OwlCrate

OwlCrate is one of the best known book subscription boxes in the world, built around exclusive hardcover editions of new fantasy releases. It is based in North America and charges in US dollars, but it ships to the UK every month, which is why so many British readers ask whether it is worth the postage. Our short answer: if you collect special editions, yes, but you need to budget for shipping, which adds roughly half again to the price of a Book Only box.

OwlCrate prices for UK subscribers

OwlCrate prices every plan in US dollars, with shipping charged on top. Our pound figures below are approximate and move with the exchange rate.

The shipping rates come from OwlCrate’s own international rates table. Because you pay in dollars, your bank may add a foreign transaction fee unless you use a card without one. Books are zero rated for VAT in the UK, but the goodies in a Book and Goodies box are not, so always check the final total at checkout.

How OwlCrate works

Subscriptions renew on the first of each month. Every box is built around a theme, revealed in advance, and the book is a newly released hardcover with exclusive design touches: redesigned covers, sprayed or stencilled edges, reversible dust jacket artwork and foil on the hardcover case. In the YA boxes the book is also signed. On the monthly plans you can skip, pause or cancel at any time, and every order earns rewards points you can redeem against books and goodies in the OwlCrate shop.

There are now several subscriptions to choose from:

• YA Fantasy Book and Goodies: the classic OwlCrate box, with a signed exclusive edition plus 4 to 5 themed bookish items.
• YA Fantasy Book Only: the same signed exclusive edition without the extras, and the cheapest way in.
• Adult Fantasy Book Only: an exclusive hardcover of a new adult fantasy title each month, currently by waitlist.
• Quarterly Romantasy, Romance and Horror: one exclusive adult edition every three months, for readers aged 18 and over, also by waitlist. Quarterly plans cannot be skipped, but you can cancel at any time.

What’s in a typical OwlCrate box

A Book and Goodies box contains the month’s exclusive hardcover and 4 to 5 items chosen to match the theme. Past boxes have included:

• Enamel pins and bookmarks
• Mugs and tote bags
• Tea, coffee or hot chocolate
• Book sleeves and other reading accessories

Each box also carries a QR code that unlocks extra content about what is inside and links to The Nest, OwlCrate’s free community app.

What makes OwlCrate different

OwlCrate’s real selling point is the book itself. Its editions are designed in house with authors and artists, so the copy you receive is genuinely different from the shop edition, and the YA picks arrive signed. It also offers more ways to subscribe than its British rivals, from a lean Book Only plan to quarterly romance and horror editions for adult readers. For UK collectors the trade off is clear: FairyLoot and Illumicrate offer a similar special edition experience without transatlantic shipping, while OwlCrate gives you a different set of exclusive titles.

Is OwlCrate worth it?

For fantasy readers who collect special editions, OwlCrate is worth it, especially on the Book Only plan where the postage hurts less. The editions are beautifully produced and the flexibility on monthly plans is excellent. For UK subscribers on a budget, though, the Book and Goodies box at about £44 delivered is hard to justify against British boxes that ship domestically. Our advice: start with Book Only, prepay for 3 or 6 months if you are sure, and buy individual goodies from the shop when a theme really appeals.

Pros

• Exclusive hardcover editions with sprayed edges, foil and alternative artwork
• Signed copies in the YA subscriptions
• Skip, pause or cancel monthly plans whenever you like
• A wide choice of subscriptions, including adult romance and horror

Cons

• Priced in dollars, with $14.99 to $19.99 shipping to the UK on every box
• Adult and quarterly subscriptions are waitlist only
• Goodies are hit and miss if you only care about the book

Best alternatives to OwlCrate

• FairyLoot: the UK’s big YA and adult fantasy special edition box, shipped from Britain.
• Illumicrate: another British favourite for exclusive sci fi and fantasy editions.
• Goldsboro PREM1ER: signed, numbered first editions from the famous London bookshop.
• Mr B’s Emporium: a personalised reading subscription if you want books chosen for you.

Compare every option in our book subscription boxes.

OwlCrate FAQ

How much does OwlCrate cost in the UK?

The YA Book Only box costs $29.99 plus $14.99 shipping, about £34 in total, and the YA Book and Goodies box costs $38.99 plus $19.99 shipping, about £44. Adult and quarterly book only plans cost $31.99 plus $14.99 shipping.

How do I cancel OwlCrate?

Log in to your OwlCrate account and manage your subscription from there. Monthly plans can be skipped, paused or cancelled at any time before the renewal on the first of the month. Quarterly plans cannot be skipped but can be cancelled.

Is there an OwlCrate discount code?

OwlCrate does not run a permanent discount code. The best savings are the 3 and 6 month prepay plans, which cut the Book Only price to $28.99 or $27.99 a box, and the rewards points earned on every order.

Is OwlCrate worth it?

Yes for special edition collectors, particularly on the Book Only plan. If you mainly want the goodies or are watching every pound, a UK based box such as FairyLoot or Illumicrate avoids the transatlantic shipping.