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You can self-publish a book on Amazon through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) by preparing a separate edition for each format, entering your book details and rights, uploading and previewing the files, setting a price, and submitting the title. The main decisions are whether to publish an ebook, paperback, hardcover, or more than one; which territories you have rights to; and whether to use a free KDP ISBN or your own for print editions. Requirements and earnings vary by format, marketplace, and book specifications, so use KDP’s live setup and calculator for your title.
1. Confirm your publishing rights
Before choosing distribution territories, confirm that you control the right to publish the book in each one. In KDP’s rights setup, choose all territories only if your rights cover them; otherwise select the individual territories permitted by your agreement. Territory selection is a rights declaration, not simply a marketing preference. Review KDP’s territory and distribution guidance before submitting.
2. Choose the formats you want to publish
Amazon ebook, paperback, and hardcover are separate format choices with distinct production requirements. Publishing one does not automatically publish the others. Decide based on the reading experience you want to offer and the files you can prepare.
| Format | ISBN on KDP | Production considerations | Distribution and earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kindle ebook | Not required | Prepare an ebook file and complete the ebook-specific title setup. | KDP lists 35% and 70% royalty plans, subject to price, territory, eligibility, and any delivery-cost conditions. Check the current ebook pricing rules. |
| Paperback | Required; KDP offers a free ISBN or you can provide your own | Upload a print interior and a separate cover; set trim size, margins, and bleed as needed. | Marketplace availability and royalty depend on the current KDP rules and book configuration. Expanded Distribution applies to paperback, with a different royalty calculation. |
| Hardcover | Required; KDP offers a free ISBN or you can provide your own | Upload and preview the interior and hardcover cover files. KDP’s described case-laminate format prints artwork directly on the cover and has no dust jacket. | Availability is limited to supported marketplaces; KDP says Expanded Distribution is not available for hardcover. See KDP’s hardcover guidance. |
Marketplace support can differ between formats. Check the current list during setup rather than assuming every edition can be sold in every storefront.
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3. Prepare the manuscript and cover files
Paperback
A paperback needs two separate uploads: the interior manuscript and a full cover file that includes the front, back, and spine. Organize the manuscript’s front matter, main text, and back matter before formatting. Set a trim size and margins appropriate to the book, and use bleed when interior artwork must extend to the page edge. Cover dimensions depend on the book’s specifications; KDP provides templates and calculators to help prepare them.
Upload the files and inspect the preview for layout problems before submission. KDP offers Cover Creator and templates. Kindle Create may suit a simple, text-heavy layout, but KDP notes that it does not support paperback interiors with tables, footnotes, or images that bleed; choose a workflow that fits the actual book. Read KDP’s paperback manuscript formatting guidance.
Hardcover
Hardcover has its own cover specifications, so do not reuse a paperback cover file without adapting it. KDP’s described case-laminate option has the cover artwork printed directly on the case rather than a removable dust jacket. Upload the content and cover, review the preview, and order a proof as part of the hardcover workflow. Check KDP’s hardcover file and publishing instructions.
Ebook
Prepare an ebook file for Kindle rather than assuming the print interior will work unchanged. Review the ebook preview after upload, especially navigation, images, and page flow. The ebook and print editions have distinct setup paths.
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- Binding: paperback
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4. Choose an ISBN for print editions
Paperback and hardcover editions need separate ISBNs. A substantial new edition also needs a new ISBN under KDP’s guidance. Kindle ebooks published through KDP do not require an ISBN.
| Choice | What it means | Best fit |
|---|---|---|
| Free KDP ISBN | Available for paperback and hardcover, but usable only on KDP. KDP displays the imprint as “Independently published.” | Authors who want to publish the print edition through KDP without buying an ISBN and do not need to use that identifier outside KDP. |
| Your own ISBN | You provide an ISBN you control. The registered title, author, and publisher details must match the information entered in KDP. | Authors who want to use the ISBN outside KDP or represent a chosen imprint. |
An ISBN choice is required for print, but buying one is not necessary for every author. Make the decision based on where you plan to publish and how you want the publisher or imprint identified. See KDP’s ISBN rules.
5. Enter your book details, rights, and price
In KDP’s title setup, enter the book’s metadata, identify the rights you hold, choose the territories where you may distribute it, and set a price for each format. Check the live marketplace options and any format-specific fields shown in the dashboard. The title setup is the practical authority for the choices available to your edition.
How much does KDP pay per book?
There is no single royalty amount for every sale. KDP’s current ebook help page lists 35% and 70% royalty options, with eligibility and price conditions; delivery costs may apply under the 70% plan. Use KDP’s current page for your book’s territories and price rather than treating either rate as guaranteed. KDP ebook royalty and pricing details.
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For paperback sales through Amazon channels, KDP’s stated formula is (royalty rate × list price) − printing cost. The current help page lists 50% and 60% rates depending on marketplace and list price. Printing cost depends on marketplace and book choices such as page count, trim size, ink, and paper type. The title setup and calculator provide estimates for the specific configuration. Check KDP’s paperback royalty and printing-cost rules.
KDP’s current paperback page gives this US example: a $15 list price for a 333-page, regular-trim, black-ink paperback with a $5 print cost produces a $4 royalty using the calculation (0.60 × $15) − $5. That is an example for those exact stated settings, not an estimate for another book.
For paperback Expanded Distribution, KDP states a calculation of 40% of the list price effective in the channel at purchase minus printing cost. Its example of a $15 book with a $5 print cost yields $1.00. This is a different channel and calculation from Amazon retail sales. KDP says Expanded Distribution is for paperback, not hardcover.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.6. Upload, preview, and submit each edition
- Start a new title in KDP. Choose the format you are setting up—ebook, paperback, or hardcover—and complete its title details.
- Enter rights and territories. Select only territories where you hold distribution rights.
- Choose the ISBN for print. Select a free KDP ISBN or enter your own for paperback or hardcover; an ebook does not require one.
- Upload the format’s files. For paperback, upload the interior and separate cover. For hardcover, use hardcover-specific cover dimensions. Upload the ebook file for the Kindle edition.
- Review the preview. Check the interior, cover, and displayed book details for errors. Correct problems in the source files and upload revised files before proceeding.
- Review price and royalty information. Use the values shown for your selected marketplaces and configuration. Print cost and royalty depend on those choices.
- Order a proof where available, then submit. KDP’s hardcover workflow includes proof ordering. For paperback, review the preview carefully and check current proof options in the dashboard. Submit only after confirming the files, metadata, rights, and prices.
After submission, monitor the title in your KDP account for its status and any messages requiring changes. If you revise a file or book detail later, review the updated edition again.
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What to verify before publication
- The selected format matches the files you prepared.
- Print trim size, margins, bleed, and cover dimensions match the book’s specifications.
- Any ISBN details match the registered title, author, and publisher information.
- Territories reflect rights you actually hold.
- The preview is free of layout or cover errors.
- Price and estimated royalty reflect the live KDP setup for the relevant marketplace.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
