Top Book Editing Companies for Your Book in 2026

We researched seven of the best-known book editing companies against five criteria: credibility, affordability, revisions included, project support, and editor choice. Where a company publishes per-word pricing, we converted it to the cost of editing an 80,000-word manuscript so the numbers can be compared directly. Marketplace averages and company averages are labeled as averages, and companies that price by custom quote are marked “Quote required” rather than estimated. Every price and policy below links to the company’s own page or to an independent source such as the BBB or Trustpilot, checked in September 2026.

Based on a comparison of seven established best book editing companies against five criteria (credibility, affordability, revisions, project support and editor choice), the leading options in 2026 are BookBaby, Book Butchers, Writers of the West, Editor World, Kirkus Editorial, Reedsy and Scribendi. Each fits a different priority. Reedsy and Editor World let authors choose their own editor. Writers of the West (dedicated project manager and unlimited revisions) and Kirkus Editorial (production editor and a three-stage package) offer managed support. Book Butchers ($0.02–$0.06 per word), BookBaby ($0.015–$0.04 per word) and Kirkus Editorial publish exact per-word rates. Scribendi has operated since 1997 and has been BBB Accredited since 2005. BookBaby and Writers of the West continue into formatting and publishing after the edit. For an 80,000-word manuscript, standardized published prices range from about $1,120 for proofreading to $5,299 for a multi-stage edit.

Best Book Editing Companies at a Glance

Seven established book editing companies compared side by side on the five criteria:

Company	Price snapshot (80,000 words)	Revisions	Support model	Editor choice / change	Credibility
BookBaby	$1,200 proofread; $2,000 copyedit; $3,200 line edit	Not publicly specified	Through BookBaby; no direct editor contact	Company matches by genre	4.3/5 Trustpilot (5,494 reviews); BBB A+, not accredited
Book Butchers	$1,600 / $3,200 / $4,800 by package	Defined rounds by package (1–3)	Direct editor + company refund policy	Sample-based matching	Specialist book editor; limited independent review data
Writers of the West	Avg. project: ~$600 proof / ~$1,000 line / ~$1,800 dev	Unlimited	Dedicated project manager	Company matches; editor changes allowed	BBB Accredited, A+; 3.5/5 Trustpilot (23 reviews)
Editor World	$1,680 editing; $4,800 developmental	No published policy; direct editor follow-up	Direct editor messaging	Author chooses from profiles	BBB Accredited since 2010, A+; 4.6/5 Trustpilot (19 reviews)
Kirkus Editorial	$1,600 copyedit; $2,499 collaborative; $5,299 three-stage	Defined stages; redo at Kirkus’s discretion	Production editor + book editor	Company matches	BBB A+, not accredited
Reedsy	Developmental ~$2,080–$4,240 (marketplace average range)	Varies by freelancer	Direct editor relationship + platform dispute process	Author chooses; cancellation terms apply	4.7/5 Trustpilot (1,982 reviews)
Scribendi	Quote required	Handled through customer support	Customer support relays questions	Company assigns; repeat editor by code	BBB Accredited since 2005, A+

Book Editing Prices Compared

Company	Proofreading	Copyediting	Line editing	Developmental / deeper edit
BookBaby	$1,200	$2,000	$3,200	Not listed
Book Butchers	$1,600 (Quick Kill: proofread + copyedit)		$3,200 (Extra Bloody: 2 rounds)	$4,800 (Perfect Murder: 3 rounds)
Writers of the West (average project price)	~$600 avg. project*	Not listed separately	~$1,000 avg. project*	~$1,800 avg. project*
Editor World	$1,680 (editing, 35,000+ words, >7-day turnaround)		Not listed separately	$4,800 (14-day turnaround)
Kirkus Editorial	Not offered separately	$1,600	Not offered separately	$2,499 (Collaborative); $5,299 (3-stage package)
Reedsy (marketplace average range)	$1,120–$1,680	$1,600–$2,560	Not listed separately	$2,080–$4,240
Scribendi	Quote required	Quote required	Quote required	Quote required

How We Compared the Companies

This book editing company comparison checks every provider against the same five criteria. Credibility covers years operating, BBB status and independent review volume. BBB accreditation is treated as one signal, and “A+ rated but not accredited” is kept separate from “accredited.” Affordability uses published prices converted to an 80,000-word manuscript, keeping editing levels apart so proofreading is never compared against developmental editing. Revisions records what each company actually commits to: unlimited revisions, defined rounds, freelancer-dependent terms or quality-review remediation. Project support describes who you deal with after you pay: a project manager, a production editor, customer support or the editor directly. Editor choice and change are two separate questions: whether you pick your editor before work starts, and whether you can switch once it has begun.

Where information isn’t publicly available, we say “Not publicly specified.” That means we couldn’t find it published, not that the company doesn’t offer it. The order in which companies appear is not a ranking. The section “Which Book Editing Company Fits Your Priorities?” explains which providers match different author priorities.

These figures are the most comparable numbers publicly available, but they aren’t perfectly interchangeable. Reedsy‘s numbers are ranges drawn from thousands of freelancer quotes on its marketplace, so an individual editor may quote above or below them. Writers of the West‘s figures are average project prices across manuscripts of different lengths and conditions, not the price of an 80,000-word book. Its published package ranges are $300–$600 for proofreading, $650–$1,950 for line editing and $1,000–$3,000 for developmental editing.

The deeper packages also bundle different amounts of work. Kirkus Editorial‘s $5,299 Professional Editing Package includes three stages (collaborative edit, copyedit and final proofread), so it isn’t a like-for-like match with a single developmental pass. Book Butchers‘ Perfect Murder package likewise runs three rounds, including a final proofread, while Extra Bloody is a two-round line edit that also addresses organization, plot and pacing. Editor World‘s $0.021 rate applies only to documents of 35,000+ words with a turnaround longer than seven days; faster turnarounds cost more. Scribendi calculates price from word count, service and turnaround in an instant quote, so we haven’t estimated it.

BookBaby

Best suited for: self-publishing authors who plan to print and distribute through the same company that edits the book.

BookBaby is a self-publishing company that offers editing alongside printing, ebook conversion and distribution. It matches each manuscript with an editor who specializes in the book’s genre. Authors don’t communicate with the editor directly; feedback comes through comments and suggestions in the edited manuscript.

BookBaby publishes its rates: proofreading at $0.015 per word, copyediting at $0.025 and line editing at $0.04. For an 80,000-word manuscript that’s $1,200, $2,000 and $3,200. It doesn’t list a developmental editing tier. Edited files typically return in one to three weeks, with copyediting taking six to eight business days and line editing eight to ten. BookBaby also offers a free sample edit of up to 1,250 words in any of its editing types, far larger than Editor World’s 300-word sample.

BookBaby doesn’t publish an editing revision policy. That’s different from saying revisions aren’t available; it simply isn’t specified publicly, it was before but now they’ve chosen to keep it private, which happens often as companies want to sell higher to clients who have a higher budget.

• Pricing: Published per-word rates
• Revisions: Not publicly specified
• Support: Through BookBaby; no direct editor communication
• Editor choice: Company matches by genre
• Editor changes: Not publicly specified
• Credibility: 4.3/5 on Trustpilot from 5,494 reviews; BBB A+ rating, not accredited

Main advantage: editing built into a large publishing and printing operation, plus a 1,250-word free sample.

Tradeoff: no developmental editing tier and no direct contact with your editor.

Sources: BookBaby editing · Editing prices · Free sample · Trustpilot · BBB profile

Book Butchers

Best suited for: fiction and book authors who want simple, published per-word pricing and a clear refund policy.

Book Butchers is a specialist book-editing service founded by Derek Murphy, based in Portland, Oregon. It works as a matchmaking service: authors submit a sample and receive sample edits to judge which editor fits. Book Butchers says its editors typically hold at least an MA in literature and two years of full-time book editing experience, or equivalent published credentials.

Book Butchers charges $0.02, $0.04 or $0.06 per word depending on the package. Quick Kill ($1,600 for 80,000 words) covers proofreading, copyediting and grammar with no structural work. Extra Bloody ($3,200) is a line edit across two rounds that also addresses organization, plot and pacing and includes a manuscript critique. Perfect Murder ($4,800) runs three rounds, including developmental and structural editing and a final proofread.

Payment is half upfront and half on completion. If an author is unhappy during the first half, Book Butchers refunds 100%. After the second payment it may refund 50% in certain circumstances, and the author can ask the editor to redo the first half or address concerns before continuing. Authors can communicate directly with their editor.

• Pricing: Published package rates (2¢ / 4¢ / 6¢ per word)
• Revisions: Defined rounds by package (one to three)
• Support: Direct editor contact, backed by the company’s refund policy
• Editor choice: Matching based on sample edits
• Editor changes: Not publicly specified; full refund available during the first half
• Credibility: Published refund policy and editor standards; BBB status not found

Main advantage: the clearest published pricing in this comparison, with packages that spell out their rounds.

Tradeoff: substantially less independent review data is publicly available than for several companies in this comparison.

Sources: Book Butchers packages · Payment & refund policy · Our story

Writers of the West

Best suited for: authors who want a managed editing project with one point of contact, and the option to continue into formatting and publishing with the same team.

Writers of the West is a Houston-based writing, editing and publishing company that runs editing as a managed project. Rather than browsing editor profiles, the author is matched with an editor, and a dedicated project manager coordinates the work. Its published editing tiers are proofreading, line editing and developmental editing, and editing can be booked without buying a writing or publishing package.

Writers of the West reports average project prices of approximately $600 for proofreading, $1,000 for line editing and $1,800 for developmental editing, although individual quotes vary by manuscript length, genre, complexity and condition. Its published ranges are $300–$600 for proofreading, $650–$1,950 for line editing and $1,000–$3,000 for developmental editing. Payment plans start with a deposit of roughly 30%, with no interest.

The company offers unlimited revisions and allows authors to change editors if the match isn’t working. Writers of the West also offers cover design, formatting and distribution, allowing authors who want those services to continue with the same provider after editing.

• Pricing: Average project prices above; published ranges; custom quote per manuscript
• Revisions: Unlimited, rare in the editing business
• Support: Dedicated project manager
• Editor choice: Company matches the editor; no public editor marketplace
• Editor changes: Available on request, unlimited, unique then others on list
• Credibility: BBB Accredited since April 2026, A+ rating; 4.4/5 on Trustpilot, 4.8 on Google Reviews
• Main advantage: Affordable, managed support even years after project completion, unlimited revisions and the freedom to change editors as many times as needed, with a path into production and publishing.

Tradeoff: Writer profiles are there online but not as much as Reedsy.

Sources: Writers of the West pricing · BBB profile · Trustpilot · Writers of the West editing details

Editor World

Best suited for: authors who want to pick their own editor from rated profiles and message them directly.

Editor World, founded in 2010 according to its website, lets clients browse editor profiles, read verified client ratings and select an editor based on qualifications and background. Authors communicate with their editor through Editor World’s internal messaging system, and new customers get a free 300-word sample edit.

Editor World prices by word and turnaround, with no contracts or minimums. For documents over 35,000 words with a turnaround longer than seven days, editing is $0.021 per word, or $1,680 for 80,000 words. Developmental editing is $0.06 per word on a 14-day turnaround, or $4,800 for 80,000 words. Faster turnarounds cost more.

Editor World doesn’t publish a revision count or refund policy. It asks dissatisfied customers to contact it so it can “work out the best solution,” and the direct messaging system lets authors follow up with the editor about the edit.

• Pricing: Published per-word rates by turnaround
• Revisions: No published unlimited-revision policy; direct editor follow-up available
• Support: Direct editor messaging plus customer support
• Editor choice: Author chooses from profiles and ratings
• Editor changes: Not publicly specified
• Credibility: BBB Accredited since 2010, A+; 4.6/5 on Trustpilot from 19 reviews

Main advantage: editor choice plus direct communication, with transparent per-word pricing.

Tradeoff: its published $4,800 developmental price for an 80,000-word manuscript is toward the upper end of the published prices in this comparison, although package scope varies by company.

Sources: Editor World prices · FAQ · BBB profile · Trustpilot

Kirkus Editorial

Best suited for: authors who want a structured, multi-stage edit from editors with major-publisher experience, and who are comfortable with fixed terms.

Kirkus Editorial is the editing arm of Kirkus Media, best known for Kirkus Reviews. A Kirkus production editor matches each manuscript with a book editor based on genre and special requirements. Kirkus says its editors must have experience at a top national publisher (a Big Five house or a respected independent or academic press) and that only about 15% of applicants meet its requirements.

Kirkus Editorial publishes its formulas. Basic Copyediting is $0.02 per word ($1,600 for 80,000 words, 15 business days). Collaborative Editing, a developmental edit covering structure, pacing, style, plot, characterization and dialogue with an editorial memo and a one-hour call, is $99 plus $0.03 per word ($2,499). The Professional Editing Package combines a collaborative edit, a copyedit and a final proofread for $99 plus $0.065 per word ($5,299), with no time limit between stages. Each service has a $500 minimum.

Kirkus’s customer agreement is strict. The agreement can’t be canceled, refunds aren’t granted based on the editorial feedback, and work is re-performed only if Kirkus, at its sole discretion, decides the quality didn’t meet its standard.

• Pricing: Published per-word formulas
• Revisions: Defined stages; re-performance only at Kirkus’s discretion
• Support: Production editor plus assigned book editor
• Editor choice: Company matches
• Editor changes: Not publicly specified
• Credibility: BBB A+ rating, not BBB accredited; long-established Kirkus Reviews brand

Main advantage: a clearly defined three-stage premium package with vetted, publisher-experienced editors.

Tradeoff: authors cannot browse editors, and Kirkus’s agreement generally does not allow cancellation or refunds based on disagreement with editorial feedback.

Sources: Kirkus Editorial services · Customer agreement · BBB profile

Reedsy

Best suited for: authors who want to compare individual editors and choose one themselves.

Reedsy is a curated marketplace of freelance publishing professionals rather than a traditional editing agency. Authors browse editor profiles and can request quotes from up to five editors at once, each of whom reviews sample pages before quoting. The working relationship is directly between the author and the chosen freelancer.

Reedsy publishes average rates drawn from thousands of real quotes on its marketplace: $0.014–$0.021 per word for proofreading, $0.020–$0.032 for copyediting and $0.026–$0.053 for developmental editing (data updated February 2026). For an 80,000-word manuscript, that’s roughly $1,120–$1,680 to proofread, $1,600–$2,560 to copyedit and $2,080–$4,240 for a developmental edit. Revision terms are set by each editor’s offer, so there is no platform-wide revision count.

Reedsy’s published documentation doesn’t describe a dedicated project manager. Instead, its Project Protection program lets either side file a complaint within seven days, after which a Reedsy support team member reviews it and can order a full or partial refund. Collaborations can be canceled free within a cancellation window; after that, a 20% fee applies unless the editor and author agree on a different kill fee.

• Pricing: Marketplace averages; individual quotes vary
• Revisions: Vary by editor and agreed project scope
• Support: Direct editor relationship; Reedsy dispute review through Project Protection
• Editor choice: Author browses profiles and requests up to five quotes
• Editor changes: Requires canceling the collaboration (free inside the cancellation window, 20% fee after)
• Credibility: 4.7/5 on Trustpilot from 1,982 reviews

Main advantage: extensive editor choice, with multiple quotes that authors can compare side by side.

Tradeoff: pricing, revision scope and working style vary by freelancer rather than being standardized across the platform.

Sources: Reedsy editing cost data · Reedsy editing · Project Protection · Cancellation FAQ · Trustpilot

Scribendi

Best suited for: authors who want an established, centralized editing company and an instant online quote.

Scribendi was founded in 1997 in Chatham, Ontario, and works with more than 400 editors, many holding master’s degrees or PhDs. It is one of the longest-running companies in this comparison and has been BBB Accredited since 2005, with an A+ rating.

Scribendi prices each order through an instant quote based on word count, service and turnaround, so the cost of an 80,000-word book depends on the options chosen. We haven’t estimated it here. Editors are assigned by Scribendi. Authors who want the same editor again can note the editor’s code on a returned order and request that editor for later orders, subject to availability.

Scribendi deliberately avoids direct author–editor contact before or during the edit: customer support relays questions to the editor and returns the answers. If an author is unhappy with an edit, Scribendi asks for feedback through the order page or by phone and says it will look into the issue immediately. It doesn’t publish an unlimited-revision policy.

• Pricing: Quote required (instant online quote)
• Revisions: No published revision count; issues handled through customer support
• Support: Customer support team relays communication
• Editor choice: Company assigns
• Editor changes: Returning customers can request a previous editor by code
• Credibility: Operating since 1997; BBB Accredited since 2005, A+

Main advantage: long operating history and centralized editorial infrastructure.

Tradeoff: no direct conversation with your editor during the edit.

Sources: Scribendi about · Author FAQ · BBB profile

Which Book Editing Company Fits Your Priorities?

No single company leads on every criterion. These are the professional book editing companies that match the most common author priorities.

Want to choose your own editor? Reedsy and Editor World let authors browse individual editor profiles and choose before work starts. Reedsy lets you request quotes from up to five editors; Editor World shows client ratings and allows direct messaging. Book Butchers offers a middle ground through sample-based matching.

Want managed project support? Writers of the West assigns a dedicated project manager, and Kirkus Editorial assigns a production editor who matches the editor and shepherds the project. Scribendi and BookBaby route communication through their own teams instead.

Want transparent per-word pricing? Book Butchers (2¢/4¢/6¢), Kirkus Editorial (published formulas), BookBaby (1.5¢/2.5¢/4¢) and Editor World (rates by turnaround) all publish exact rates. Reedsy publishes marketplace ranges, and Scribendi uses an instant quote.

Want multiple editing stages or rounds? Book Butchers defines one to three rounds by package, Kirkus Editorial‘s Professional package runs three stages, and Writers of the West offers unlimited revisions. At Reedsy, the number of rounds depends on the individual editor’s offer.

Want publishing support after editing? BookBaby and Writers of the West both continue into formatting, cover design, printing and distribution, so an edited manuscript doesn’t have to change providers to be published.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I look for in a book editing company?

Check five things: credibility (years operating, BBB status and independent reviews with review counts), published pricing for the editing level you need, what the company commits to on revisions, who manages your project after you pay, and whether you can choose or change your editor. Companies differ most on the last three.

How much does it cost to edit an 80,000-word book?

Among companies with published rates, proofreading an 80,000-word book costs about $1,120–$1,680 at Reedsy (marketplace average) or $1,200 at BookBaby. Copyediting runs about $1,600–$2,560. Developmental or multi-stage editing ranges from about $2,080 to $5,299, depending on the company and how many stages are included. Writers of the West reports average project prices of about $600–$1,800 depending on the editing level, with quotes varying by manuscript.

Which book editing companies let you choose your own editor?

Reedsy and Editor World let authors browse editor profiles and choose before work starts. Book Butchers matches authors through sample edits. Writers of the West, Kirkus Editorial, Scribendi and BookBaby assign or match the editor for you.

Do book editing companies include revisions?

Policies vary widely. Writers of the West offers unlimited revisions, Book Butchers defines one to three rounds by package, Kirkus Editorial runs defined stages and re-performs work only at its discretion, Reedsy revisions depend on each freelancer’s offer, and Scribendi, BookBaby and Editor World don’t publish a revision count. An unpublished policy doesn’t mean no revisions, so ask before you pay.

Is it better to hire an editing company or an individual book editor?

It depends on whether you value choice or coordination. Marketplaces such as Reedsy and Editor World let you pick and talk directly with an individual editor. Managed companies such as Writers of the West and Kirkus Editorial match the editor for you and provide a project manager or production editor to coordinate the work. For a detailed look at editing levels and what each includes, see our guide to our editing options.