require strict technical parameters for submitted files:
- Loudness (RMS): Must measure between -23 dB and -18 dB.
- Peak Levels: Maximum peaks must remain at -3 dB.
- Noise Floor: Background sound must not exceed -60 dB.
- Encoding: Files must be formatted as MP3 192 kbps.
- Room Tone: Between 1 to 5 seconds of room tone is recommended at each end of a track.
How does AI voice production lower your production cost?
AI voice production provides a predictable pricing model based on monthly page allowances rather than per-hour narrator fees. Authors looking to create audio versions of their books can convert written manuscripts using modern AI voice for audiobooks.
Audiobookery offers a Starter plan from $29 a month on a 12-month commitment billed monthly, or $290 once a year, which includes 2 months free. This plan allows you to produce 500 pages of finished audiobook content every month, where one page equals 275 words. You can process as many books as you like within your monthly page limits.
To begin, authors upload EPUB, DOCX or PDF files. Deliverables include mastered chapter files (MP3), plus one M4B with named chapters, the written AI disclosure, and a deposit guide for each store that accepts AI narration. You can learn more about text to speech audiobook workflows or explore available subscription options.
Comparing audiobook production methods
| Production Method | Pricing Model | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Human Narration | $200 to $500 per finished hour | A 70,000-word novel runs 8 to 10 hours |
| Audiobookery AI | From $29 a month (or $290 once a year) | 500 pages every month (275 words per page), MP3 and M4B deliverables |
How to test audiobook quality before committing
Authors can test sample audio created from their own written work prior to selecting a subscription. You can receive one chapter of your own book as a mastered MP3 by email within 48 hours, with no card required.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 70,000-word audiobook cost with a human narrator?
Professional human narrators charge between $200 and $500 per finished hour. A 70,000-word manuscript typically runs 8 to 10 hours of finished audio.
What technical audio specifications are required for distribution?
Audio files must meet RMS levels between -23 dB and -18 dB, peak levels at -3 dB, and a noise floor of -60 dB. Audio tracks must be encoded as MP3 192 kbps with 1 to 5 seconds of room tone recommended at section ends.
How does the Audiobookery page plan work?
The Starter plan costs from $29 a month with a 12-month commitment billed monthly, or $290 once a year (2 months free). It provides 500 pages of finished audiobook content every month, calculated at 275 words per page, covering as many books as you like within your page volume.