Publishing a book on Amazon KDP costs $0 upfront. KDP lets you publish eBooks, paperbacks and hardcovers for free, and it deducts printing costs from each print sale, so you never pay for inventory.
The money goes into everything around the upload: editing, cover design, formatting, an ISBN if you want your own, and marketing. A DIY book can cost close to nothing. A professionally produced book costs whatever you spend on those services.
| Cost item | What you pay on KDP |
| KDP account and publishing | $0 (KDP states you can publish eBooks, paperbacks and hardcovers for free) |
| Printing (paperback, hardcover) | Taken out of each sale, nothing upfront |
| ISBN | $0 with a free KDP ISBN (print only) or $125 for one Bowker ISBN |
| eBook delivery | About $0.06 per sale on the 70% plan (varies by file size) |
| Proof or author copies | You pay the printing cost plus shipping |
| Editing, cover, formatting, marketing | Your choice, covered below |
How KDP Printing Cost Works
KDP prints on demand and subtracts the printing cost from your royalty. KDP's own formula is:
Fixed cost + (page count × per-page cost) = printing cost
Printing cost depends on trim size, page count, ink type (black or colour) and paper. Bleed settings and cover finish do not change it. Here are the current Amazon.com rates for the most common book types.
Book typeFixed costPer-page cost
| Book type | Fixed cost | Per-page cost |
| Black ink, 24 to 110 pages, regular trim | $2.30 per book | none |
| Black ink, 110 to 828 pages, regular trim | $1.00 | $0.012 |
| Standard colour, 72 to 600 pages, regular trim | $1.00 | $0.0255 |
| Premium colour, 24 to 40 pages, regular trim | $3.60 per book | none |
| Premium colour, 24 to 40 pages, large trim | $4.20 per book | none |
| Premium colour, 42 to 828 pages, regular trim | $1.00 | $0.065 |
"Large trim" means a book wider than 6.12 inches or taller than 9 inches. A 6 x 9 inch book is regular trim; an 8.5 x 8.5 inch picture book is large trim.
Three Worked Examples
- 300-page black-and-white novel, 6 x 9 in: $1.00 + (300 × 4.60** per copy. This is KDP's own example.
- 150-page standard-colour guide, regular trim: $1.00 + (150 × 4.83** per copy.
- 32-page premium-colour picture book, 8.5 x 8.5 in: a flat $4.20 per copy, because books of 24 to 40 pages only pay the fixed cost.
Minimum Price And Your Royalty on a Paperback
KDP will not let you price a book below its minimum list price: printing cost ÷ royalty rate, where the rate is 50% or 60% depending on list price and marketplace. The maximum paperback list price on Amazon.com is $250.
Using the 300-page novel above ($4.60 printing cost):
- At a 60% rate the minimum price is 7.67**.
- At a 50% rate the minimum price is 9.20**.
- If you list it at $14.99 and the 60% rate applies, your royalty is (0.60 × $14.99) − $4.60 = about $4.39 per sale.
KDP's Printing Cost & Royalty Calculator and the pricing screen show the exact estimate for your book, so use them before you set a price.
eBook Costs And Royalties
eBooks have no printing cost, but KDP gives you two royalty plans.
35% plan70% plan
| 35% plan | 70% plan | |
| Royalty | 35% of list price (without VAT) | 70% of list price (without VAT) minus delivery cost, in eligible territories |
| List price on Amazon.com | $0.99 to 1.99 at 3 MB, $2.99 at 10 MB) | $2.99 to $12.99 |
| Delivery cost | None | Average $0.06 per sale, varies by file size |
Two details matter in 2026. First, KDP raised the top of the 70% price band from $9.99 to $12.99 on Amazon.com, effective July 7, 2026, so older articles quoting $9.99 are out of date. Second, you cannot set a free list price, and public-domain books qualify only for the 35% plan.
Example: a $4.99 eBook on the 70% plan earns 0.70 × $4.99 = $3.49, minus about 3.43** per sale. Image-heavy eBooks, such as children's books, have larger files, so check their delivery cost before you pick a plan.
The Real Costs: What is Worth Paying For
KDP's fees are small. Your budget is decided by these decisions.
ItemDIY optionWhen to hire help
| Item | DIY option | When to hire help |
| Editing | Self-edit plus beta readers (free) | Almost always. A marketer at Reedsy advises spending on editing before spending on ads |
| Cover | Free tools such as Canva or KDP's Cover Creator | When the cover has to compete in a crowded genre |
| Interior formatting | Free tools: Kindle Create, Reedsy Studio, Word | Complex layouts, images, tables, multiple formats |
| Illustrations | None really (you need an artist or your own art) | Children's and illustrated books |
| ISBN | Free KDP ISBN for print | When you want your own imprint or to sell outside KDP |
Three Budget Plans
Cost areaLean (DIY)BalancedFull-service
| Cost area | Lean (DIY) | Balanced | Full-service |
| Editing | Self-edit + beta readers | Hire an editor | Hire an editor + proofreader |
| Cover | Template tool | Hire a cover designer | Custom cover + paperback wrap |
| Formatting | Kindle Create / Reedsy Studio | Hire a formatter | Hire a formatter, all formats |
| ISBN | Free KDP ISBN | Own ISBN | Own ISBN + barcode |
| Marketing | Free channels | Small ad test | Launch plan with promotions |
Choose Balanced if this is your first book and you want a professional result without paying for everything. Choose Lean if you are testing an idea or publishing low-content books.
How Many Copies Pay Back Your Investment?
Divide your upfront spend by your royalty per copy. As an example, if you spend $1,000 before launch:
- Paperback at $4.39 per sale: $1,000 ÷ $4.39 = about 228 copies.
- eBook at $3.43 per sale: $1,000 ÷ $3.43 = about 292 copies.
That is a planning tool, not a promise. Sales depend on your cover, description, reviews and marketing, and nobody can guarantee a number.
Costs And Traps To Avoid
- Rights. Publishing with KDP gives you full rights to your book, so avoid any package that takes your rights or royalties. Ask every provider, including us, to confirm ownership in writing.
- "Guaranteed bestseller" offers. No service can guarantee sales or rankings. KDP also publishes guidance on avoiding account scams.
- Free ISBN limits. A KDP free ISBN works only on KDP and shows "Independently published" as the imprint. See our ISBN guide before you decide.
- Surprise print costs. Colour interiors and large trim sizes cost more per copy. Check your price in the calculator before you finalise the design.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it really free to publish on Amazon KDP?
Yes. KDP lets you publish eBooks, paperbacks and hardcovers for free. Printing costs are deducted from print royalties.
Do I need to pay for an ISBN?
Not for an eBook. For paperback and hardcover you can use a free KDP ISBN or buy your own. Each format needs its own ISBN.
How much does KDP take from each sale?
On print, KDP pays a 50% or 60% royalty rate on list price minus printing cost. On eBooks you choose 35% or 70%, and the 70% plan also deducts delivery cost.
What is the cheapest way to publish a book?
Write and edit it yourself, format it with a free tool, design the cover with a free tool, and use a free KDP ISBN. It costs little in cash but a lot in time, and quality varies.
What is the best way to spend my first $500?
Most advisers put editing and cover design first, because they decide whether readers trust the book. Marketing spend works best after those are solid.
Want the work handled for you?
If you would rather hand off editing, cover design, formatting and publishing setup, see our KDP publishing services or get a free quote. We are an independent company, and you keep the rights, copyright and royalties for your book.
