Oh wow, this is something I've been tracking lately because my wallet has been screaming. For newly released fiction in major bookstores like Gramedia or online on Tokopedia/Shopee, the range is really broad. A fresh hardcover translation from a big international author—think a Stephen King or a Sally Rooney—usually lands between IDR 150,000 to IDR raising 250,000. For a fancy special edition or a collector's item from a popular series, it can easily hit IDR 300,000 or more.
But it's not just about the cover. The price gets inflated by the paper quality, the print run size, and whether it's an import or a local print. Local publishers like Bentang Pustaka or Mizan sometimes have hardcovers for their flagship titles around IDR 120,000 to IDR 180,000. I've noticed the trend is that hardcovers are becoming more of a premium product here, almost a statement piece rather than the default format.
What's interesting is how the 'hardcover' definition gets stretched. Some books have that stiff cardboard cover but aren't truly sewn-binding—they're still glued. Those tend to be on the lower end of the range. The true, sewn-binding, quality cloth-covered ones are rarer and command the higher prices. Honestly, for most new releases, I just wait for the paperback or the e-book now; the hardcover feels like a luxury purchase reserved for absolute favorite authors.