KDP royalties depend on the format. For ebooks, you earn 35% or 70% of the list price excluding tax, and the 70% option also subtracts a delivery cost. For paperbacks, you earn 50% or 60% of the list price minus the printing cost. Below are the rules, the math and the limits that matter in the US.
How does the ebook royalty work?
KDP offers two options. With 35%, you receive 35% of the list price excluding VAT on each unit. In KDP’s own example, a $0.99 ebook earns about $0.35 from a customer with no VAT.
With 70%, you receive 70% of the list price excluding VAT, minus delivery costs. Amazon says delivery averages $0.06 per unit and varies with file size. The rate depends on where the buyer is at the time of purchase, not where you live, which is why your Bookshelf can show both 70% and 35% for the same book.
Conditions the help pages highlight:
- the 70% option is only for in-copyright works; public domain books, or books made mostly of public domain content, get 35% (adding substantial original content can change that);
- if KDP lowers your price to match another store or the print edition, you get 70% of the reduced price in eligible territories;
- the pricing page lists a 70% requirement that the ebook be at least 20% below the list price of any physical edition on Amazon.
Which countries get 70%?
The pricing page lists the United States and Brazil among the 70% territories. Brazil, Japan, Mexico and India are marked with an asterisk, meaning 70% applies there only if the book is enrolled in KDP Select and meets the price requirements. Otherwise 35% applies. For a US-focused seller, that means most US sales can earn 70% if the book meets the conditions, while sales in the starred countries need Select.
The same page says books in a KDP Select Free Book Promotion earn zero royalty during that period. This guide does not cover the Select program rules, so read them on KDP before enrolling.
How do you calculate a paperback royalty?
KDP’s math is simple: royalty = rate x list price - printing cost.
- Rate: on Amazon.com, 50% for a list price of $9.98 or less and 60% from $9.99.
- Printing cost: a fixed amount plus page count times a per-page cost. Trim size, bleed and cover finish do not affect it, but ink type and marketplace do.
From the Amazon.com table, for black ink on cream or white paper in regular trim, 110 to 828 pages carries a $1.00 fixed cost plus $0.012 per page. Large trim (wider than 6.12 inches or taller than 9 inches) goes to $0.017 per page. The page gives no effective date for the table, so use KDP’s printing cost and royalty calculator for current numbers.
Examples:
- 300 pages, black ink, regular trim: $1.00 + 300 x $0.012 = $4.60. At a $9.99 list price, the royalty is 0.60 x $9.99 - $4.60 = $1.39 (KDP’s own example).
- 200 pages, black ink, regular trim, $12.99 list price: cost is $1.00 + 200 x $0.012 = $3.40. Royalty: 0.60 x $12.99 - $3.40 = about $4.39 (our calculation).
- Expanded Distribution: the rate drops to 40%. In KDP’s example, a $15 book with a $5.00 printing cost earns $4.00 on Amazon and $1.00 through Expanded Distribution.
KDP will not let you set a list price below the minimum, which is the printing cost divided by the royalty rate.
A worked ebook example
Say you have an original ebook at $4.99 under the 70% option, with a 1 MB file and a $0.06 delivery cost:
- 70% of $4.99 = $3.49.
- Subtract delivery: $3.49 - $0.06 = about $3.43.
This is a sample calculation. The price has to fall inside the range KDP allows, which we did not check here, and actual earnings depend on the buyer’s country and taxes.
Common mistakes
- Calculating on the price with tax. The royalty starts from the price excluding VAT.
- Ignoring printing cost on paperbacks. A low price on a long book can leave a royalty near zero.
- Opting into Expanded Distribution without running the numbers. The 40% rate shrinks the margin a lot.
- Mixing in public domain content and expecting 70%. It falls to 35%.
Who this is not for
Publishing on KDP is not for anyone who expects quick or assured earnings. Earnings per sale are modest and depend on volume, cover, description and audience. It is also not for republishing content you do not own. For other ways to sell online, see how to sell digital products online and the Amazon Associates program.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to publish on KDP?
The pages we reviewed mention no signup fee. Costs come out of your royalty: delivery for ebooks and printing for paperbacks.
What is the difference between 35% and 70%?
It is the share of the list price, excluding tax, that you keep. The 70% option has price, territory and content conditions, and it subtracts a delivery cost.
Does the paperback rate change with price?
Yes. On Amazon.com the rate is 50% at $9.98 or less and 60% from $9.99.
Is Expanded Distribution worth it?
It reaches more channels but pays 40% of the list price minus printing cost. In KDP’s example, a $15 book earns $4.00 on Amazon and $1.00 through Expanded Distribution, so run the numbers first.
