What you need before you start
Lulu separates printing from distribution. You can print and sell on Lulu with almost nothing prepared, but Global Distribution has real requirements, and those are the ones to settle first.
A free Lulu account
Create an account at lulu.com. It is free to create an account and start self-publishing; costs appear only when you print a copy or submit for distribution.
A decision about distribution
Choose Publish Your Book as your project goal if you want Global Distribution, which puts the title into retail through Amazon and the Ingram Content Group network. Print-only projects skip most of what follows.
An ISBN
Global Distribution requires an ISBN. You can take a free one from Lulu or use one you have purchased and registered yourself. A Lulu-supplied ISBN names Lulu in the record, so buy your own if you are building an imprint.
Payment details for payees
Lulu pays the payees you assign on the pricing step. Set up the payment details before you publish so earnings are not held.
A final page count and interior
The cover spine and the barcode placement depend on the finished page count, so the interior has to be final before the cover is produced.
Which AIWriteBook files go where
Lulu is a print platform first, and it takes exactly the two print files AIWriteBook produces.
Print PDF
The interior, uploaded on the Design step. It needs a title page with the correct title, subtitle and author, and a copyright page immediately after it carrying the title, author, copyright date and ISBN.
Wrap cover PDF
The cover, uploaded on the same step, with back cover, spine and front cover as a single spread and the ISBN barcode on the back. Lulu also offers its own Cover Creator and a Canva integration if you would rather build one there.
EPUB
Used only if you set up an ebook project for Lulu's ebook distribution. It is a separate project from the print book.
eBook cover JPG
Paired with the EPUB in an ebook project, and not used in the print flow.
DOCX
Not accepted for print. Lulu takes print-ready PDFs, so keep the DOCX for editing.
Mandatory distribution requirements
Lulu publishes the exact list of things that will get a book rejected from Global Distribution, which is unusually helpful. These are the ones that catch people out.
| Minimum page count | Standard and Premium Colour print books must be at least 72 pages to be accepted by Amazon. |
|---|---|
| Spine text | Books with fewer than 100 pages cannot carry spine text on the cover. |
| Binding and ink restrictions | Coil binding is not an option for any size in Global Distribution, and Premium Black and White interior ink cannot be used. |
| Two files | The submission is two PDFs: an interior and a cover. There is no single-file option. |
| Barcode | The 13-digit ISBN or EAN barcode is printed in black on a white background at 2 in (50.8 mm) wide by 1.2 in (30.5 mm) tall, positioned at least 0.25 in from the cover edge. |
| ISBN in three places | The same ISBN must appear in the project metadata, as the barcode on the cover, and written out as text on the copyright page inside the book. |
| Metadata must match the cover | Title, subtitle and author in the metadata must match the cover and the title page exactly, or the book is rejected. |
| Resolution and spine clearance | Text and images at a minimum of 300 ppi, with spine text set at least 0.0625 in clear of the spine edges. |
| Interior structure | A title page with accurate metadata, a copyright page immediately after it, no more than two consecutive blank pages, and correct unskipped page numbering that matches the table of contents. |
| Price ceiling | Retailers may exclude titles priced at $125 USD or higher, so a very high list price can quietly remove your book from distribution. |
The print book wizard, step by step
Lulu's wizard runs as project details, print options, design, then pricing and payees. Each step saves as you go, so you can leave and come back.
- 1
Create the project and choose your goal
Start a new project, select the product type, and choose Publish Your Book as the goal so Global Distribution is available. Choosing print-only here means you cannot add retail distribution without redoing the project.
Click: Create > Print Book > Publish Your Book.
- 2
Enter the project details
Add the project name, the book title and subtitle, the author, the language, the category and the sales intent. These fields are the metadata retailers will receive, so they must match what is printed on the cover.
Fields: Project Name, Title, Subtitle, Author, Language, Category.
- 3
Set copyright and the ISBN
On the copyright step, set the copyright holder and year, then either request a free Lulu ISBN or enter your own. This is required for Global Distribution and it is the number that must also appear on your cover barcode and copyright page.
Choose: Get a free Lulu ISBN, or Use my own ISBN.
- 4
Choose the print options
Select the trim size, the interior colour and paper, the binding type and the cover finish. Remember that coil binding and Premium Black and White ink are not eligible for Global Distribution.
Fields: Size, Interior Colour, Paper, Binding, Cover Finish.
- 5
Upload the interior PDF
On the Design step, upload the interior print PDF. Lulu validates it against the trim size and page count you selected and shows any problems immediately.
Click: Upload your interior file.
- 6
Provide the cover
Upload your wraparound cover PDF, or build one with Lulu's Cover Creator or the Canva integration, adding text, images and the ISBN barcode. The barcode must be visible on the back cover.
Click: Upload a cover, or Design a cover.
- 7
Review the online preview
Lulu renders the book as a flip-through preview. Page through it and check the gutter margin, the spine alignment, the first page of each chapter and the copyright page ISBN.
Click: Preview your book.
- 8
Set pricing and payees
On the Pricing and Payees step, Lulu shows the minimum retail price. Set your price in up to five currencies, making sure each one covers the print cost, Lulu's share and the distribution fees, then assign the payees who receive revenue.
Fields: Retail price per currency, Payees.
- 9
Order and approve a proof
Order a printed proof and check it physically before you release the book to distribution. This is the step that catches trim and colour issues no on-screen preview will show.
Click: Order a proof copy.
- 10
Publish and submit for distribution
Publish the project, then submit it for Global Distribution and pay the one-time $4.99 fee on your first submission. Retail listings can take around twelve weeks to appear.
Click: Publish, then Submit for Global Distribution.
Revenue, pricing and fees
Lulu has three different commercial routes for the same book, and the revenue split is what separates them.
| Lulu Bookstore | Sell through Lulu's own bookstore and keep 80% of your earnings. |
|---|---|
| Lulu Direct | Sell from your own website through Lulu Direct and keep 100% from each sale, with Lulu handling the printing and fulfilment. |
| Global Distribution | Retail distribution through Amazon and the Ingram Content Group network. Your list price has to absorb the retail channel's share, so the per-copy earning is lower than selling direct. |
| Distribution fee | A one-time, non-refundable fee of $4.99 applies for first submissions to Global Distribution. |
| Minimum retail price | Lulu shows a minimum price on the pricing step. The list price in every currency you set must cover the print cost, Lulu's share and the distribution fees. |
| Five currencies | You can set retail prices in up to five currencies, which is what lets you price sensibly for the UK and the eurozone rather than letting one conversion rate decide. |
| Price ceiling | Retailers may exclude titles priced at $125 USD or higher, so check where your price sits if you are publishing a large-format or colour book. |
Proofing and common rejections
Lulu publishes the reasons a book is rejected from Global Distribution, so this list is not guesswork. These are the ones that catch most first submissions.
Metadata does not match the cover
Title and subtitle in the metadata must match the title and subtitle on the cover and the title page exactly, or the book is rejected. This is the single most common cause.
ISBN mismatch across the three places
The ISBN must be identical in the project metadata, in the barcode on the back cover, and written out on the copyright page. A cover reused from another edition is the usual culprit.
Barcode wrong size or too close to the edge
The barcode is 2 in wide by 1.2 in tall, black on white, and at least 0.25 in from the cover edge. A barcode scaled to fit a design fails.
Book too short
Standard and Premium Colour books under 72 pages are not accepted by Amazon. Adding front and back matter to reach the count is legitimate; padding with blank pages is not, because no more than two consecutive blank pages are allowed.
Ineligible binding or ink
Coil binding and Premium Black and White interior ink are not eligible for Global Distribution. Choose a different combination on the print options step.
Blurry, pixelated or overlapping images
Images below 300 ppi at final size, or text overlapping an image so it cannot be read, are both listed rejection reasons.
Generic or misleading description
Descriptions that misrepresent the content, upsell a fuller version, or mention included materials like a CD that the print book does not contain are all rejected. Non-Latin characters in the title or cover text are also refused.
After the book is published
Lulu's distribution is the slowest in this series, so the work after publishing is mostly patience plus a few useful checks.
Expect a long retail lead time
It may take approximately twelve weeks or longer for print and ebooks to be listed for sale with retailers. Plan any launch around your Lulu Bookstore or Lulu Direct link rather than around a retail listing date.
Sell direct while you wait
The Lulu Bookstore listing is live immediately and Lulu Direct can sell from your own site at 100% of earnings. Those are the channels to point readers at from day one.
Check the retail listings by ISBN
When the retail listings appear, search by ISBN rather than by title. If a listing has the wrong metadata, it usually traces back to a field in the project rather than to the retailer.
Re-upload carefully
Changing the interior changes the page count, which changes the spine width and can invalidate the cover. Treat any interior change as a cover change too.
Use Lulu for the formats nobody else prints
Hardcover, linen wrap, unusual trim sizes, workbooks and journals are Lulu's real advantage over the retailer-owned print platforms. It is worth keeping the account for that even if your novels print elsewhere.
Questions people actually ask
Is Lulu free to use?+
Creating an account and building a project is free. You pay when you print a copy, and Global Distribution carries a one-time, non-refundable $4.99 fee for first submissions.
Do I need an ISBN?+
For Global Distribution, yes. You can take a free ISBN from Lulu or use one you have purchased and registered. The same number must appear in the metadata, on the back cover barcode and on the copyright page.
How much do I earn on Lulu?+
You keep 80% of your earnings selling through the Lulu Bookstore, and 100% selling from your own website through Lulu Direct. Global Distribution earns less per copy because the retail channel takes its share.
How long before my book appears on Amazon through Lulu?+
It may take approximately twelve weeks or longer for print and ebooks to be listed for sale with retailers.
Why was my book rejected from Global Distribution?+
The published list includes metadata that does not match the cover, an ISBN mismatch, a wrong barcode, fewer than 72 pages for standard or premium colour, coil binding, Premium Black and White ink, low-resolution images and misleading descriptions. All of them are fixable and resubmittable.
Can I publish on Lulu and Amazon KDP at the same time?+
Yes, using a different ISBN for each printing source. Many authors run KDP for the Amazon paperback and Lulu for hardcovers, special formats and direct sales.
The bottom line
Lulu is the best platform in this series for anything that is not a standard paperback, and the most transparent about what it will reject. The price of that flexibility is the slowest route to retail shelves, around twelve weeks, and a requirements list you have to actually read.
Get the ISBN consistent across the metadata, the barcode and the copyright page, keep the page count above 72, and order a proof. If you formatted in AIWriteBook, the print PDF and the wraparound cover PDF from the Format step already match the trim size, page count and spine width Lulu checks.
Complete guides for every other store
Seven platforms, seven walkthroughs. Each one covers the files, the form fields, the royalties and the rejections for that store.
Write the book, then print it the way you want it
AIWriteBook drafts your book chapter by chapter, designs the cover, and exports the print PDF and wraparound cover PDF Lulu's wizard expects.
No credit card required. First chapter on the house.