Guide
How to make an audiobook
Short answer
To make an audiobook, finish and edit the book, estimate its length (ACX says narrators average 9,300 words per finished hour), then narrate it yourself or hire a narrator. Record in a quiet, treated space, edit and master each chapter to the store's audio specs, add credits and a retail sample, and upload.
What are the steps to make an audiobook?
- Finish and edit the book; the audiobook follows the final text.
- Estimate the finished length with the audiobook length calculator.
- Decide who narrates: you or a hired narrator.
- Record chapter by chapter in a quiet, treated room.
- Edit out mistakes and noise, then master each file to the store's specs.
- Add opening and closing credits and a retail sample, then upload.
How long will your audiobook be?
ACX says most narrators average about 9,300 words per finished hour:
| Words | Finished length |
|---|---|
| 50,000 | 5 h 23 min |
| 80,000 | 8 h 36 min |
| 100,000 | 10 h 45 min |
| 120,000 | 12 h 54 min |
Should you narrate it yourself or hire a narrator?
Narrate it yourself if your voice is part of the book, as in a memoir, and you can read steadily for hours without fatigue. Hire a narrator for fiction with many characters, accents or emotional range, or if you would rather spend the time writing. Ask for a short audition from your own book, and agree in writing the fee or royalty share, the schedule, the number of correction rounds and the rights.
How do you record an audiobook at home?
- A quiet, soft room: a closet full of clothes beats a bare room with a better microphone.
- A decent microphone and headphones, with the same setup for every session so chapters match.
- Short sessions: voices tire, and tired takes sound different.
- Room tone: record a few seconds of silence; ACX wants 1 to 5 seconds at the start and end of each file.
What audio specs does ACX require?
| Requirement | Value |
|---|---|
| Loudness (RMS) | -23 to -18 dB |
| Peak level | no higher than -3 dB |
| Noise floor | below -60 dB RMS |
| File format | MP3, 192 kbps or higher CBR |
| Sample rate | 44.1 kHz |
| File length | up to 120 min, one chapter each |
| Retail sample | 5 min or less |
Opening credits name the title, author and narrator; closing credits say the book has ended. ACX also requires human narration.
When should you get help producing an audiobook?
When the recording, editing and mastering would take more time than you have, or your files keep failing review. Our audiobook production services cast the narrator, record, edit and master to these specs.
Rather have a pro handle this? Our studio can: audiobook production.
Questions authors ask
How long will my audiobook be?
Divide the word count by 9,300, the average words per finished hour ACX gives for narrators. An 80,000-word novel runs about 8 h 36 min. Your narrator's pace changes this; the audiobook length calculator works it out for your book.
Can I narrate my own audiobook?
Yes, and many nonfiction authors do, especially for memoir and business books where the author's own voice adds something. You need a quiet room, a decent microphone, patience, and either the skills to edit and master the files or someone who can.
Can I use an AI voice for my audiobook?
Not on ACX: its submission requirements say narration must be human-performed. Some other platforms accept AI narration with their own rules and labels, so check each store before you choose.
How do narrators charge?
Most quote per finished hour of audio, so the cost follows the length. Some work for a share of royalties instead of a fee. Estimate the finished hours first, then ask for quotes.
How long does it take to produce an audiobook?
Recording, editing and mastering take several hours of work for each finished hour, so a full-length book usually takes weeks. Ask your narrator or producer for a schedule.
What files does an audiobook need?
For ACX: one MP3 file per chapter, 192 kbps or higher constant bit rate at 44.1 kHz, opening and closing credits, and a retail sample of 5 minutes or less. You also need a square cover.
Sources
Every number in this guide comes from our spec data, last verified against the official help pages below. Retailers change their terms, so check the source before you rely on a figure.
ACX
- ACX Help: How long will my narrated audiobook be? help.acx.com
- ACX Help: ACX audio submission requirements help.acx.com