Have you produced a coffee table book?
Do you now want to publish it and are looking for coffee table book publishers?
Below youโll find 17 top coffee table book publishing companies.
1. Brown Signature Books
Signature Books, a publishing division of Brown Books, is ranked as the top publisher for coffee table books by Google. This independent publisher specializes in coffee table book development, design, binding, customization, and more. . They work closely with their authors to produce some of the most beautiful and high-quality coffee table books available on the market today. They publish coffee table books ย on a wide variety of topics, including food & wine, lifestyle & culture, and culinary books. Some of their best-known titles are โMommaโs Treasuresโ, by Patty Hensel, and โTen Times Chaiโ, by Michael J. Weinstein. .
They are currently accepting manuscript submissions online, but they advise authors to give them a call first โ this will allow you to describe your project to one of their team members, and to receive quick feedback on what youโve written. They also recommend that you review their submissions guidelines before proceeding, ย as they have particular requirements when it comes to formatting โ your full manuscript should be sent in Microsoft Word, along with a table of contents, an author bio, a cover page, and a few more requirements. If you send your book via email, you will have to wait at least 3 weeks for a reply. You can also send a short description of your nonfiction work using this form.
2. Rizzoli New York
Rizzoli New York is a division of Rizzoli International Publications. Based out of New York, ย NY, Rizzoli has published a wide collection of truly engaging and masterfully designed coffee table books. Some of their recently published titles are ย โ100 Posters that Changed the Worldโ, by Colin Salter, โA Tale of Interiorsโ, by Louisa Pierce, Emily Ward, and Catherine Pierce, and โAlain Ducasse’s New Yorkโ, by Alain Ducasse. Rizzoli produces books on a wide variety of topics, from antiques & collectibles to world history & culture.
They are currently open to submissions and ask that you send some sample chapters/art/designs and an outline. Photography books have to meet high standards, as you need both a consistent topic and an original approach. You can find more information on their submission requirements here. Although you can send your work via mail as well, they prefer online submissions. Due to their busy schedule, they ask that you wait up to twelve weeks for a response.
3. Imagine Publishing
Imagine Publishing is an imprint of Charlesbridge Publishing, Inc. They have a long history of publishing entertaining and stunning coffee table books, and even have a dedicated category in their catalogue for them. Their topics of choice are health & beauty, sports, humor, and social studies/cultures, to give a few examples. Some of their coffee table book titles are ย โThe Art of Optical Illusionsโ, by Brad Honeycutt and Terry Stickels, โWoodstockโ, by Daniel Bukszpan, and โTea Cultureโ by Beverly Dubrin.
They are currently accepting manuscript submissions, but due to the high volume of entries that they receive, the Imagine Publishing editorial team will only reach out to those that they are interested in working with. They ask that you review their submission guidelines before proceeding. If youโre looking to work with Imagine Publishing, you can send a copy of your manuscript and a cover letter via email.
4. Vivant Books
With a passion for coffee table books, informational high arts and sciences literature, as well as for a few other genres, Vivant Books only feature top talents in their backlist. Established in 2009 in San Francisco, they have a team of art and publishing specialists who constantly work towards fulfilling the companyโs goal, which is that of challenging their readersโ perspectives. Some of their titles are โBlek Le Ratโ by Sybille Prou, and โZenerโ edited by Mia R. Benenate and Becky Benenate.
They are currently accepting book proposals via email. You can also send an inquiry through their websiteโs online contact form. They do not accept phone calls.
5. Abrams Books
Abrams Books has published several coffee table books in recent years about a wide variety of topics and genres. From art and ย pop culture to fashion and food, Abrams Books has published beautiful hardcovers. Some of their titles include โI (Heart) Artโ by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, โChina: A Historyโ by the Field Museum and Cheryl Bardoe, and โGood Trouble: Lessons from the Civil Rights Playbookโ by Christopher Noxon.
They are currently accepting submissions made on behalf of authors by their literary agents. Keep in mind that they have a rather strict policy, so any unsolicited materials they receive via mail will likely be destroyed, while those sent via email will be ignored. In order to reach them, you can pick the email address which best suits your interests here.
6. Chronicle Books
Chronicle Books is an independent publishing company based out of San Francisco. While they do publish a wide variety of books in a number of different genres, they have also published quite a few popular coffee table books. Art, photography, architecture & interiors, and design are just a few of their interests. To get an idea of what they like, you should check out โFurniture Makes the Roomโ, by Barbara Blair and Paige French, โThis Book Is a Planetariumโ, by Kelli Anderson, and โQueer Icons and Their Catsโ, by Alison Nastasi and PJ Nastasi.
Unfortunately, due to the current pandemic, only their childrenโs division remains open to unsolicited submissions. Both fiction and nonfiction childrenโs books manuscripts should be sent via mail. If this was your publisher of choice, you can still check for any updates on their guidelines page.
7. Hatje Cantz
Hatje Cantz is a German publishing group that works closely with artists and art curators to put together fantastically produced and truly exquisite coffee table and art books. Their publishing program sees to the publication of books about art, photography, architecture, and design. Some of their newest titles include โAltered Statesโ edited by Milena Mercer, โYan Wang Preston: Mother Riverโ edited by Nadine Barth, and โChristoph Faulhaber: A Golden Ageโ edited by Sabine Maria Schmidt.
Do you have a book proposal that might fit their publishing program? If so, donโt hesitate to send it at submissions@hatjecantz.de, and they will reach you as soon as they can. In case theyโre interested in your work, it would be best if your manuscript were already edited. To learn more about the guidelines, click here.
8. ย Gestalten
Gestalten is a German publishing company with an unending passion for aesthetics. They aim to be a source of both inspiration and information for their audience, ย and they love working with authors and artists who explore topics like visual culture, design & fashion, food & beverages, travel, , and more. Some of their recent titles are the coffee table books โThe Complete Highsnobiety Guide to Street Fashion and Cultureโ by Highsnobeity, โBorn-Free: Motorcycle Showโ, created and edited by DicE Magazine, and โThe Grand Hostels: Luxury Hostels of the Worldโ by Kash Bhattacharya.
They are actively seeking book proposals and would love to hear from you, if youโre an author with fresh ideas and a unique perspective of the world. If youโre interested in working with Gestalten ย to make your coffee table book a reality, you can send your proposal via email. They ask that you include a synopsis of your manuscript, information about its content structure, a list of contributors (if any), and copies of any photos or illustrations you believe to be representative of your work, as well as a brief author bio.
9. Thames & Hudson
Thames & Hudson is an independent publishing company that was founded in 1949 by husband and wife Walter and Eva Neurath.ย Their backlist includes over 2,000 titles, and they love working with authors who can elaborate exceptional books of visual creativity, regardless of their style. Their favorite topics are art, fashion & jewelry, lifestyle, architecture & landscape design, and photography, to give some examples. Some of their bestselling coffee table books ย are โ1950s in Vogueโ, by Rebecca C. Tuite, โThe Big Sticker Book of Birdsโ, by Yuval Zommer, and โA Chronology of Architectureโ, by John Zukowsky.
They are currently seeking book proposals for illustrated books only. They do not accept works of poetry or fiction. In your proposal, please include an overview of your project, as well as a chapter outline and 6 image samples (at most), to name a few requirements. Be sure to also include a list of titles you believe your project is comparable to and information on your intended audience. Proposals can be sent by email. Due to the high level of submissions ย they receive, they will only contact authors whose projects interest them. Before submitting, make sure to read their full guidelines.
10. Taschen
Taschen is a German publishing company that specializes in high-quality and beautifully produced coffee table books. Some of their books are so rare and exclusive that they can retail for a couple thousand dollars. Taschen works with talented designers, editors, and marketers to publish books that are also works of art. A few of their bestselling books include โThe Star Wars Archives: 1977-1983โ edited by Paul Duncan, โMassimo Listri. The Worldโs Most Beautiful Librariesโ by Georg Ruppelt and Elisabeth Sladek, and โWalt Disneyโs Mickey Mouse: The Ultimate Historyโ written and illustrated by David Gerstein, J.B. Kaufman and edited by Daniel Kothenschulte.
If youโre interested in working with Taschen, keep in mind that they are incredibly selective when considering book proposals, so your work should be truly impressive in order to be taken into consideration. Submissions have to contain 1-5 sample images and a short outline of the project, and they have to be sent at contact@taschen.com. They normally respond in about 6 weeks.
11. Phaidon Press
Established by Ludwig Goldscheider and Dr. Bela Horovitz in 1923, Phaidon Press has a backlist of more than 1,500 titles. Outstanding artists, thinkers, writers, and chefs from all over the world have been published by this company. They have coffee table books on a wide range of subjects, like photography, fashion/culture, food, design, and more. Phaidon has two headquarter offices, one based out of London and the other in New York City. Some of their most notable titles are โAnnie Leibovitz at Workโ by Annie Leibovitz, โAnimal: Exploring the Zoological Worldโ by James Hanken, Dr. Giovanni Aloi, and Ross Piper, and โAndy Warhol Giant Sizeโ by Dave Hickey.
They are currently accepting submissions for book proposals, but strongly encourage you to review their submission guidelines before you proceed. All the submissions they receive are reviewed carefully by their editorial team, but they will only respond to authors that theyโre interested in working with. Book proposals can only be sent via email.
12. Cameron
Cameron+Company was founded in 1964 by Robert Cameron, who got his start as an aerial photographer. Cameron+Books is a division of the company, specializing in publishing gorgeous illustrated books. They have a fantastic team of editors, designers, and marketers that can help their authors make their coffee table book dreams a physical reality. Some of their titles are โSplit Seconds: Havanaโ by Abe Kogan, โPrimal Beauty: The Sculptural Artistry of CrystalWorksโ by Lawrence Stoller, and โEye Contactโ by Max James Fallon.
Whether itโs submission queries, illustrations, or manuscripts, Cameron+Company does not accept any unsolicited materials. If you want to work with them, you will have to start collaborating with an established literary agent first. You can learn more about their guidelines here.
13. Prestel Publishing
Prestel Publishing is a UK-based publishing company that was founded all the way back in 1924. They love to work with authors who specialize in photography, art, architecture, and design. As they have a global sales network and headquarters in London, Munich, and New York, Prestel Publishing is capable of reaching a broad international audience. Some of their titles are โUnder One Roofโ by Philip Jodidio, โPhotography in Indiaโ By Nathaniel Gaskell and Diva Gujral, and โDavid Lynch. Someone is In My Houseโ by David Lynch, Kristine McKenna, Stijn Huijts, and Petral Giloy-Hirtz.
Interested in working with them? You can only submit your manuscript/proposal via email. Make sure to include an author bio, a sample chapter, a brief project outline, and a few captioned sample images. However, keep in mind that you will only receive a response if theyโre interested in your book.
14. Clarkson Potter
Clarkson Potter is an imprint of Penguin Random House that was founded in 1959. A few of their topics of choice when it comes to coffee table books are art, interior design, house & home, and cooking. Some of their top titles are โMade for Livingโ, by Amber Lewis and Cat Chen, โBill Cunningham: On the Streetโ, by New York Times, and โBarefoot Contessa Foolproofโ, by Ina Garten.
If youโre interested in working with Clarkson Potter on publishing your manuscript, itโs highly recommended that you have your literary representation send a book proposal on your behalf. As an imprint of Penguin Random House, they receive a very high volume of submissions from authors. By having a literary agent reach out on your behalf, you may have a better chance of hearing back.
15. David Zwirner Books
David Zwirner Books is a newer publishing company that was founded in 2014 in New York. Their books are distributed around the world through partnerships with Thames & Hudson and Simon & Schuster. Some of the artists whose works are featured in their backlist are Philip-Lorca diCorcia, Toba Khedoori, Jan Schoonhoven, and Franz West. Besides artist books, the company is also interested in monographs and collected writings, to give a few examples. Two of their titles are โYayoi Kusama: Festival of Lifeโ by Jenni Sorkin and โChris Ofili: Paradise Lostโ by Joshua Jelly-Schapiro.
Unfortunately, they donโt have any submission guidelines displayed on their website, so, if you would like to work with them, you should ask for more details at information@davidzwirnerbooks.com.
16. Damiani
Damiani is an Italian publishing company that specializes in producing books about fashion, art, pop culture, ย architecture, and design, to name a few genres. The publishing company was founded in 2004 in the city of Bologna. Some of their better-known titles include โMain Street: The Lost Dream of Route 66โ by Edward Keating, โSeductionโ by Kenro Izu, and โBeach Therapyโ by Martin Parr. Since there are no submission guidelines featured on their website, it is recommended that you ask for more details at info@damianieditore.com before sending any manuscript or proposal.
17. Assouline
Assouline is a publishing company that prides itself on their luxury coffee table books on culturally-significant topics like fashion, design & architecture, photography, and more. ย If youโd like to get an idea about what theyโre interested in, you should check out โVersailles: From Louis XIV to Jeff Koonsโ, by Catherine Peฬgard and Mathieu da Vinha, โArt Lifeโ, by Sig Bergamin, and โDinner with Georgia O’Keeffeโ, by Robyn Lea.
Assouline most likely does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. If you have literary representation, itโs highly recommended that you have your literary agent contact the editorial team at Assouline on your behalf with a book proposal.
Are there any other coffee table book publishing companies that should be on this list? Please tell us about them in the comments box below!
K. Z. Kwan is a freelance writer based out of Halifax, Canada.