Where to Hire a Professional Book Cover Designer
If you are an author and you have written your own novel, story or poetry collection, the next big step is to create an appealing book cover for your creation. A book cover that would stand out and catch attention of your potential readers. But that’s where many writers hit their first major brick wall.
Because though it may seem simple, the actual process of hiring a book cover designer is something most are not familiar with. First of all – where do you find such a designer? Is there a specific place that’s best for finding these professionals? Also, how do you know if this’s the right person for your needs? And what about the money – is this person asking too much (or suspiciously too little)?
Unless you’ve already done this and have some past experience with hiring artists for your projects, the task might be a bit confusing and even overwhelming.
As an artist myself who also worked for years as an Art director overseeing the hiring process and supervising the work of designers and illustrators, I’m here to answer all these questions.
Finding a Book Cover Designer: Budget-Based Guide
I’ll start with the major point – the decision of where to hire a book cover artist is usually based on your budget. The bigger the budget the more options you have. In other words, where you should look for a book cover designer depends on how much you’re willing to spend, and also how involved you want to be in the process.
Here’s a quick breakdown to help you understand the market:
- Low Budget ($15 – $150): If you don’t want to spend much, and you just need a simple cover – freelance marketplaces like Fiverr, Upwork and Freelancer are the best place to go. You’ll find plenty of eager designers offering quick, budget-friendly covers there. The quality can vary extremely though, but more on that further. With this budget you can also go to specialized design platforms like Canva ($120 per year for a Pro version) or explore premade book cover websites.
- Mid-range Budget ($200 – $350): If you want a more creative and personalized design but still need to stay within a moderate budget – check out social media platforms and publishing/writing communities like Facebook Groups, Instagram, DeviantArt, Behance or Dribbble. Many aspiring artists post their work there, so you might find someone who fits your needs and spending limit. You can also explore writing forums, where beginner designers often advertise their services.
- Higher Budget ($500+): If you want a top-tier, custom-designed cover with maximum input into the creative process – then hiring a professional book cover designer is the optimal choice. The easiest way to get in touch with professional artists is through Illustration Agencies & Studios who represent these specialists. You can also surf platforms like Instagram, Behance or LinkedIn and look for experienced artists with strong portfolios, since not every artist is signed to an agency, and many work independently.
This is of course just a quick guide, as there are many nuances to each option. But don’t worry, I’ll cover them all in detail, and will also highlight Pros and Cons for each place next.
Freelance Marketplaces
Freelance marketplaces like Fiverr, Upwork, Freelancer and others are some of the first options that pop up in Google search when you’re looking to book an illustrator or a designer. These platforms are quite popular as they offer the lowest prices for design services.
But just because they’re popular doesn’t mean they’re the best choice. The quality of work on these platforms often falls short of industry standards. You will see a lot of designs that may be created using stock images, “borrowed” elements, generic compositions, less refined art style, questionable copyright practices, and minimal customization.
This isn’t a knock on the artists who work on Fiverr or similar sites. But the way these platforms are set up, with artists trying to out-compete each other by lowering the prices, the quality is bound to suffer. So while you definitely can find a talented person there who might deliver the artwork you need, you should choose the artist carefully, and maybe keep the expectations more realistic.
Here are the Pros and Cons of Freelance Marketplaces:
✅Pros:
- Affordable services – This is the best place for book cover designs at the lowest price points.
- Huge talent pool – There are thousands of artists to choose from, offering a wide range of styles.
- Quick production – You can receive your artwork really fast, sometimes in a day or two.
- User-friendly platforms – These sites are easy to browse, and let you hire directly.
- Escrow payment system – Platforms hold funds until the work is completed to your satisfaction.
❌Cons:
- Not the best quality – Designs here often use stock images, generic templates, or AI-generated elements.
- Copyright concerns – Some artists use “borrowed” assets, which can lead to legal issues.
- Limited customization – Cheaper gigs often get you little say in the design and minimal revisions.
- Time-consuming – Finding a truly skilled designer may require a lot of your time.
- Language barrier – Since many freelancers there are not from Engish-speaking countries, you might have communication misunderstandings.
- Escrow system – the system itself is not always perfect, there might be issues with refunds and cancellations.
Social Media Platforms
Social media platforms have long been a place where artists showcase their works. A good example would be Instagram that served as a prime portfolio platform for many illustrators and designers. I too used it for that same purpose for many years.
Unfortunately lately, IG has made changes that hurt posts reach and visibility even among your own followers. I noticed that unless you pay for ads, growing a noticeable profile can be very challenging.
But still, artists continue to post a lot on sites like Facebook, X (former Twitter), Threads, TikTok, ArtStation, DeviantArt and Behance. So you can search for book illustrators there and see whose artwork catches your eye.
One big advantage of searching book cover designers on social media platforms is the variety and freedom of choice. You’ll find artists of all styles, skill levels, experiences and therefore price ranges. It’s just as easy to stumble upon a professional as a beginner.
Pros and Cons of Social Media Platforms:
✅Pros:
- Wide range of artists – Thousands of artists showcase their work on Instagram, Twitter, Behance, etc.
- Direct communication – You can contact and talk to the artist without any middleman.
- No platform fees – You can negotiate prices directly with the artist, without extra charges from the platform.
- Extensive portfolios – Artists post not only their finished work, but also their creative process and sketches.
- Getting to know the artist – Many artists tend to post personal sorties and comments on their socials, so you get to see their personality more.
❌Cons:
- No buyer protection – Unlike freelance platforms, payments aren’t secured by escrow. All the terms and conditions are negotiated through direct communications.
- No standard pricing structure – Rates vary widely, depending on professional level of the artist you contact.
- Slower response times – Artists might not reply quickly, or even be available for commissions.
- Scam risk – There’s a chance of unreliable individuals who pose as artists showcasing stolen artwork as their own.
- Time-consuming search – Finding the right artist takes a lot of browsing, comparing, and reaching out manually.
Publishing & Writing Communities
If you’re looking for a book cover designer I suggest checking publishing and writing communities. These are online forums and groups where writers, editors, and designers come together to share their work and interact with each other.
Places like KBoards, Absolute Write, Reddit threads and Facebook groups for indie authors often have artists who specialize in book covers. There you can connect with designers who already know your genre and who can help you go through the entire creative process.
One of the biggest advantages of finding a designer this way is that you’re getting the benefit of word-of-mouth recommendations. Instead of guessing and taking a gamble on a random freelancer, you can hire designers that other writers have already worked with and have good reviews.
It’s not all perfect though. Quality may vary, as there are beginner artists with lower skill levels and experience who often use these groups. The response time is not always good either. And there’s no built-in hiring process like on freelance platforms, so you’ll need to negotiate with the designers yourself.
Here are the Pros and Cons of Publishing & Writing Communities:
✅Pros:
- Familiarity with the Industry – Artists here are more likely to have experience in book design and publishing trends.
- Higher-quality work – Many illustrators and designers focus on book covers specifically, so they might know what visuals sell.
- Trusted recommendations – You can get referrals to reliable designers from fellow authors and publishers.
❌Cons:
- Smaller artist pool – There are fewer designers here compared to large freelance platforms.
- Higher prices – More experienced artists naturally charge premium rates.
- Less immediate availability – In-demand artists often have busy schedules and you might have to go through a wait-list.
- Community barriers – Some forums and groups require memberships or networking to access top artists.
- Time investment – Finding the right specialist might take longer, especially if you check all the recommendations.
Illustration Agencies & Studios
On top of the chain are the Illustration agencies & studios that offer top-tier book cover designs of professional quality. They can help you get not just a high-grade design book cover, but also add unique custom illustration to it. Agencies usually represent skilled seasoned artists who have their own style and specialize in certain genres. Their whole purpose is to create eye-catching, market-ready covers that stand out.
The main advantage of an illustration agency is that you get access not only to the artist, but also to a dedicated project manager who handles contracts and copyrights, making everything secure and hassle-free. You receive a polished, custom design with expert guidance throughout the process.
Sounds good, right? As an artist represented by an agency myself, I can confirm that it is indeed a very effective, convenient and rather pleasant experience for all the parties involved.
Here are a couple examples of some of the book covers I’ve done for my clients through the illustration agency:
But the downside of big studios is higher costs. Professional agencies charge higher rates, which may not be ideal for indie authors on a budget. Or for people for whom writing is just a side hobby and they don’t really care about the book release itself. Though if quality and reliability are your top priorities, this is definitely the best choice.
Pros and Cons of Illustration Agencies & Studios:
✅Pros:
- Highest-quality work – Agencies represent selected skilled professionals with very strong portfolios.
- Professionalism & reliability – You get clear contracts, structured workflow, and guaranteed deadlines.
- Creative direction – Artists can provide all the necessary art direction to refine and improve your book cover concept.
- Full-service options – Not all but some agencies may even provide extra services like custom typography, branding, or marketing visuals.
- Legal protection – You get proper licensing and copyright agreements that ensure no legal issues with your book cover.
❌Cons:
- Higher costs – Agencies work with higher price points, usually starting at $500.
- Limited flexibility – Some agencies have rigid workflows, leaving less room for back-and-forth revisions. However this is discussed and agreed upon before the work begins.
- Artist’s availability – Popular artists may have busy schedules and ongoing projects, so fast deadlines are not always possible.
Conclusion
In the end, nothing stops you from visiting all these places. As a person who has experience with each of them I recommend you evaluating your budget first. Set aside a certain sum, then see if it’s reasonable compared to your design needs. The right place to hire a designer mostly depends on how much you’re willing to spend.
In general, lower budgets work best on freelance marketplaces, mid-range budgets are more suitable for social media and writing communities, and higher budgets open doors to professional artists who create personalized high-quality designs.
If you decide that you need the later, feel free to contact me directly. If I have a spot in my schedule I’m always open for cooperation!
