KDP pricing and royalties
7 guides on this topic, in the order we suggest you read them. Start with KDP Royalty Calculator: How Your Royalty Is Worked Out.
- KDP Royalty Calculator: How Your Royalty Is Worked OutMain guide
A KDP royalty is a share of the list price. For paperbacks and hardcovers, KDP pays 60% of the list price minus the printing cost. For ebooks, it pays 35% or 70% depending on price, with a delivery cost on the 70% option. A royalty calculator applies these rules to your price and page count. - How to Price a Paperback So It Still Pays You
To price a KDP paperback, work out the printing cost first, then pick a list price that still pays you after the 50% or 60% royalty. A 250-page black-ink book costs $4.00 to print on Amazon.com, so $12.99 pays about $3.79 per copy. - KDP Ebook Royalty: 35% vs 70% and Delivery Costs
KDP offers a 35% and a 70% ebook royalty option. On Amazon.com the 70% option applies to list prices from $2.99 to $12.99, and KDP deducts a delivery cost of $0.15 per megabyte before applying the rate. Prices outside that band earn 35%. - KDP Paperback Printing Cost and Royalty Explained (2026)
KDP subtracts a printing cost from every paperback sale. For a black-ink book on Amazon.com that cost is $1.00 plus $0.012 per page for regular trim sizes. Your royalty is 50% or 60% of the list price, minus that printing cost. - Is KDP Select Worth It? Exclusive vs Selling Wide
KDP Select is Amazon's optional programme for ebooks. You sell the ebook only on Amazon for 90 days at a time. In return you can use promotion tools and earn from Kindle Unlimited page reads. It suits authors who sell mostly on Amazon. Authors who want many stores should consider selling wide. - How to Read Your KDP Reports Without Getting Lost
KDP reports show your sales, page reads and estimated royalties by book, format and store. Start with the Reports page, pick a date range and look at units, royalty and page reads. Estimates can change when orders are returned, so wait for the payment statement for final figures. - How Much Does It Cost to Publish a Book? A Cost Guide
Publishing a book can cost nothing on a platform such as Amazon KDP, because there is no setup fee. Your real costs come from services you add: editing, cover design, formatting, an ISBN you buy, proof copies and marketing. Prices vary widely, so get written quotes and add them up.