Book Printing for the UK & Europe

Container cargo ship en route to Europe

At Ken the Book Printer, we are a U.S.-based book printing and importing company working exclusively with our partnered plant in China. We focus only on book printing and binding, and we ship regularly to the UK and across Europe, including London, Manchester, Berlin, Paris, and other major cities.

Why UK & European Clients Choose Us

  • Offset quality at scale
    Publisher-grade offset printing with Smyth-sewn binding for 250–5,000+ copies.
  • Bespoke finishes
    Cloth covers, foil, deboss/emboss, dust jackets, slipcases—produced consistently across large runs.
  • Faster lanes to Europe
    Quicker transit times than Australia and multiple modes (air, ocean, and rail) to suit your schedule and budget.
  • Sustainability options
    FSC-certified stocks and recycled papers available on request.
  • Clear pricing
    Quotes available in USD; GBP/EUR on request for easier budgeting.

Our main clients are self-publishers, small presses, museums, and businesses looking for print runs between 250 and 5,000 copies. This volume is too large for local Print on Demand (POD) services to handle cost-effectively, but not big enough to justify direct sourcing from large EU printing factories. At Ken the Book Printer, we bridge that gap with proven file handling, close factory coordination, and reliable logistics.

For a step-by-step view of how we handle production and delivery, see our workflow page.

Coffee table art book open to a spread showcasing surfing photography at sea Surfing captured in a vivid coffee table book spread.

What We Ship Most to the UK & Europe

  • Museum & gallery catalogues
    Premium coated papers and exacting colour for exhibitions and institutions.
  • Art and photo monographs
    We run a dedicated artbook production line with tailored specs for vivid reproduction and a gallery-quality finish.
  • Academic & educational titles
    Durable Smyth-sewn binding and thicker papers suited for libraries and universities.
  • Children’s books
    Picture books and sturdy board books with safe inks and durable laminations.
  • Corporate books & booklets
    Anniversary editions, branded histories, internal reports, and company booklets finished to a professional standard.

Ordering a Sample

You can order a sample before starting full production. Samples are shipped by air, with about one week for production and another 10 days for delivery.

We provide two types of samples. The cost is $120 each, $180 combo. More details here.

  • A full book printed on a digital press
  • An actual offset production sheet
Offset printed sample sheet before trimming, prepared for mailing to clients Offset sample sheet, will be trimmed and mailed to client
Boxes of printed books delivered to the customer doorstep Books delivered to the customer’s door.

From Factory to Your Door

We manage the entire journey from our partner plant in China to your address in the UK or Europe. In most cases, your address will be serviceable; please check with us to confirm delivery for your location.

Air Freight (7–12 days)

  • Shipped by UPS, FedEx, or DHL with direct delivery
  • Carrier contacts you to pay VAT/fees online before delivery
  • Live tracking is provided once the shipment departs

Ocean Freight (25–30 days)

  • Shared-container sea freight from our China factory
  • Customs and import handling managed by our logistics partner (included in our fee)
  • After unpacking, UPS/FedEx completes final delivery
  • Estimated docking date is provided once the vessel departs; courier tracking updates after customs

Rail Freight (where available)

  • China–Europe rail routes for select destinations (timelines between air and ocean)
  • Balanced speed and cost where available

Split Shipment

Ship a small portion by air for launch and the balance by ocean (or rail) to save cost. This gives you speed without overspending.

VAT and Import Tax (UK & EU)

  • General rule
    Printed books are duty-free under HS Code 4901 (printed books) and HS Code 4903 (children’s picture books). VAT applies depending on the destination country.
  • UK
    Printed books are generally zero-rated for VAT. The courier or broker handles import entry and confirms any fees due before delivery.
  • Selected EU examples
    Germany applies a reduced VAT rate to books; France applies a reduced VAT rate as well. Your courier or broker will calculate the exact amount during import.
  • How it’s calculated
    VAT is based on the import value at customs (factory invoice plus freight and insurance). Because we work directly with our partnered factory, the invoice amount declared at customs reflects our partner rate. Since VAT is calculated on that declared value, this structure helps reduce the tax you pay compared to arranging printing and shipping on your own.
  • Air vs. ocean/rail
    For air, the courier (UPS/FedEx/DHL) collects VAT and any clearance fees before delivery. For ocean/rail, our logistics partner clears customs and hands off to a courier for final delivery. You’ll be notified of any payable VAT before release.