Should I use KDP, IngramSpark, or both?

Most self-publishers use both: KDP for Amazon (with Expanded Distribution OFF) and IngramSpark for everything else. This calculator shows why — KDP wins on Amazon, IS wins on reach.

Why is IngramSpark's royalty so much lower?

Wholesale economics. Bookstores and libraries require a 40–55% discount off list, and you absorb that discount. Amazon's KDP cut is structured as a flat royalty share that ends up higher on Amazon-direct sales.

Can I match prices across both platforms?

Yes — and you should. If your IS list price is higher than KDP, Amazon will favor the KDP edition and the IS copy may never sell.

Amazon KDP vs IngramSpark Profit Calculator

Compare Amazon KDP and IngramSpark side by side for the same book. KDP pays a fixed 60% royalty on Amazon-direct sales (minus print cost). IngramSpark uses a wholesale model: you set the discount, and your royalty is whatever's left. This calculator shows per-copy and monthly profit on both, plus which platform wins at your inputs — and where each platform earns its edge.

Who this calculator helps

Authors deciding whether to enroll in KDP Expanded Distribution or switch to IngramSpark for non-Amazon channels.
Series authors modelling the per-book royalty hit of moving distribution to IngramSpark.
Hybrid publishers comparing earnings per copy across the same title.
Course teachers showing students why the dual-platform model exists.

List price ($)

Page count

Monthly units

Format

Interior

KDP royalty % (60 or 40)

60% on Amazon · 40% on Expanded Distribution

IngramSpark wholesale discount (%)

55% = bookstore reach · 40% = online only

Print cost

$4.21

paperback · bw-standard

KDP royalty / copy

$5.98

High Profit Potential

IngramSpark / copy

$3.44

Moderate Profit Potential

KDP advantage / copy

$2.55

Positive = KDP earns more

Monthly royalty by platform

Amazon KDP (60.0%)$598.40
100 units × $5.98
IngramSpark (55.0% discount)$343.55
100 units × $3.44

Amazon KDP earns $254.85 more per month at these inputs.

All calculations are estimates based on average platform fees. Real profits may vary depending on category, ads, and shipping.

How to use this calculator

Enter your numbers in each field above — the calculator updates instantly as you type, so there's nothing to submit.
Use your real figures when you have them, or sensible estimates while you're planning. If a field doesn't apply, leave it at zero.
Compare the results, then change one input at a time to see how each lever (price, cost, fees, volume) moves the outcome.

When to use this calculator

Before publishing a new title and choosing a distribution mix.
When deciding whether to opt out of KDP Expanded Distribution.
When IngramSpark royalties feel low and you want to confirm by how much.

Formula

KDP royalty/copy = (List × Royalty %) − Print cost · IngramSpark royalty/copy = (List × (1 − Discount %)) − Print cost

Worked example

A 280-page B&W paperback at $16.99, ~$4.20 print cost, KDP 60% royalty, IS 55% wholesale discount, 100 copies/month.

KDP per copy = (16.99 × 0.60) − 4.20 = 10.194 − 4.20 = $5.99
IS per copy = (16.99 × 0.45) − 4.20 = 7.65 − 4.20 = $3.45
KDP monthly = 5.99 × 100 = $599
IS monthly = 3.45 × 100 = $345
KDP advantage = $599 − $345 = $254/month on Amazon-direct sales

Answer: KDP wins by $254/month on Amazon-direct — but only IngramSpark unlocks bookstores and libraries.

More worked examples

$24.99 hardcover, 320 pages B&W, ~$10.59 print, KDP 60%, IS 55%, 30 copies/month.

KDP per copy = (24.99 × 0.60) − 10.59 = 14.994 − 10.59 = $4.40
IS per copy = (24.99 × 0.45) − 10.59 = 11.246 − 10.59 = $0.66
KDP monthly = 4.40 × 30 = $132
IS monthly = 0.66 × 30 = $19.80

Answer: Hardcover gap widens — KDP $132 vs IS $19.80/month.

$14.99 paperback, 200 pages B&W, ~$3.25 print, KDP 60%, IS 40% (online-only) discount, 50 copies/month.

KDP per copy = (14.99 × 0.60) − 3.25 = 8.994 − 3.25 = $5.74
IS per copy = (14.99 × 0.60) − 3.25 = 8.994 − 3.25 = $5.74

Answer: At a 40% IS discount, the per-copy royalty is identical — but you lose bookstore access.

How it works

On the same Amazon sale, KDP almost always pays more — that's the headline number. IngramSpark earns its keep on the channels KDP can't reach well: indie bookstores, libraries, and international wholesalers that order through Ingram's catalog.

Most serious self-publishers don't choose. They list on KDP for Amazon and on IngramSpark for everything else, taking KDP off Expanded Distribution to avoid channel conflict. This calculator is for the per-channel decision: which platform should fulfill a given sale.

Expert tips

Always run this calculation in both 60% (Amazon-direct) and 40% (Expanded Distribution) modes — the answer flips depending on the channel.
If you take a book off KDP Expanded Distribution, you must also list on IngramSpark or you lose all non-Amazon reach.
Use IngramSpark for hardcover even if the per-copy royalty is low — IS produces a better-quality hardcover than KDP for trade buyers.
On low-volume titles, the per-copy advantage matters less than which channels carry the book at all.

How to interpret your results

Dollar values are shown per sale, per order, or per item unless a result is explicitly labelled monthly, weekly, or daily.
Percentages (margin, ROI, conversion rate) are easier to compare across products and price points than raw dollars — use them when you benchmark.
A positive result means you're ahead after the costs and fees you entered. A negative result means the current numbers don't work — change a lever (raise price, cut a cost, lower ad spend) and recalculate.
Treat the output as a planning estimate, not a guarantee. Fees, taxes, and conversion rates shift over time — re-run the numbers whenever a key input changes.

Limitations

Print cost is an IngramSpark-style estimate; KDP rates are typically a few cents lower for B&W paperback.
Doesn't model returns reserves on physical retail.
Assumes the same list price on both platforms — if Amazon discounts your IS edition, the IS royalty drops further.

Common mistakes

Comparing only Amazon-direct numbers and concluding IngramSpark isn't worth listing — that's not what IS is for.
Ignoring that KDP-ED pays 40% on the same channels IS competes for, not 60%.
Forgetting Amazon Ads spend on the KDP side when comparing 'profit'.

Go deeper with plain-English guides on the same topic.

FAQ

Should I use KDP, IngramSpark, or both?: Most self-publishers use both: KDP for Amazon (with Expanded Distribution OFF) and IngramSpark for everything else. This calculator shows why — KDP wins on Amazon, IS wins on reach.
Why is IngramSpark's royalty so much lower?: Wholesale economics. Bookstores and libraries require a 40–55% discount off list, and you absorb that discount. Amazon's KDP cut is structured as a flat royalty share that ends up higher on Amazon-direct sales.
Can I match prices across both platforms?: Yes — and you should. If your IS list price is higher than KDP, Amazon will favor the KDP edition and the IS copy may never sell.

Why trust this calculator?

This tool uses standard mathematical formulas and commonly accepted calculation methods, shown openly in the Formula section above so you can verify the math yourself. Results are estimates based on the information you enter and do not account for every individual circumstance. For important financial, tax, legal, medical, or business decisions, please double-check with a qualified professional before acting on the numbers.

Keep going

One calculator rarely tells the full story. Pair this one with a related tool below to pressure-test your numbers from a different angle, or browse Work & Money Calculators for more in the same category.

Related Calculators

You may also find these tools helpful.