DK
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1974
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
DK firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DK
- Legal name
- Dorling Kindersley Limited
- Website
- https://dk.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1974
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DK industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Reference Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Children’s Nonfiction Educational (Science, History, Nature) (EDAGAIAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- K–12 Textbook Publishing (Core Curriculum) (MPAJABAA), Middle Grade Publishing (MPAJAFAC)
Keywords
Where DK is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
DK business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Book Sales: DK generates revenue through one-time book purchases across both physical and digital formats. Books are sold through direct e-commerce, retail stores, and online marketplaces.
- Licensed Publishing: DK publishes officially licensed franchise merchandise and companion books for entertainment properties including Star Trek, Avatar, Star Wars, Marvel, DC Comics, Warhammer, and Disney.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Children's Books - Board books and picture books for ages 0-5 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Children's Activity Books and Learning titles |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adult Reference and Non-Fiction Hardcover |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Adult Trade Paperbacks |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Licensed Franchise Companion Books |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
DK product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DK is a top publisher of general reference and illustrated non-fiction books. It publishes adult reference titles across 15+ subject categories (Arts & Culture, Business & Careers, Crafts & Hobbies, Food & Drink, History, Science & Nature, Travel, etc.), children's books segmented by age from 0-5 through teen/YA, and official licensed companion books for major entertainment franchises including Star Wars, Marvel, DC, Warhammer, Avatar, Star Trek, and Disney. The company sells primarily through its own e-commerce platform, Amazon, and physical bookstores across the US, UK, Canada, and India.
Product overview
DK is a global book publishing company offering a diverse portfolio of illustrated reference books, educational materials, and licensed franchise publications. The company operates two main divisions: Books for Adults spanning 15+ subject categories (Arts & Culture, Business & Careers, Crafts & Hobbies, Comics/Film/TV, Food & Drink, Gardening, Health & Beauty, History, Language Learning, Non-fiction, Pregnancy & Parenting, Religions & Ideas, Reference, Science & Nature, and Travel) and Children's Books organized by age, type, and series. Key product lines include the Eyewitness reference series, DK Super Readers learning program, Pop-up Peekaboo! interactive board books, DK Top 10 travel guides, and Bilingual Visual Dictionaries. DK also publishes licensed content for major franchises including Star Wars, Marvel/DC Comics, Warhammer, Avatar, Star Trek, and LEGO. The company operates multiple imprints including DK Living, DK Children's, DK+, DK Alpha, and Canelo, with subsidiaries like Phonic Books. DK's products are distributed through its e-commerce platform powered by Shopify.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DK Living: Adult lifestyle and non-fiction publishing imprint
- DK Children's
- DK+
- DK Alpha
- Canelo
- Eyewitness
- DK Super Readers
- Pop-up Peekaboo!
- Rebel Girls
- Phonic Books
- English for Everyone
- DK Learning
Products and services
- DK Books for Adults
Quantifiable outcome
- Avatar companion books reached Amazon's top movie books bestseller charts
Companies that use DK
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
DK technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
DK partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DK competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Scholastic: Scholastic is one of the world's largest children's book publishers, producing educational, reference, and trade titles for kids and schools. Directly comparable to DK's children's publishing division, particularly around leveled readers and educational non-fiction.
- Usborne Publishing: Usborne is an independent children's book publisher known for visually engaging illustrated educational and activity books. Comparable to DK Children's, DK Super Readers, and Pop-up Peekaboo-style interactive formats.
- Quarto Group: Quarto publishes illustrated adult non-fiction and children's books across crafts, hobbies, wellness, and reference. Comparable to DK's adult categories (Crafts & Hobbies, Health, Reference) and its licensing-driven illustrated publishing model.
- Phaidon Press: Phaidon publishes premium illustrated books on art, architecture, design, food, and culture. Directly comparable to DK's premium illustrated adult non-fiction segments like Arts & Culture, Food & Drink, and Crafts & Hobbies.
- Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading illustrated travel guidebook publisher with strong global brand recognition. Comparable to DK's Top 10 Travel Guides series and adult reference travel segment.
- National Geographic Books: National Geographic Books publishes illustrated reference, photography, and educational non-fiction for adults and children. Highly comparable to DK's illustrated adult reference and Eyewitness-style science/history/nature titles.
- Chronicle Books: Chronicle Books publishes illustrated adult and children's trade titles, gifts, and stationery. Comparable to DK's mix of illustrated adult reference, gift-format children's books, and lifestyle publishing.
- Workman Publishing: Workman publishes illustrated adult non-fiction, calendars, children's books, and lifestyle/reference titles. Directly comparable to DK's adult reference categories (cookbooks, crafts, parenting, humor/gift) and children's activity segments.
Broad incumbents
- HarperCollins: HarperCollins is one of the Big Five publishers with extensive adult reference, illustrated, and children's publishing. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating adult non-fiction and children's illustrated books at scale.
- Penguin Random House (parent imprints): As DK's parent, Penguin Random House operates many overlapping adult and children's trade imprints (e.g., Random House, Crown, Knopf). Broader scale and overlapping reference/non-fiction output make PRH a meaningful incumbent peer.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DK social profiles
Digital presenceDK financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DK leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
DK subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
DK funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DK M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DK
What does DK do?
DK is a top publisher of general reference and illustrated non-fiction books. It publishes adult reference titles across 15+ subject categories (Arts & Culture, Business & Careers, Crafts & Hobbies, Food & Drink, History, Science & Nature, Travel, etc.), children's books segmented by age from 0-5 through teen/YA, and official licensed companion books for major entertainment franchises including Star Wars, Marvel, DC, Warhammer, Avatar, Star Trek, and Disney. The company sells primarily through its own e-commerce platform, Amazon, and physical bookstores across the US, UK, Canada, and India.
Is DK a public or private company?
DK is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was DK founded?
DK was founded in 1974. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is DK based?
DK is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does DK make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Book Sales are the primary driver. The others are licensed Publishing.
Who are DK's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Scholastic, Usborne Publishing, Quarto Group, Phaidon Press, Lonely Planet, National Geographic Books, Chronicle Books and Workman Publishing. Broad incumbents are HarperCollins and Penguin Random House (parent imprints).
Does DK have an API?
No public API is recorded for DK.
What industry is DK in?
DK's product category is Reference Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGAIAC, Children’s Nonfiction Educational (Science, History, Nature), with a secondary code of MPAJABAA, K–12 Textbook Publishing (Core Curriculum). Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.