PRICE GUIDE · MARKETING, DESIGN & TECH · 2026–2027
Ghostwriter cost in the UK
£5,000–£35,000 per project. Typically £12,000.
Ghostwriting a book in the UK costs about £5,000–£35,000 per project, with around £12,000 typical for a memoir from a capable writer. Book length, interview hours, research, the writer's track record and publishing support decide the fee.
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HOW MUCH IT COSTS
How much does a ghostwriter cost in the UK?
| Low end | £5,000 | a shorter book from a less experienced writer |
|---|---|---|
| Typical | £12,000 | what most people pay |
| High end | £35,000 | a long memoir from a senior writer |
Locufy guide prices for 2026–2027. Updated 2026. A national range, not a quote — enter your town above for real prices from the agencies and freelancers near you.
What moves the price
- Book length — a 60,000-word memoir takes far longer than a short business book
- Interview hours — memoirs need many hours of interviews before writing starts
- Research — history, business or technical books need extra research
- Track record — ghostwriters with published, well-reviewed books charge more
- Structure work — shaping scattered notes or memories into a story takes time
- Publishing support — help with agents, proposals or self-publishing adds to the fee
WHAT YOU GET
What a ghostwriter booking includes
Takes: A full book usually takes six to twelve months from first interview to final draft. Not included: Professional editing and proofreading, cover design, typesetting, printing, publishing fees and marketing are usually priced separately.
WHAT PEOPLE BOOK
Common ghostwriter jobs
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Ghostwriter near you, with prices shown
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How to pay less
- Prepare notes, photos and timelines before interviews with the ghostwriter
- Choose a shorter book format, such as a family memoir for private printing
- Agree a fixed fee with stage payments rather than open-ended hourly billing
Before you book
- Read samples of the ghostwriter's published work before signing anything
- Agree in writing that copyright and royalties belong to you
- Include a confidentiality clause, especially for personal or business stories
- Agree the schedule, stage payments and what happens if the project stops
Ghostwriter cost: questions people ask
About £5,000–£35,000 per project in the UK, with around £12,000 typical for a memoir from a capable writer. Shorter books sit lower; senior writers on longer books sit higher.
Usually six to twelve months, depending on interviews, length and how quickly drafts are reviewed.
Yes. A ghostwriter normally stays anonymous, and the contract should assign copyright to you.
Some help with proposals and agents, or with self-publishing, usually for an extra fee.
Editing, proofreading, cover design, typesetting, printing and marketing are commonly separate. Ask for each to be listed on any ghostwriter quote you compare.
They are Locufy guide prices for the UK, based on published UK ghostwriting fee guides. They show the national range per project, not a quote.
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