Congratulations on finishing your book!
That’s an incredible achievement. But now comes the next big step: getting it into the hands of readers. Publishing through KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing opens up a world of opportunity, but it can also be a bit overwhelming.
KDP print cost calculator – estimate print costs and royalties
Amazon has announced a significant and sudden update to its Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) royalty structure from 10 June. Here’s what it means.
- It doesn’t affect ebooks
- The royalty rate on books priced below US$9.99 and CA$13.99 will drop from 60% to 50%
- The per page print cost for Standard Colour drops fractionally.
- The per page print cost for Black and White stays the same.
- The per page print cost for Premium Colour stays the same.
Click to estimate KDP print cost
KDP Metadata Checklist (with hints)
About the Author
- Book Title (influences rejection)
- Subtitle: (influences rejection) Make it keyword-rich. Appears after the title.
- Series Name, Edition Number: Optional
- Update to existing book: Optional
- Author Name: (influences rejection). Pen names are allowed.
- Contributors: needs full name and influences rejection.
About the book
- Description: don’t forget to add sponsors and grants.
- Publishing Rights: you must confirm you own the rights to publish the content.
- Keywords (7): use search terms your readers might use.
- Categories (3): view Amazon’s categories online.
- Age Range: is there a minimum age.
- Pre-order Option: publish immediately or a date
- Language: English
About Publishing
- ISBN: NEVER use the Kindle free ISBN option
- Publication Date: publish immediately or a date
- Worldwide or limited availability (paperback): Worldwide or limited territory
- Primary Marketplace: amazon.com, amazon.ca etc.
- List pricing, royalties: may not be lower than the print cost.
- Request a proof: yes. (it has “Not for resale”)
- Did you use AI in creating texts, images, and/or translations in your book: Yes/No
- Sexually explicit images or language: Yes/No
- Use Kindle Extended Distribution: No.
IngramSpark’s distribution network includes bookstores, libraries, and academic institutions. Many bookstores prefer ordering through IngramSpark.
Required Files for Paperback Submission
☐ Cover File (Paperback): Full wrap PDF including front, spine, and back. NEVER use the KDP cover creator and other tools, or you won’t be able to also publish to IngramSpark. Always check that your cover will also work with IngramSpark margins and requirements.
☐ Interior File (Paperback): PDF with trim size, margins, embedded fonts. (influences rejection) Always check that your cover will also work with IngramSpark margins and requirements to keep that option open.
- Trim size: can be in mm or inches. Books larger than 6×9 inches have a higher per page print cost.
- Bleed: Yes/No
- Paper: Black on white, black on cream, standard colour or premium colour (affects price)
- Cover finish: Matte or Gloss
- Number of interior pages: excludes cover (price is based on number of pages)
If the manuscript is rejected, a list of errors is provided. There is an additional fee for resubmitting rejected manuscripts. We can provide the author with their unique size beforehand.
- Fiction and Trade: 6” x 9” or 5.5” x 8.5”
- Textbook: 5.5” x 8.5” or 6” x 9” or 7” x 10” or 8.5” x 11”
- Workbooks: 8.5” x 11” or 8” x 10”
Ebook submission checklist
☐ Interior File (eBook): Formatted EPUB file. Other formats are available. Note .mobi isn’t available on KDP.
☐ Cover File (eBook): JPEG or TIFF, 2560 x 1600 pixels or higher. (Save design files as Adobe CS6).
- Categories for the ebook: these are not the same as for Amazon paperbacks.
- Changes or additions to the description.
- Did you use AI in creating texts, images, and/or translations in your book?
- Digital Rights Management (DRM):
Once published, this cannot be changed. DRM helps prevent unauthorized sharing of your eBook, if you WANT Extended Distribution, this is No. If you choose DRM, customers will still be able to lend the book to another user for a short period, and can buy the book as a gift from the Kindle store.
